DATE: November 3, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Raman Bath, County Librarian
David Rodriguez, Chair, Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
SUBJECT: Centennial Business - Fresno Irrigation District
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve designation and placement of the Fresno Irrigation District on the County’s Register of Centennial Businesses; and
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute the certificate for a Centennial Business.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with these actions, which will allow the Fresno Irrigation District to be placed on the County’s Register of Centennial Businesses comprised of local businesses with 100 years or more of continuous business activity in Fresno County. The Historic Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission provide your Board recommendations for qualified businesses for placement on the Fresno County List of Centennial Businesses. Approval by the Board of Supervisors encourages preservation of our County’s history.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose to not approve these actions, which would result in the Fresno Irrigation District not being placed on the County’s Register of Historic Businesses at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission is recommending your Board approve the application to add the Fresno Irrigation District to the Register of Centennial Business. This item pertains to a location in District 4.
The Fresno Irrigation District (FID) was formed in 1920 under the California Irrigation Districts Act, as the successor to the privately-owned Fresno Canal and Land Company. The District purchased all the rights and property of the Company which consisted of over 800 miles of canals and distribution works which were constructed between 1850 and 1880 and the extensive water rights on the Kings River. The formation of the FID was overwhelmingly approved by Fresno County voters and the election was certified on June 28, 1920, by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. For the last 100 years, FID has worked to fulfill its mission of managing and protecting surface water and groundwater for the benefit of current and future Fresnans.
FID was formed in 1920 for three primary reasons: 1) Unsettled water rights on the Kings River, 2) Monopolistic management practices by the original canal companies, and 3) due to great interest in developing water storage projects, in particular the Pine Flat Dam. Construction of Pine Flat Dam was completed in 1954. Releases from Pine Flat Dam flow downstream to be diverted by FID and other agencies for agricultural, urban, and other ecological uses.
The District now comprises some 245,000 acres, lies entirely within Fresno County and includes the rapidly growing Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area. In a normal year, the District diverts approximately 500,000 acre-feet of water and delivers most of it to agricultural users. However, FID also diverts a significant amount of its water supply for groundwater recharge in the urban areas and provides water to the surface water treatment facilities for the Cities of Clovis and Fresno. FID is a founding member of the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NKGSA) and is proud of its groundwater management practices dating back to 1920. Long before the requirements for proper groundwater management came along through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, FID has been dedicating water for groundwater recharge and conducting groundwater level monitoring keeping a close eye on aquifer health.
FID has a staff of 88 people dedicated to ensuring timely water deliveries are made, new construction projects are completed, financial health of FID is protected, and the vast amount of infrastructure owned by FID is maintained. With over 700 miles of canals, pipelines and associated structures, FID Construction and Maintenance crews are critical to ensuring proper deliveries during the water season.
As FID enters the second century of its existence, there is much anticipation about what the future will hold. FID has positioned itself to take the necessary actions to be able to continue to fulfill its mission: managing and protecting surface water and groundwater resources. It recognizes water is the most valuable resource.
The Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission first reviewed information on this business during its 8/6/2020 meeting. During the 9/10/2020 meeting, the Commission reviewed a final application and unanimously voted to recommend that the structure be listed on the Fresno County’s List of Historic Places.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Historical Landmarks and Records Advisory Commission
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Centennial Business Certificate
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra