The story of the MID begins with water…or rather the lack of it. It was that one issue that led to the creation of a California irrigation district law.

The District's 208 miles of canals operate on a gravity flow system. Canals were completed in 1903 and the first official MID irrigation season opened in 1904.

MID provides irrigation water to approximately 60,000 acres, typically between mid-March and late October each year. Modesto receives an average of 12.21" of rain per rainfall year (July 1-June 30).

Stanislaus County's top 10 crops are: milk, almonds, chickens, chicken eggs, turkeys, grapes, walnuts, cattle and calves, tomatoes and peaches.

The water story opened a new chapter in 1994 when MID began operating the Modesto Regional Water Treatment Plant. The MID treats surface water and sells it to one customer - the City of Modesto. Phase Two is currently under development.

Want to know more? Read "The Greening of Paradise Valley" for the complete history of the MID.