SECTION 5: DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

Allocations & Entitlements

5001 - Irrigation water is typically available starting in March and ending during the middle of October. The start and end of the irrigation season shall be approved by the Board.
5002 - The Water Operations Manager shall determine and has the authority to apportion water to the District distribution system. The Distribution System Operators shall be held responsible for the equitable, efficient, and economical distribution of the water that is allotted by the Water Operations Manager to the individual distribution divisions.
5003 - Water shall be distributed equitably and fairly to Water Users within the District who have paid all charges and penalties therefrom.
5004 - No Water Users shall receive or be entitled to a greater amount of water than can be reasonably and beneficially used without waste.
5005 - The District does not guarantee that delivered water will be of any specified condition or quality.
5006 - The District may, if operational conditions warrant, vary the irrigation time and flow rate so long as the Water User is afforded a reasonable opportunity to utilize a fair allotment of irrigation water.

Scheduling & Notification


General
5007 - Distribution of irrigation water shall generally be by rotation, but where appropriate, the Water Operations Manager has the authority to implement variations to the delivery schedule and/or method.
Rotational Deliveries
5008 - Rotation schedules which set forth each Water User's rate of flow, day or days of the month, and duration of delivery shall be prepared by the Water Operations Manager under the direction and supervision of the General Manager. Preliminary rotation schedules shall be prepared prior to the start of the irrigation season. Upon request, rotation schedules shall be made available to Landowners taking delivery and utilizing water from the District's Conduits. The District reserves the right to revise the rotation schedule at any time during the irrigation season.
5009 - Water deliveries under the rotation schedules shall be made on the basis of continuous and steady use of water during all days and nights, including holidays and Sundays. It shall be incumbent upon the Water User to fully utilize water during the allotted time and to relinquish the water at the end of the scheduled time period unless otherwise approved by the Distribution System Operator. In order to prevent the waste of water, canal overtopping and canal breaks, it is mandatory that every Water User notify the Distribution System Operator if the irrigation event must be discontinued prior to the scheduled time.
5010 - The Distribution System Operator shall provide as much advance notice as possible to Irrigators, of the approximate time that water will be delivered. The Distribution System Operator will strive to provide a minimum of twelve (12) hours notice, however at times a significantly reduced notification period may be necessary.
5011 - The District recognizes that there is a potential for breaks and/or unforeseen interruptions to occur and thus requires that the Water Users, on short notice, take the delivered water at the time it is available by the Distribution System Operator or declare a pass on the rotation.
5012 - In the event that an Irrigator or Water User cannot be contacted, located, or otherwise notified of the availability of water, the Distribution System Operator shall declare that the Water User has passed and will not receive water until the next regularly scheduled rotation.
5013 - Any person who takes water out of turn without the permission of the Distribution System Operator forfeits the right to water at the next regular rotation and is liable to criminal prosecution.

Non-Rotational Deliveries
5014 - Water Users may submit a written request to receive water on a non-rotational delivery schedule. The request shall be made in writing and submitted to the Water Operations Manager for review and approval if appropriate.
5015 - Authorization of non-rotational or steady head delivery is not a standard operation. Non-rotational deliveries shall be considered a special accommodation and shall not establish any precedent or create any right for future deliveries.
5016 - The Water Operations Manager reserves the right and has the authority to establish a non-rotational delivery. In consideration of establishing a non-rotational delivery, the Water Operations Manager shall determine the potential impacts of the delivery adjustment. Non-rotational deliveries shall maintain the equitable distribution of water to all Water Users within the impacted distribution network.
5017 Non-rotational deliveries shall not be allowed to negatively impact the District's ability to deliver irrigation water economically and efficiently. In the event that any adverse impact is identified the Water Operations Manager is authorized to suspend the non-rotational delivery and re-establish a rotational delivery schedule.
5018 - At no time shall non-rotational Water Users be permitted to use water in a manner that is not reasonable and beneficial. In the event that excessive ponding, runoff, or any other waste of water is identified, the Distribution System Operator shall reduce the delivered flow and notify the Water Operations Manager. On the first offense the Water Operations Manager shall provide a warning to the Water User, if the problem occurs again the Water Operations Manager is authorized to enact the necessary sanctions to ensure the reasonable and beneficial use of water.

Knights Ferry Deliveries
5019 - Historical Knights Ferry water right holders shall be entitled to their adjudicated flow of four (4) cfs to those lands entitled to water.

