The District has two primary watersheds, the San Joaquin River and the Kings River, which greatly affect the foothill and valley floor.
Watershed information is available from the State Water Quality Resources Control Board and US Forest Service. Additional watershed/water flow information may be obtained from PG&E and Southern California Edison (power dams and snow packs), and the Bureau of Reclamation (Friant Dam), and the Army Corp of Engineers (Pine Flat Reservoir) and several irrigation districts.
Flooding and soil erosion due to water movement has been a historical problem. The Army Corp of Engineers constructed Francher-Redbank Creek Project, which has reduced the flooding problems on the valley floor.
Flood prone areas are identified in the Flood Hazard Analysis of Northeast Fresno and the more general Flood Hazard Study Maps that are used by the Housing and Urban Development Department.
Canals and irrigation districts on the valley floor provide agricultural water during the dry summer months. Their boundaries and practices can affect the SRCD conservation efforts.
Information on individual and community wells, County Service Area (CSA’s for community water systems), wastewater treatment is available from the Fresno County Environmental Health Department, and the Fresno County Community Development Department.
Groundwater and recharge capabilities of land on the Valley floor and the foothills are an important concern addressed in the Fresno County General Plan. Specifically discussed are the increased pressure on water resources and diminishing capacity for recharge caused by conversion of agricultural and rangeland to other uses.
