IID Backs State’s Delta Project, Citing Relief for Colorado River

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2 to endorse California’s Delta Conveyance Project, with managers and directors saying the plan could strengthen the State Water Project and reduce pressure on the drought-stricken Colorado River.

The move is notable because Imperial County does not receive State Water Project water, and IID relies entirely on the Colorado River. The district said the endorsement underscores how the state’s two major water systems are linked, and that improving reliability in one benefits the other. The IID described its action as a “significant and unusual endorsement” in a press release, noting that it is the largest irrigation district in the United States and the largest single user of Colorado River water.