Specialty Crop Deliveries
5020 - Any Water User who desires irrigation water on a tailored delivery schedule in order to grow a specialty crop is required to submit a detailed application to the District for consideration.
5021 - Surface irrigation water shall not be made available during the months of October through March unless otherwise approved by the Board. Water Users desiring to grow winter crops and utilize District facilities shall submit a request for off-season irrigation services. The District reserves the right to approve or deny any request for Private use of any District facility for any reason at any time.
5022 - The District will strive to supply water of sufficient quality to those crops which are sensitive to certain constituents or parameters. However, the District does not and cannot guarantee the quality of water that is delivered to any agricultural Water User and therefore shall not be liable for any damages that may result from the application of the supplied irrigation water.

Measurement

5023 - All measurements of water delivered by the District to a Water User shall be made at the diverting gate or valve in the District's canal, or at other appropriate locations as determined by the Distribution System Operator.
5024 - The Distribution System Operator is required to measure and maintain documentation of flow rates, delivered volume, and other pertinent irrigation event statistics as determined by the Water Operations Manager.
5025 - All water measurements performed and documented by the District shall be considered correct in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
5026 - The District shall maintain, calibrate, and otherwise properly care for all measurement facilities, equipment, and devices.
5027 - The District, as provided by California Water Code §22083, has the authority to install or require the installation of irrigation flow measurement devices, equipment, or structures at all District turnouts.
5028 - Measurement equipment is the property of the District and shall not be tampered with, removed, or otherwise inhibited by any person unauthorized to do so. Any unauthorized person that performs such acts is subject to criminal prosecution under Penal Code § 498c.

Interruption or Refusal of Service

5029 - The Distribution System Operator will make every effort to maintain an adequate flow of water in each lateral system to meet anticipated demands. However, changes in water use due to temperature variation, improper coordination by upstream users during water changes, local runoff from precipitation, spill water from other lateral systems, canal breaks, and other emergencies may cause unavoidable fluctuations and interruptions in flow. It is expected that a Water User will notify the Distribution System Operator if water is not available at the time the rotation is scheduled to begin or if the flow is interfered with during the irrigation event. It is also expected that all Water Users will cooperate with the Water Operations Manager and/or the Distribution System Operator in determining the cause of the interruption and will, to the extent practical, assist in correcting the problem.
5030 - No additional time shall be granted to Water Users who fail to use the water continuously when available during the allotted time. If a Water User fails, neglects, or refuses to use the water during the period assigned, it shall not be a valid basis for claiming the right to use water at any other subsequent time. However, if such failure to use water is due to circumstances beyond the control of the Water User, particularly if caused by the unavailability of water, the District shall endeavor to make up the lost time insofar as it can be done without unreasonably interfering with the scheduled delivery of water to other Water Users. Any such Water User which is unable to divert the full allotment of water shall promptly notify the Water Operations Manager of the desire to divert the remainder of the entitlement.

Out of District Service Agreements

5031 - All water delivered to lands outside of the District boundary shall be subject to, without limitation, any and all of the rules and regulations established by the District and provided within this document.
5032 - Persons interested in or currently receiving water for application onto lands outside of the current District boundaries are required annually to submit an application for water service. Applications for out of District water shall be submitted to the District on or before the first Monday of February. The application shall be accompanied by any and all fees, charges, or deposits as required by the District.
5033 - Applications will be reviewed by the General Manager, Water Operations Manager, Engineering Department, and Chief Financial Officer. Upon completion of the review process a recommendation will be made by District Staff and presented to the Board. The Board shall approve or deny the application, and reserves the right to do so for any reason.
5034 - Out of District irrigation service is established on an annual basis and is not guaranteed for the duration of any irrigation season. Out of District water is considered surplus water and is made available, without obligation, to Board approved recipients. Water supplied to out of District Landowners is a non-guaranteed availability and may be suspended at any time by the District.
5035 - The District shall not be liable for any damages that occur from the negligent use or misuse of water supplied to out of District Water Users.
5036 - The District shall not be liable for any damages, economic hardships, or otherwise unfavorable consequences resulting from the suspension of an out of District service agreement. Persons entering into agreements for out of District irrigation service assume and shall be knowledgeable of all risks associated with not receiving anticipated flows and/or volumes of irrigation water. The District does not and cannot guarantee any degree or level of service to any out of District Water Users.
5037 - Approval of out of District service agreements are considered conditional and only valid for one irrigation season. Approval to receive out of District water shall be considered a distinct and solitary event and shall not establish any right or precedence for future events.

Unauthorized Use of Water

5038 - Any person who uses District water without the District's permission may become subject to criminal prosecution and/or civil liability under Penal Code §§ 498 and 592.
5039 - Use of District water without the District's permission may result in a forfeiture of the Landowner's and/or Water User's right to receive water on the next scheduled rotation or planned irrigation event.

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