The Turlock Irrigation District will meet Tuesday, at 9 a.m. to approve elements of the Lateral 8 Regulating Reservoir Project.
The Lateral 8 Regulating Reservoir project is located at the end of the Highline canal, approximately 0.1 miles down Geer Road, east of Lander Avenue in Hilmar. Currently owned by the Hilmar County Water District (HCWD), TID is seeking to approve the purchase of the property directly north of the head of Lateral 8, east of Lateral 7. The property contains an abandoned water treatment facility at the intersection of two canals and approximately 19 acres of farmland which is currently rented out by HCWD.
TID began pursuing research related to the acquisition of the property in 1998 but never purchased; due to the impending drought and state legislation relating to water, they revisited the issue because of increased need in January 2014.
According to their research on the property, Lateral 8 could be operated as a cost effective regulating reservoir for the adjacent canals and would offer the opportunity to capture and save spills from the Highline canal, which TID estimates to be a yearly average of 2,550 acre-feet of water. Additionally, it would stabilize flows downstream by pumping to fill shortages in water supply from downward fluctuations.
TID estimates the cost of the acquisition of land and needed modifications for the existing 7 acre water treatment facility at $2.16 million. The cost to purchase the 25.5 acres of land from HCWD stands at $663,000.
TID notes that expansion of the reservoir is possible and would increase the opportunity for water saving and flexibility in downstream irrigation.
The TID Board of Directors will vote on the recommended approval of the contract to purchase the property and approve the Lateral 8 project.
The TID Board will meet Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the TID Main Office Building, 333 E. Canal Dr.
