2020 Annual Report
FRESNO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
“Water…Your Most Valuable Resource.”
A Century of Commitment, Conveyance & Customer Service
PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
FID -
Our Commitment to Groundwater Sustainability
A CENTURY OF CONVEYANCE,
COMMITMENT & CUSTOMER SERVICE
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER?
For those who do not have surface water rights, like some farmers and rural communities, the water is pumped out of wells on individual properties. However,
in times of drought, when surface water is scarce, more farmers rely on groundwater to grow the crops we all depend on for food.
Groundwater is the water found beneath the Earth’s surface in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand, and rocks called aquifers. Groundwater is often pumped out of the ground for residential and agricultural uses.
Groundwater overdraft occurs when there is a net decrease in overall groundwater levels due to pumping out more water than is being replaced by rain, rivers, and diverting water into recharge basins. Consistent overdraft of groundwater from the aquifer is unsustainable and can lead to subsidence
of the land.
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER OVERDRAFT?
The depth to groundwater has declined over time with continued overdraft. While this change is often marginal, the decline is dramatic when seasons of drought occur, and is why groundwater sustainability grows increasingly important.
MANAGE
&
PROTECT
CONJUNCTIVE USE AND WATER CYCLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT EFFORTS
GROUNDWATER LEVEL
MEASUREMENTS
Over 400 readings are taken annually from monthly and semi-annual monitoring wells.
During dry years, the availability of surface water is limited which increases the reliance on ground-
water pumping. Groundwater level measurements help predict overall groundwater conditions.
FID has been conducting ground-
water level measurements for over 100 years.
RECHARGE FACILITIES
In collaboration with the local cities and the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD), over 350,000 AF of water has been recharged at basins and banking facilities.
150 acres of new recharge basins under construction within FID.
Multi-agency coordination between FID, FMFCD, and city partners with 2,840 combined acres of facilities.
FID & SGMA
FID is the largest member agency of the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NKGSA).
NKGSA is charged with achieving sustainability by 2040 and avoiding undesirable results.
Maximize use of available surface water.
Continue to develop recharge basins to capture flood waters in wet years.