Stanislaus County, CA November 2, 1999 Election
Smart Voter

Capital Improvements

By Henry Burtschi

Candidate for Director; Oakdale Irrigation District; Division 4

This information is provided by the candidate
A summary of capital improvements and their benefits to the District.
For over 60 years, our District was practically all pasture--irrigated on a fairly regular 10-14 day rotation. However, this has changed drastically over the last several years, and many farmers need water "on demand" for their corn, grapes, trees, rice and other crops. They need water when the fields are ready, when fertilization is needed, and not at all while they are harvesting. These water needs vary from 15 to 25 days apart; and when they do irrigate, they need a larger quantity of water to do the job well. Plowed or disked fields take quite a bit longer to irrigate properly. Our canals and small laterals are ill equipped to accommodate these changes in certain places. Therefore, we need to gradually streamline the existing waterworks with cost-effective capital improvements. At the same time, we need to conserve water and not forget to help along the underground recharge factor.

Two 15-25 acre regulating reservoirs--one each on the north and south main canals on the eastern edges of the District--will go a long way to assure better delivery service. Currently, when the water master (or a ditchtender) calls for more (or less) water, it takes 18-20 hours AFTER the gates are adjusted at the Goodwin diversion (15 miles upstream) to be effective locally. With these regulating reservoirs, we can divert the water already flowing for a few hours or a day, then release it back into the main canal at will to supplement extra demands on another day.

There are other benefits as well. Digging these reservoirs will provide the District with a few thousand yards of material that can be used to shore up laterals in many places. These extra bodies of water will be beneficial to wildlife and ground water recharge.

Several longcrested weirs built in a few strategic places will translate into more even water pressure (every irrigator's dream) and minimize the problem at many drops.

There are also a few locations where additional reclamation pumps can be installed to recycle irrigation water--both to improve service and to avoid water leaving the District. Water that winds up in the drainage system is included in our yearly allotment, but we do not get any credit for it. In other words, someone else is getting our water for free.

As your Director, I will work diligently toward the above goals. Thank you for your time. Your vote will insure the business-like progress of O.I.D.

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ca/stn Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 1999 06:59
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