The South San Joaquin Irrigation District — the oldest local government entity serving Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon after San Joaquin County — ended the year as it traditionalLY does by supporting community outreach efforts.
Annual staff-led holiday campaigns were a huge success.
SSJID staff donated 50 “Guardian Angel” scrolls to children in need through the Ray of Hope Children’s Services annual giving program.
Employees also donated nearly $1,000 to the Marines annual “Toys for Tots” program. Staff volunteered their time to shop for gifts that could help fill the need to support children locally.
SSJID workers have been participating in the program for four years and look forward to continuing the tradition.
As an organization, SSJID has a strong commitment to the community in supporting local organizations. Among the latest efforts were year-end donations to support struggling families and help provide a safe haven for youth.
The SSJID was able to contribute $5,000 to the “Calling for Kids” campaign conducted by the Boys and Girls Club, and $5,000 to the Second Harvest of the Greater Valley Food Bank’s to support programs addressing hunger in our community.
Last month. SSJID staff volunteered at the Second Harvest of the Greater Valley’s mobile food program, serving approximately 450 families and individuals.
SSJID was established in 1909 to provide a reliable and economical source of irrigation water for the agricultural areas in and around Escalon, Manteca and Ripon. The formation of the District did more than bring needed water to convert 70,000 acres into productive farmland. It literally gave life to these communities.
More than a century later, the SSJID’s investment in the future of the community has paid off with unparalleled water and energy resources for those who call southern San Joaquin County home.
Partnering with the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID), SSJID leaders had the wisdom and foresight to develop the Tri-Dam Project, a system of reservoirs, dams and powerhouses that would increase storage capacity in order to increase the reliability of water supply in drier years, and ensure the financial success of SSJID going forward. Financed without state or federal aid, Tri-Dam hydroelectric plants have a capacity of nearly 135 megawatts, and along with generation sold from additional SSJID hydropower facilities, brings SSJID $4 million to17 million in annual income.
SSJID, besides serving agriculture customers, provides water for more than 240,000 residents in Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, and Mountain House.
