Porterville Irrigation District
The Porterville Irrigation District is a public entity organized under the laws of the State of California (California Water Codes, Division 11) in 1949. The District encompasses approximately 16,900 acres in Tulare County on the eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley and lies on the alluvial fan of the Tule River. Average elevation is 400 feet above sea level. Its climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters.
The distribution system through which the District delivers surface water consists of facilities under various ownerships and is of both underground and above-ground in type. The District owns the facilities of two improvement districts which consist of approximately 4 miles of underground pipeline and 3.3 miles of open ditch. The District, through an agreement executed with the Lower Tule River Irrigation District (LTRID) in 1964, delivers surface water within the District through facilities owned or under the control of LTRID. These facilities consist of approximately 13 miles of unlined canals. The District also delivers water through facilities owned by the Porter Slough Ditch Company, the Hubbs & Miner Ditch Company, the Rhodes-Fine Ditch Company and the Gilliam-McGee Ditch Company. These facilities consist of approximately 13 miles of unlined ditch within the District, although 1.5 miles of ditch in the eastern portion of the District have been piped as a result of residential encroachment. The facilities belonging to these companies are operated by the District under long-term agreement with the various entities.
How is the water used?
Water imported into the District is either sold as irrigation water or percolated to recharge the groundwater. Water users who purchase water for irrigation or recharge pay for each acre-foot of water they receive in addition to the annual, per acre assessment they pay on their land. Landholders who do not take water directly from the District support the District through the annual assessment and receive a benefit from District operations through a reduction in energy costs for groundwater pumped using deep wells and through an increase in property values resulting from the availability of CVP water. District Landowners within the City of Porterville’s water service area do not receive bills directly from the District. The City of Porterville pays the District an amount annually for all such acreage at a rate which is equal to the assessment rate charged to other lands within the District.
Upcoming Meetings
Porterville Irrigation District (PID) Board of Directors Meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the District office located at 22086 Avenue 160, Porterville unless stated otherwise.
NOTICE: Until further notice and in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order (N-29-20) and the declared State of Emergency, including social distancing directives as a result of the threat of the COVID-19 virus, PID Directors and staff will be participating in meetings remotely. There will not be a physical location for these meetings. Members of the public may participate in meetings by phone or Zoom with details for each method provided on meeting Agendas.
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