Oakdale Water Network

Can't agree to donate money to the school farm or to the city pool. The money came from last year's fall water sale. Went to a committee in the Spring and now can't pass it. Not good at all. http://www.modbee.com/n/local/oakdale/article164864947.html

Here is the official ruling of the court on the Conservation Program. Court rules that there is a "fair argument" that there may be a significant impact on the environment. Therefore OID may now have to do EIR's for just about every project in the future. An EIR takes 12-18 months to complete and starting cost are around $250,000 and could go as high as $1,000,000. The question is, if OID is run by the taxpayers of Oakdale. Who pays for this? Especially since OID has done Negative Declarations for years and those cost around $2,500. This could have a serious effect on local farmers who are just outside the district, who take excess water, to compensate for pumping groundwater in drought years.

A detailed response from the General Manager of OID against what the Modesto Bee has been publishing during the past several months.

In light of the recent ruling against OID's conservation program. OID's attorneys have made this memo advising how OID should proceed with Out-District-Water sales. Also, recommending what should be done regarding future EIR situations. All told the future could potentially cost OID taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and could impede water sales to local farmers just outside of the district. The real question is why would two farmers sue their own irrigation district to enforce more regulations and cost more money for OID taxpayers? Keep in mind OID has been doing Negative Declarations for years and they have always been cleared, until this past year. The Negative Declaration done by OID is picture 6.

This is a notice to all tier one costumers of OID saying that due to the water sale at the end of last year, part of that money will be credited to this year's irrigation season.