WATER SYSTEM AND SUPPLY

GCID’s Sacramento River water rights were established in 1883, making them some of the oldest in the Sacramento Valley. The District diverts the water at its Hamilton City Pump Station, where it joins the 65-mile-long Main Canal. From there, the water enters a complex system of more than 1,200 miles of canals, laterals and drains serving prime agricultural lands, private habitat lands and federal wildlife refuges.

In addition to its historic water rights, GCID is part of the Sacramento River Settlement Contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The contract provides GCID with 720,000 acre-feet of base supply from April to October and 105,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water purchased during July and August.

During a designated Critical Year, when natural inflow to Shasta Reservoir is less than 3.2 million acre-feet, Settlement Contractors’ supplies are reduced to 75%. GCID’s total supply is 618,000 acre-feet under those conditions.

The District also has rights under a permit with the State Water Resources Control Board to divert water from November 1 through March 15 for winter flooding for waterfowl, rice straw decomposition and crops.