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2 NTRODUCTION A terse, nine-word message told the story: "Water turned through gate at 11 a.m. Everything all right." Thus did Canadian-born engineer George Chaffey signal to his son Andrew in Los Angeles that water was on its way to Imperial Valley. The telegram came from a remote railway siding in the desert called Ogilby. The date was May 14, 1901. Trickling, then gushing through Chaffey's headgate on the Colorado River, the first water coursed down an old stream bed, then through hastily constructed channels into canals dug for the settlers who anxiously awaited it to irrigate their newly-planted crops. In a few short years, the desert had been transformed into a fertile agricultural area. Nine decades later, a group of Chaffey family members were escorted around the Valley by the Imperial Irrigation District, and marveled at what developments had fol- lowed their great-grandfather's engineering accomplishment: On their visit in December, 1994, the visitors saw: . 500,000 acres of land under cultivation in crops like artichokes and lettuce, carrots, wheat and alfalfa. . A network of 1675 miles of canals and laterals - most lined with concrete as a conservation measure - sprung from the original40-mile diversion which first enabled Colorado River water to reach the Valley. . Nine modern cities, rural dwellings and subdivisions that are home to some 300,000 residents. . A bustling trans-border economy, with more growth to be stimulated with the scheduled opening of a new California/Mexico Port of Entry - the largest such installation in the nation. . State-of-the-art computers controlling distribution of water on its long journey from Colorado River dams to farmers' fields. . Hydro-electric installations on the All-American Canal, a newly-repowered generating plant and inter- connecting high-voltage power lines north, south, east and west, ensuring adequate power supplies for homes, businesses and industries. Chaffey's descendants had been aware of their illustrious forebear's achievement, but until their visit last year, had not seen for themselves what had developed afterwards. For within two years, the engineer had left the Valley, his challenge of bringing in water accomplished. In the years that followed, Imperial Irrigation District was formed as a public water and power system, making these services available to residents. What normally would be "profit" thus stays in the community in the form of the lowest utility rates in the region. Today, the District faces different challenges: . Keeping abreast of the increasing demand for electricity . Monitoring use of resources so they are used beneficially . Working on environmental issues involving water quality, and the Salton Sea Resource . Negotiating agreements with other agencies to ensure that the overtapped resources of the Colorado River are equitably shared. This Annual Report provides insight into the operation of the District during 1994 and . plans to keep it abreast of current developments in the future. Were George Chaffey alive today, he would be proud of the men and women who make up the liD and the expertise they bring to today's challenges.