Citrus Highlands

FLOODS AND SHUTDOWNS

Apr 08, 2007

The last irrigation did not go well. RWCD called us prior to shutting down irrigation due to the floods caused by people not taking all of their water. We stopped the shutdown. We will not do this again. Our irrigation system depends on people taking ALL of their water. Late starts, partially open valves, and early closures cause the water level to rise in the standpipe which exerts pressure on the pipe joints and standpipe valves. Prior to our involvement, the height of one of the standpipes was extended. When users affected by this extended standpipe do not take all of their water, the high water level exerts tremendous pressure that the system was never meant to handle.

We spend a lot of time with other volunteers doing repairs and maintenance to the system. We do not get paid. We have 21 trees and need the water. Many shutdowns have been averted. In return, we often receive threats. We?’re yelled at and lied about. Every irrigation cycle, we get at least one, ?“Do blah, blah, blah, or I?’ll shut down irrigation.?” We regularly see people blatantly abusing the system. It?’s not fair to those who use the system correctly. The system is old and breaking down. At some point it will not be fixable.