BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
 
JAMES G. CRECELIUS
   Chairman
   (209) 874-1866
 
HOWARD M. BARNETT
    (209) 883-4026
 
WARD BURROUGHS
   (209) 874-9633
 
DAVID LONG
   (209) 874-1875
 
AL ROSSINI
   (209) 874-3739
 
W. L. (LARRY) CARTER
    Secretary
   (209) 874-2210  
 
 
 
Contact Information
 
Address:
P.O. Box 280
Denair, CA 95316
 
E-mail:
ewd@jbmj.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    EASTSIDE

    WATER DISTRICT

HISTORY RECAP

The advent of sprinkler irrigation in the 1950’s made irrigation practical in the rolling hills of the area that is now Eastside Irrigation District.  In the 50’s and 60’s landowners invested in wells and sprinkler irrigation equipment to begin producing high value irrigated crops.  As more lands were developed and more wells were drilled into the Turlock Groundwater Basin aquifer, groundwater levels began to drop.  By the early 1980’s concern began to grow about the declining water table.  The concern was that if the water levels continued to drop, a day would come when the wells would either go dry or water levels would drop to the point that it would not be economically feasible to pump groundwater for irrigation.  After much discussion, in 1985 the decision was made to form the Eastside Water District so that irrigators could unite in a search for solutions to the declining groundwater levels.

 The EWD is comprised of about 54,000 acres in Merced and Stanislaus Counties farming high value, non-subsidized crops that are irrigated by highly efficient methods.  Most of the land within EWD is agricultural and is irrigated with groundwater.  The only other source of supply is a very limited amount of surface water from purchases in wet years from the Turlock and Merced Irrigation District’s canals lying adjacent to EWD and from riparian water rights along the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers.  The groundwater within EWD apparently is declining at about two feet per year, which is creating an average annual deficit of about 80,000 acre-feet.  The new district began its search for solutions.

 The District retained the services of Boyle Engineering to prepare an Irrigation Water Master Plan.  The plan, which was completed in 1990, examined options for reducing the decline and recommended that wells be drilled and that water be injected directly onto the aquifer.  After further study and with the advent of new regulations it was determined that approach was not economically feasible.  The search continued.

 By the early 1990’s statewide concern was developing regarding the status of groundwater in California, resulting in the California legislature enactment of the 1992 Groundwater Management Act (AB3030).  AB3030 authorized agencies to prepare and adopt groundwater management plans to better manage groundwater resources within their jurisdictions.  Subsequently, EWD joined the other agencies taking groundwater from the Turlock Groundwater Basin in preparing a groundwater management plan covering the entire Basin.  EWD adopted that plan in 1997 as an addendum to its 1994 plan.

 In 1995 an incentive program to encourage irrigators to use available wet year water from the Turlock and Merced Irrigation Districts was developed and funded.  Irrigators who signed up for the program were reimbursed $3.00 per acre-foot for actual water used.  The  program has been a success and has been extended on a year-by-year basis depending availability of water.  Irrigators are advised of the availability of the program each year as the Irrigation Districts declare water available.

 In 1996 EWD began investigation of the potential of recharging the aquifer using constructed recharge basins.  After boring test holes at various locations in the EWD, a site adjacent to the TID Highline Canal, just South of Monte Vista Avenue was selected for construction of the Monte Vista Pilot Recharge Basin.  Operation of the basin in 1998, 1999 and 2000 proved to be very successful.  Consultants advised the Board that the average recharge rate of 2.7 acre-feet per acre per day, achieved in 2000, is a very good rate.  It is anticipated that recharge rates in basins larger than the one-quarter acre pilot recharge basin may be somewhat reduced.  Conclusions from these initial tests are that it is technically feasible to recharge the groundwater basin.  Future tests will determine, “Is it economically and environmentally feasible?”

 The cost of studies to adequately determine the economic and environmental feasibility of groundwater recharge and to design and construct feasible projects exceeds the limited assessment authority of the EWD.  In 2000 and 2001 the EWD made several unsuccessful applications for study grants from the federal and state governments.

 In 2001, the Board of Directors decided to “regroup” and try again.  See articles below on “NEW CONSULTANTS” and “EASTSIDE WATER DISTRICT GROUNDWATER & MULTIPLE RESOURCES INTEGRATION PLANNING STUDY.”