Customers of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District are without water
ANDERSON, Calif. - For the first time in 100 years, customers of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District are without water.
Chris Zwaga and her family have owned their property for over 70 years, normally it's a lush green paradise for her horses, but now there’s nothing but dead grass.
Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District Board President Brenda Haynes says this is a culmination of the statewide drought and state policies that sent water to other areas of the state.
Haynes says the district was only given around 14 hundred acre square feet of water per month. Despite having water rights that date back to 1914.
“We’ve all heard that pre-1914 water rights are bulletproof. Well, maybe in the old days they were, but things have changed. Way back in 1914 we didn’t have 40 million people living in CAlifornia,” Haynes said.
Haynes says the board had three options after getting its water allocation.It could have done nothing.
It could have run the water through the canal even though it wouldn’t get past Redding city limits.
Or it could sell the water. The board decided to sell the water to neighboring cities and districts for around 7 million dollars, leaving customers frustrated.
“This is decimating people’s lives. People are losing their animals; people raise hay and whatnot and have lost their livelihood. Water is a serious issue and when you take our water away from us, we’re going to be in big trouble, and we are in big trouble.
The district told Action News Now it doesn’t know what it will do with the money at the moment, and is still deciding on how it could best be spent.
Board members want to remind people that they are also customers of the district, and are working with legal counsel to find any options for relief for everyone.
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/customers-of-the-anderson-cottonwood-irrigation-district-are-without-water/article_fd00204a-04a4-11ed-b2c1-336f2be1edb1.html