El Dorado Irrigation District is an irrigation special district (California Special Districts Association Mapping Project) organized and existing under the California Irrigation District Law (Water Code §20500, et seq.) and authorizing statutes (Water Code §22975, et seq.). The District serves more than 125,000 residents in northern California’s El Dorado County. A scenic drive along Highway 50, heading east from the Sacramento County line to South Lake Tahoe, takes you through the heart of EID’s service area and gives you an overview of the extraordinary geographic diversity of the region.

Water has been and continues to be an undeniable force in shaping the economic, ecological and cultural face of our county. From the earliest days of habitation by American Indians to the discovery of gold in Coloma that sparked the California gold rush, from clusters of black oak and manzanita to pine forests in the Sierra Nevada range, from abundant vineyards and orchards to growing population centers — water is the essential link.

EID customer needs are as broad ranging as the area’s diversity. We provide drinking water for homes, schools and businesses and recycled water from our wastewater treatment plants to irrigate front and backyards and public landscapes. We operate a hydroelectric power project (Project 184) that includes dams, reservoirs and 23 miles of flumes, canals, siphons and tunnels and that was relicensed in 2006 for 40 years.

We own and manage several outdoor recreation sites, including Sly Park Recreation Area near Pollock Pines and a 42-unit campground at Silver Lake.

In all we do, we strive to meet or exceed federal and state standards for water quality, environmental protection and wildlife habitat.

 EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie was interviewed for
the November-December 2013 issue of Irrigation Leader.