NEWS RELEASE
Bill Stretch, General Manager
(559) 233-7161
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2024
5-Month Water Season Concludes August 31
The Fresno Irrigation District (FID) Board of Directors made the decision at their regular meeting held August 8 to end deliveries to agricultural customers on August 31. FID was able to provide a 5-month water season starting on April 1 thanks to strong March storms despite a rapid decrease in natural Kings River runoff in July.
The Kings River runoff this past year (October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024) is anticipated to end up at 95%. “This year’s average hydrology, coupled with last year’s historic 257% water year (8-month water run), have resulted in our groundwater table rebounding four to six feet district-wide,” said Bill Stretch, FID’s General Manager.
Stretch also stated, “Despite being an average year, we still had to carefully maneuver the threat of flood releases on the Kings and San Joaquin rivers in early Spring. Fortunately, through prior infrastructure investments, including its 950 acres of recharge basins, FID was able to take advantage of the early supplies.”
District crews will use the off-season shutdown to conduct maintenance, repairs and construct projects that will enhance the water system’s infrastructure for the 2025 season and beyond.
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Since 1920, the Fresno Irrigation District has proudly delivered water to agricultural and urban communities within Fresno County. Today, the District encompasses over 250,000 acres of prime farmland and municipal areas, including the cities of Fresno and Clovis. As the premier irrigation district in the Central Valley, the District is extensively involved in a host of local, state, and federal water issues.
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