Final Week of Water Run 2020

Published: September 03 2020

Dinuba, CA – Alta Irrigation District is experiencing unique challenges during this the final week of its 2020 water run that are impacting operations. As the District was reducing its Kings River diversions to coincide with a ramp down, water levels in some ditches dropped below normal seasonal levels or even dried up. To address these water level changes, the District increased its Kings River diversion this morning and started looking into potential causes thereof. Water level fluctuation may be attributed to one or more of following items: 1) leaky canal gates (Traver Canal headgate leakage is about 20% or more of the Kings River diversion rate), 2) water theft, 3) mismanaged water, 4) poor data, and 5) greater than anticipated canal seepage. In the meantime, District staff was out this morning working on the Traver Canal headgate and checking other headgates or turnouts for leaks.

Next Phase of Water Delivery Shutdowns for Water Run 2020

Published: August 27 2020

Dinuba, CA – On August 30^th, Alta Irrigation District (District) will begin the second phase of water delivery shutdowns to the middle portion of the District. This shutdown impacts landowners receiving water from turnouts served by one or more of the following ditches with headgates on Alta Main/East Branch: A.W. Clark, California Vineyard, Smith Mountain, and any turnout diverting water directly from Alta Main/East Branch between Lincoln and Sumner Avenues. Water will continue flowing in Alta Main/East Branch to landowners downstream of Smith Mountain headgate – landowners are only allowed to divert water when on schedule. Any time a landowner diverts water when not on schedule you are stealing from a fellow farmer and violating District’s Rules and Regulations.

Ditches and/or turnouts from East Branch and downstream of Smith Mountain headgate (approximately Sumner Avenue) will remain online for the remainder of this water run, which is scheduled to end approximately September 10^th. If a landowner diverts all available entitlement during the first three (3) days of this 20-day irrigation cycle, then that landowner’s irrigation season is over regardless of whether or not water is present in a ditch. If you have any questions about the status of a ditch serving your property, please contact your ditchtender. For additional information about this year’s water run, please visit the District website at www.altaid.org. or call the District office (559) 591-0800.

Irrigation Schedule for the Final Cycle of the 2020 Water Run

Published: August 24 2020

Dinuba, CA – On August 22^nd, the irrigation schedule for a final cycle of the 2020 Water Run was set to 3 days per 20 days, which is the same schedule utilized during the initial cycle of this year’s water run. This cycle remains in effect until the end of water run. If you have any questions about the current irrigation schedule, please contact your ditchtender or call the District office (559) 591-0800.

End of the 2020 Water Run

Published: August 21 2020

Dinuba, CA – On August 22^nd, Alta Irrigation District (District) will begin ramping-down water deliveries for the 2020 water run. This ramp-down will mirror the staggered ramp-up experienced at the start of water run. The initial shutoff impacts landowners receiving water from turnouts served by one or more of the following ditches: Mt. Campbell, Wahtoke, Reedley Main, Buttonwillow, East and West Gould, Traver Canal, and any turnout diverting water from Alta Main and upstream of about Lincoln Avenue. A second round of shutoffs is planned for August 29^th for landowners served by turnouts and/or ditches with headgates on the Alta Main/East Branch generally between Lincoln and Sumner Avenues. The final shutdown is scheduled for September 10^th and applies to those landowners served by turnouts and/or ditches with headgates on the East Branch and downstream of Smith Mountain headgate (near Sumner Avenue). If you have any questions about the status of a ditch serving your property, please contact your ditchtender.

Many of the ditches within the District are interconnected, which means they are utilized not only convey water to adjacent lands, but to supply water to areas in the lower part of the District. So, if your property is associated with the initial shutoff, please refrain from taking water flowing in a ditch adjacent to your property as that water is being delivered to downstream users. For additional information about this about this year’s water run, please visit the District website at www.altaid.org. or call the District office (559) 591-0800.