Imperial Irrigation District
Encyclopedia
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) was formed in 1911 under the California Irrigation District Act to acquire the properties of the bankrupt California Development Company
and its Mexican subsidiary. The IID had acquired 13 mutual water companies, which had developed and operated distribution canals in the Imperial Valley, by 1922. It is currently based in El Centro, California
.
Since 1942, water has been diverted at Imperial Dam
on the Colorado River
through the All-American Canal
, all of which the IID operates and maintains.
The IID also remotely operates the Brock Reservoir
by opening and closing the inlet and outlet gates and regulating the amount of water diverted into the reservoir and returned to the main system.
The district also supplies electricity to residents of the Imperial Valley including the cities of El Centro, Calexico
, Holtville, Brawley and other small towns in the area.
Imperial Irrigation District Electricity provides electric power to more than 145,000 customers in the Imperial Valley and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties. As the sixth largest utility in California, IID Energy controls more than 1,100 megawatts of energy derived from a diverse resource portfolio that includes its own generation, and long- and short-term power purchases.
California Development Company
The California Development Company was formed in 1896 as a replacement for the defunct Colorado River Irrigation Company, which had been started a few years earlier for the purpose of planning an irrigation system for the lower Colorado Desert in California...
and its Mexican subsidiary. The IID had acquired 13 mutual water companies, which had developed and operated distribution canals in the Imperial Valley, by 1922. It is currently based in El Centro, California
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
.
Since 1942, water has been diverted at Imperial Dam
Imperial Dam
The Imperial Diversion Dam is a concrete slab and buttress, ogee weir structure across the California/Arizona border, northeast of Yuma. Completed in the 1938, the dam retains the waters of the Colorado River into the Imperial Reservoir before desilting and diversion into the All-American Canal,...
on the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
through the All-American Canal
All-American Canal
The All-American Canal is an long aqueduct, located in southeastern California. It conveys water from the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley and to nine cities. It is the Imperial Valley's only water source, and replaced the Alamo Canal, which was located mostly in Mexico...
, all of which the IID operates and maintains.
The IID also remotely operates the Brock Reservoir
Brock Reservoir
Brock Reservoir is a man-made reservoir located near Gordons Well, California. The reservoir consists of two basins that can hold a combined total of of water. It holds water from the All-American Canal until it can be used for nearby agriculture....
by opening and closing the inlet and outlet gates and regulating the amount of water diverted into the reservoir and returned to the main system.
The district also supplies electricity to residents of the Imperial Valley including the cities of El Centro, Calexico
Calexico
Calexico is a Tucson, Arizona-based Americana / Alternative country band. The band's two main members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand. They have recorded a number of albums on Quarterstick Records, while their 2005 EP In the...
, Holtville, Brawley and other small towns in the area.
Imperial Irrigation District Electricity provides electric power to more than 145,000 customers in the Imperial Valley and parts of Riverside and San Diego counties. As the sixth largest utility in California, IID Energy controls more than 1,100 megawatts of energy derived from a diverse resource portfolio that includes its own generation, and long- and short-term power purchases.
See also
- All-American CanalAll-American CanalThe All-American Canal is an long aqueduct, located in southeastern California. It conveys water from the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley and to nine cities. It is the Imperial Valley's only water source, and replaced the Alamo Canal, which was located mostly in Mexico...
- All-American Canal BridgeAll-American Canal BridgeThe All-American Canal Bridge is a bridge that carries Interstate 8 over the All-American Canal, a canal that supplies water from the Colorado River to the agricultural areas of the Imperial Valley....
- Alamo CanalAlamo CanalThe Alamo Canal was a long waterway that connected the Colorado River to the head of the Alamo River. The canal was constructed to provide irrigation to the Imperial Valley. A small portion of the canal was located in the United States but the majority of the canal was located in Mexico...
- California Development CompanyCalifornia Development CompanyThe California Development Company was formed in 1896 as a replacement for the defunct Colorado River Irrigation Company, which had been started a few years earlier for the purpose of planning an irrigation system for the lower Colorado Desert in California...
- Colorado River Irrigation CompanyColorado River Irrigation CompanyThe Colorado River Irrigation Company was incorporated in Colorado on January 7, 1892 for the purpose of irrigating "lands contiguous to the Colorado River." The company founders claimed to be able to irrigate , with of that being in San Diego County, California and the remainder in Baja...
- Imperial Canal
- Imperial Land CompanyImperial Land CompanyThe Imperial Land Company was a land colonization company incorporated in California in March, 1900 for the purpose of encouraging settlement of the Imperial Valley thus providing customers for the California Development Company...
- Imperial ValleyImperial ValleyThe Imperial Valley is an agricultural area of Southern California's Imperial County. It is located in southeastern Southern California, centered around the city of El Centro. Locally, the terms "Imperial Valley" and "Imperial County" are used synonymously. The Valley is bordered between the...
- Brock ReservoirBrock ReservoirBrock Reservoir is a man-made reservoir located near Gordons Well, California. The reservoir consists of two basins that can hold a combined total of of water. It holds water from the All-American Canal until it can be used for nearby agriculture....