The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) Board of Directors held a joint Special Board meeting with the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, the Sonora City Council, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk...
Read MoreSecuring senior water rights and water storage for Tuolumne County dates back more than a century. A newspaper article published February 28th described the need for more water in Tuolumne County as an “old question, never settled.” That was February 28th, 1920. The truth is, the County has struggled with a dependable water supply for decades. Today, we have a chance to change that. The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) and the communities we serve are faced with the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to finally secure a reliable water supply – and the future of Tuolumne County for generations to come.
TUD has entered into exclusive negotiations with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to acquire water storage and supply, pre-1914 water rights – the oldest water rights in California – as well as Pinecrest Lake, Lyons Reservoir, the Tuolumne Main Canal, and Phoenix Hydropower Facilities to meet the water supply needs for Tuolumne County.
Tuolumne County is home to tremendous water resources, to the tune of 5.5 million acre-feet in annual reservoir storage. That’s a lot of water. However, practically all of it is sent elsewhere, to other water agencies throughout the state. The history of water in the County is a series of complicated twists and turns involving federal, state, and local agencies. It harkens back to the Gold Rush era, when most water rights for the South Fork of the Stanislaus River were filled.
Photo by Tuolumne Utilities District. Pictured left, Lyons Reservoir.
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD or District) is exploring a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure reliable water supplies to benefit Tuolumne County residents for generations to come.
Tuolumne County has an Annual Total Reservoir Water Storage Capacity of over 5.5 million-acre feet, with practically all this water diverted to other water agencies throughout the State. Tuolumne County…
Acquiring the water system and water rights will come with a cost. However, if we do nothing, we risk water supply uncertainty, ownership by outside parties, rate increases, and overall…
Pinecrest and Lyons Reservoirs serve as our primary water storage reservoirs. Because of their small size (23,000 acre-feet combined), TUD does not enjoy significant carryover storage, and therefore, must rely…
Tuolumne County has zero water rights presently. Most water rights to the South Fork of the Stanislaus River were filed in the 1850’s during the Gold Rush. Tuolumne County needs…
TUD has entered into exclusive negotiations with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to acquire pre-1914 water rights – the oldest water rights in California – water reservoirs: Pinecrest Lake…
Securing this water system is an opportunity to solidify our water supply for future generations. It is a chance to exercise local control over our critically important water system, operating it more efficiently and effectively for the benefit of local residents.
In 2019, Tuolumne County was listed as the number one County at risk of wildfire by the California Department of Insurance. With that ever-increasing threat, Tuolumne County needs water rights and a reliable water source now more than ever. The protection of TUD’s watershed and water supply infrastructure are of greater concern due to the extreme risk of wildfire in our community. The ability to directly control this water system improves our ability to safeguard the region.
The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) Board of Directors held a joint Special Board meeting with the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, the Sonora City Council, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk...
Read MoreThe Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) Board of Directors has invited the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, the Sonora City Council, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians and the Chicken Ranch...
Read MoreJuly 1, 2020 – PG&E Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
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