South San Joaquin Irrigation District is proud to have been awarded the 2024 District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by SDLF (the Special District Leadership Foundation). Learn more about the requirements: https://www.sdlf.org/programs/transparency
Serving South San Joaquin County Since 1909
SSJID was established to provide a reliable and economical source of irrigation water for agricultural use in and around Escalon, Manteca and Ripon.
In conjunction with Oakdale Irrigation District (OID), SSJID constructed a dam above Knights Ferry named after SSJID Board President Benjamin A. Goodwin.
SSJID encountered a shortage of water in 1915 due to little rain and snow in the previous winter. To minimize the damage to the water-starved crops if faced with similar shortages in the future, SSJID constructed Woodward Reservoir near Oakdale. This increased SSJID’s storage capacity by 36,000 acre feet.
SSJID and OID joined forces again to build Melones Reservoir. Melones Reservoir held 110,000 acre feet and could irrigate 144,000 acres of land in both districts. Years later, the federal government took over Melones and greatly increased its capacity. The water storage facility is now known as New Melones Reservoir and allows the two districts rights to the first 600,000 acre feet that flows into New Melones Reservoir each water year.
In 1948 SSJID and OID jointly founded the Tri-Dam Project. Tri-Dam had two functions: to increase water storage to meet irrigation obligations and to add hydropower production at a low cost and substantial benefit. Construction on the Tri-Dam reservoirs — Donnells, Beardsley and Tulloch — began in 1955 and became operational in just two years. The Tri-Dam Project was completed in 1957.
SSJID went online with a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and automation technology to operate the Main Distribution Canal.
SSJID constructed the small VanGroningen Reservoir east of Carrollton Road in Ripon and, in 1996, a larger control room nearby.
SSJID, along with Oakdale Irrigation District, began a fishery research and monitoring program to evaluate juvenile Chinook salmon response to pulse flows. Further years of research have included monitoring salmon abundance and migration timing, spawning nest surveys, and a native fish plan seeking to estimate the abundance, distribution and diet of non-native predators and the impact on juvenile salmon survival.
SSJID completed the Northwest Project, a portion of the System Improvements for Distribution Efficiency Project (S.I.D.E), which consisted of a main interceptor pipeline, a reservoir near the “R” canal, connections to the “R” canal, and pumps and screens on the existing laterals.
The District responded to unprecedented urban growth and began providing domestic water service to South San Joaquin County cities with its state-of-the-art membrane filtration water treatment plant at the foot of Woodward Reservoir, named after the late SSJID board member Nick C. DeGroot. Also in 2005, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to proceed with the attempt to purchase PG&E’s distribution network within its service area and provide electrical service to Manteca, Escalon and Ripon.
In 2009, as SSJID celebrated 100 years of providing reliable service and meeting customer needs, we completed construction of the 1.4-megawatt Robert O. Schulz Solar Farm on a site adjacent to the Nick C. DeGroot Water Treatment Plant. The electricity generated is used to power the plant.
Completion of the Irrigation Enhancement Project resulted in more efficient water use while providing area growers using micro, drip and sprinkler systems (pressure systems) with individualized, automated irrigation access through online and mobile technology. The unique system, servicing 3,800 acres of farmland near Ripon, was constructed over a three-year period.
SSJID won approval from the San Joaquin Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) to have the right to provide retail electric service in its territory in a hard-fought regulatory battle against PG&E.
SSJID made a formal offer to buy PG&E’s electric distribution system within the SSJID boundaries, which PG&E rejected. SSJID’s Board of Directors held a public hearing and adopted a Resolution of Necessity to proceed with filing a condemnation lawsuit in court, authorizing the District to move forward with acquiring PG&E’s distribution system that brings power to individual homes and businesses within SSJID’s boundaries through condemnation litigation.
SSJID was established to provide a reliable and economical source of irrigation water for agricultural use in and around Escalon, Manteca and Ripon.
SSJID went online with a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and automation technology to operate the Main Distribution Canal.
NOTE: insert here text to come regarding fishery science program. Year still unknown.
Completion of the Irrigation Enhancement Project resulted in more efficient water use while providing area growers using micro, drip and sprinkler systems (pressure systems) with individualized, automated irrigation access through online and mobile technology. The unique system, servicing 3,800 acres of farmland near Ripon, was constructed over a three-year period.
SSJID and OID provided a unique supplemental spring pulse flow action that enhanced salmon outmigration and contributed to much-needed agricultural and urban water supply needs.
Regular Board Meetings take place on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Please check back 72 hours before the meeting for the agenda.
SSJID provides the utmost value for its agricultural, urban, and business community by protecting and delivering vital resources with exceptional service.
SSJID delivers high quality water and reliable power to the communities we serve. We lead in innovation and respect our history, our employees and our environment.