WSP12980

• File Number: 8210.140.20.C
• Description: Imperial Irrigation District ‎(IID)‎
• State: CA
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/9/1996
• Author: Imperial Irrigation District
• Title: Water Requirements and Availability Sutdy ‎(draft)‎
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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The two primary functions of the District's Water Department are the diversion and delivery of
Colorado River water and the operation and maintenance of drainage canals and facilities. The
first function is accomplished through the diversion of water from the Colorado River into the
All-American Canal at Imperial Dam. This water is transported by the All-American Canal
approximately 82 miles and delivered to three main distribution canals which convey water to the
remaining lID distribution system. In total, the District's distribution system consists of
approximately 1,650 miles of canals and laterals, seven regulating reservoirs, and one lateral
interceptor system. Additionally, the District maintains approximately 1,451 miles of surface
drains to collect tail water, operational discharge, and subsurface tile drainage flows. These
drains either flow to the Salton Sea via the Alamo and New River systems or flow directly into
the Salton Sea itself, which serves as a drainage basin for irrigation and storm run-off in the
Imperial, Coachella, and Mexicali Valleys.

In 1994, more than 480,000 acres of farmable land and 41,000 acres of residential, industrial, and
rural lands received nearly 2.65 million acre-feet of water through 5,589 delivery points. Ninety
seven percent of the water supplied by the District is utilized by the agricultural industry, making
the Imperial Valley one of the most productive farming regions in the world and fueling an
agricultural economy of nearly $1 billion.

ILB Location
The Imperial Valley is bordered on the east by Arizona, on the south by Mexico, and on the west
by the California Coastal mountain range. The Salton Sea provides a natural boundary at the
Valley's north end and ultimately serves as a drainage repository for the Valley. Located in the
southeastern portion of California, the Valley is considered to be a part of the arid Colorado
Desert. Elevations range from sea level at the Mexican Border, to 273 feet below sea level at the
bottom of the Salton Sea. Annual rainfall in the Valley averages less than 3 inches, with most
rainfall being associated with brief but intense storms. The Valley's climate is decidedly desert,

Draft: Subject To Revision 12/21/95

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