Modesto, Turlock irrigation boards will meet together on Tuolumne River flow issues

The Modesto and Turlock irrigation district boards will get updates Tuesday on proposed flow increases in the lower Tuolumne River.

The boards will hold a rare joint session in Turlock on state and federal efforts to boost releases from Don Pedro Reservoir for salmon and other fish.

MID and TID are in the midst of getting a new federal hydropower license for Don Pedro, built under a 1966 license. The multi-year effort is expected to include conditions aimed at fish.

The districts are more concerned about the releases proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board, which also would affect the Stanislaus and Merced rivers. Water users argue that salmon would be better served by nonflow measures, such as controlling nonnative predators and enhancing spawning gravels.

The meeting will be at 1 p.m. at the TID office, 333 E. Canal Drive, Turlock.

MID also will hold its regular board meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday at 1231 11th St., Modesto. The agenda includes selling water from the abundant snowmelt to out-of-district customers, which could help aquifers recover from the recent drought.

This story was originally published May 21, 2017 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Modesto, Turlock irrigation boards will meet together on Tuolumne River flow issues."