About the District
The District: Political subdivision of the State of California, existing and operating under the California Water Code. Governed by a five member Board of Directors.
Location: In Fresno and Tulare Counties adjacent to the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada , about 30 miles southeast of Fresno and 20 miles north of Visalia.
Formed: 1937 for the purpose of importing surface water to the area, which is rich in soils and climate but limited in groundwater.
Size: 27,963 acres.
Ownership: Some 500 landowners.
Average Farm: 54 acres.
Water Supply
• Surface water: 39,200 acre feet of Class I Contract supply from Friant Division
of the Central Valley Project - CVP.
• Ground water: 27,500 acre-feet of safe yield pumped by landowners.
• Total: 66,700 acre-feet without effective precipitation.
Water Distribution System:
Pipelines: 123 miles of pipelines ranging in size from 12 to 42 inch diameters.
Pumps: 50 pumps and motors.
Meters: 1,100 metered deliveries.
Irrigation Season:
March – November
Delivery Type:
Modified Demand - water is ordered 24 hours in advance of use for Canal Operations - (OCID System Capable of Demand Delivery).
On-farm Irrigation Systems:
Over 95% of farms are on low-volume(micro sprinkler/
drip systems).
Highly Efficient H2O
Distribution
Water Distribution System Modernization:
• Installation of 116 miles of new pipelines.
• Installation of 45 high efficiency pumps and motors.
• Installation of 1,100 highly accurate propeller flow meters (+/- 2%).
• Reduced water loss ranging from 10-14% to 0%.
• Provide water in quantity, rate and timing needed without prorate.
• Provide opportunity to optimize on-farm water management.
• Permit landowner operation of farm delivery rather than District staff.
• Increased District-wide pumping plant efficiency from 28-72%.
Miscellaneous Programs:
• Fishwater Release Hydroelectric Plant.
• Kings River Siphon Hydroelectric Plant.
• Friant Power Authority Member.
• Variable speed controllers and SCADA systems improvements.
• Water Management Software
• Electrical load management (TOU).
Current Issues
• Friant Kern Canal Subsidence - Water Imbalance in the San Joaquin Valley
• SGMA Groundwater Management - Kings River East GSA
• The District has satisfied its Repayment Obligation (its share of costs) to the
United States for construction of the Friant Division.
With this payoff the District has secured a Repayment Contract (9d Contract) which is not subject to renewal / is perpetual. This 9d Contract supersedes the District’s former Water Supply Contract that was subject to renewal and had a
25 year term.
• San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Legislation(Public Law 111-11)
Enacted by Congress March 30, 2009.
• Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta Conveyance Challenges Threatening
Water Supply.
• Western Water Milfoil Aquatic Weed in the Friant-Kern Canal.
• 20,939 acres of citrus (75%).
• 4,553 acres of deciduous orchards, nut crops and grapes (16%).
• 2,055 acres of miscellaneous field crops, vegetables and temporarily idled land
(7.5%).
• 417 acres of non-agricultural lands.
Crop Production: $100 million to $140 million at the farm gate.
Consumptive Use: 75,900 acre feet (2.7 feet per acre).
District Operations
Staffing: 13 Employees from 1986-1991.
30-+ Employees from 1992-1997.
7 Employees from 1997 - 2014.
8 Employees from 2014 - 2016.
9 Employees from 2016 - 2017.
8 Employees from 2017 - 2023.
7 Employees from 2023 - Present.
Budget: $4.5+ million/year
Cost to Water Users
• Standby Charges: $86/acre paid by landowner (General & Administrative).
• Water: $25 - $95 per acre-foot at farmer's point of diversion – depending on energy delivery requirement and water supply.