Falling trees break key canal for Tuolumne County water users. Conservation urged
Storm-toppled trees have disrupted the main canal for Tuolumne County water customers, prompting a call for conservation.
The Tuolumne Utilities District said it gets about 95% of its water from the canal, part of a system dating to the Gold Rush. It said more than 200 trees fell onto the canal, which includes wooden flumes in especially steep spots.
TUD asked customers to reduce their use to stretch the supply from storage tanks and wells. The district serves an area roughly from Twain Harte west to Columbia and Jamestown.
An emergency could be declared Thursday, by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, according to mymotherlode.com. That could ease the way for state and federal aid.
The canal is part of a hydropower system on the south fork of the Stanislaus River, owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. TUD treats its water at several plants along the branch ditches. They serve about 90% of the county population, leaving out the Highway 120 corridor.
The canal is prone each winter to freezing or to blockages from heavy snow. Summer brings the threat of wildfire, which prompted TUD and its partners to thin the surrounding forest in recent years.
A district news release this week urged residents to fix leaks, limit outdoor watering and not wash vehicles. TUD also has some agricultural customers, mainly cattle ranchers, but demand is light in winter.
Much more of the Stanislaus River goes to the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts and more distant users.
The south fork system dates to the early 1850s, when gold miners needed water in Columbia, Sonora and other boom towns. PG&E acquired it in the early 1900s, including storage at Pinecrest Lake and Lyons Reservoir.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 11:09 AM.
