By Brad Arnold, General Manager, South Sutter Water District
Conjunctive use is the practice of using surface water in conjunction with ground water to meet water demands.
South Sutter Water District was formed to provide surface water for irrigation to help meet the increasing demand on ground water to irrigate crops in South Sutter County.
The South Sutter Water District was formed in the late 1950’s and built the New Camp Far West Reservoir on the Bear River. This reservoir has been providing surface water for agriculture since 1964. For over 50 years this surface water supply has provided additional ground water recharge, helped increase and stabilize ground water levels within South Sutter County. Since the first surface water deliveries 13 wells have been monitored in the water district and have confirmed the benefit of surface water deliveries to sustain ground water and improve ground water levels in the basin.
The following table of ground water levels at 13 wells located within South Sutter Water District show that ground water depths have recovered to pre drought levels. This is a good example of sustainable ground water management utilizing conjunctive use.
South Sutter Water District will continue to utilize the conjunctive use program to support the Sustainable Ground Water Management Act (SGMA) for this area.
