UNDERSTANDING THE CANYON TUNNEL PROJECT
Together with its partner Oakdale Irrigation District (OID), South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) is constructing a bypass tunnel for its Joint Supply Canal (JSC). The project, currently referred to as the “Canyon Tunnel Project,” would increase water delivery reliability into the next century.
The JSC conveys water from the Goodwin Dam diversion on the Stanislaus River to both SSJID and OID. The Canyon Tunnel Project would bypass a risk-prone portion of the JSC downstream of the Goodwin Dam, extending around 12,000 feet downstream to a point where the JSC departs from the Stanislaus River canyon. An unstable rock slope occasionally drops rock onto this section of the JSC. The new tunnel would provide a safer work environment for District personnel and additional supply reliability for the District and its customers. The tentative project schedule concludes construction in 2028.
FACTS & FIGURES
- $80 million project
- SSJID covers 72 percent
of the cost, OID covers
28 percent based on
historic water use
- 12,000 lineal feet of
new tunnel - 100 years of water
security
ASSESSING WATER SUPPLY THREATS
• Without the Canyon Tunnel, water supplies to the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy and 52,000 acres in SSJID’s service area are at risk.
• Landslides have previously blocked the movement of water through the canal, including a large landslide in 2013 that removed the canal from operation several months before the irrigation season.
• If the landslide had occurred during the height of the irrigation season, it could have triggered severe water cutbacks and impacted many local growers. The Canyon Tunnel would limit the potential for these hazards and build critical resiliency.
• Without the Canyon Tunnel, water supplies to the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy and 52,000 acres in SSJID’s service area are at risk.
• Landslides have previously blocked the movement of water through the canal, including a large landslide in 2013 that removed the canal from operation several months before the irrigation season.
• If the landslide had occurred during the height of the irrigation season, it could have triggered severe water cutbacks and impacted many local growers. The Canyon Tunnel would limit the potential for these hazards and build critical resiliency.
The Canyon Tunnel Project Creating a Dependable Water Supply for the Next 100 Years
Once completed, the Canyon Tunnel is expected to last for 100 years without the need for major work. This project will significantly reduce maintenance costs, protect employee safety, and advance regional water security for years to come.
For questions or to learn more, email Public and Government Relations Manager Katie Patterson at [email protected].
For questions or to learn more, email Public and Government Relations Manager Katie Patterson at [email protected].
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