FID Water Deliveries Near End of Season

4-Month Water Season Concludes July 30

The Fresno Irrigation District (FID) Board of Directors made the decision at a special meeting held July 23 to conclude scheduled deliveries to agricultural customers on July 30. FID was able to provide a 4-month water season starting on April 1 despite actual Kings River water supplies being lower than projected several months ago and significantly less than 2024.

When FID began its water season, both the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) California Nevada River Forecast Center were forecasting Kings River runoff to be approximately 84 percent of historic average. Since that time, both forecasting agencies have steadily decreased their runoff forecasts as the dry spring and summer months progressed.  While DWR stopped updating forecasts in June, the current NOAA runoff forecast is 70% of average for the current water year (October 2024 - September 2025).  For comparison, the Kings River runoff this past water year (October 2023 - September 2024) was 95% of average.

“This year’s Kings River hydrology ended up being significantly drier than last year, but we are fortunate to have had a nearly average year in 2024 which helped groundwater levels remain stable into Spring 2025. This is a testament to FID’s on-going and expanding groundwater recharge program,” said Bill Stretch, FID’s General Manager.

Stretch also stated, “While we didn’t have any flood releases on the Kings and San Joaquin rivers in 2025, FID stands ready to take advantage of any flood releases that may materialize this coming season through prior infrastructure investments, including its 980 acres of recharge basins.”

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 2026 season and beyond.