California’s water challenges often dominate headlines, but the most effective solutions are frequently happening at the local level. In a compelling conversation on Ag Meter, Josh Weimer, Director of External Affairs for the Turlock Irrigation District (TID), explains how smart water management, technology, and local control are helping one Central Valley community stay resilient amid ongoing drought, regulation, and uncertainty.
Founded in 1887, Turlock Irrigation District is the oldest irrigation district in California. Today, it delivers surface water to roughly 150,000 acres, serving about 4,700 growers—many of them small, multi-generational family farms. TID is also one of only four irrigation districts in the state that provides retail electricity, making it a rare example of a community-owned utility delivering both water and power.
Why Local Control Matters in California Water Policy
One of TID’s biggest advantages, Weimer explains, is local governance. The district is led by five locally elected board members and operates independently from the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. That independence allows TID to make decisions based on local conditions rather than statewide mandates that often fail to reflect on-the-ground realities.
Over the past two decades, TID has focused heavily on maximizing existing infrastructure—improving storage, conveyance, and operational efficiency instead of waiting for large, politically difficult dam projects. According to Weimer, this approach has delivered real results for growers and the broader community.
SGMA and Why Turlock Is Different
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is already reshaping agriculture across California, forcing pumping reductions and land fallowing in critically overdrafted basins. The Turlock Subbasin, however, is one of only two subbasins in the lower San Joaquin Valley that is not critically overdrafted.
That distinction is largely due to reliable surface water supplies from the Tuolumne River. While the basin remains classified as high priority and still has projects ahead, growers within TID’s service area are not facing mandatory pumping cuts—an outcome Weimer says highlights the value of long-term surface water investment.
Moving Beyond “Fish vs. Farmer”
Weimer pushes back on simplistic environmental narratives that frame water policy as a choice between ecosystems and agriculture. Drawing on more than 138 years of stewardship on the Tuolumne River, he argues that every river in California is different and must be managed using river-specific science rather than one-size-fits-all rules.
TID has invested heavily in research, monitoring, and adaptive management, aiming to balance flows, habitat needs, flood control, and irrigation reliability. Agriculture, Weimer emphasizes, remains the backbone of Central Valley communities and a critical component of food security.
Technology Changing Water Management
One of the most forward-looking parts of the interview centers on technology. TID partnered with NASA to develop the Airborne Snow Observatory, which uses LiDAR and imaging spectrometers to measure snowpack across entire watersheds with up to 99 percent accuracy.
By eliminating uncertainty in snowpack estimates, water managers can make better decisions about reservoir operations, flood protection, and water allocations—especially as climate-driven changes cause snow to melt earlier than in the past.
Planning for the Future Starts Now
Weimer stresses that California tends to plan only after crises—wildfires, floods, or droughts—but effective water management requires constant preparation. Wet and average years, he says, are exactly when the state should be planning for the next drought.
Behind TID’s success is a workforce of nearly 500 employees who operate canals, maintain infrastructure, and ensure growers receive water during the irrigation season. Weimer credits them as the true foundation of the district’s reliability.
For anyone concerned about California’s water future, this conversation offers rare insight into what is working—and why. This article captures the highlights, but the full interview dives deeper into the policies, technologies, and people shaping water management in the Central Valley. It’s well worth a listen.