Serving Agriculture Through Reliable Water Management Since 1954

The Colusa County Water District (CCWD) is a public irrigation district located in Colusa County, California, near the community of Arbuckle. Established in 1954, the District was created to secure and deliver Central Valley Project (CVP) surface water to supplement local groundwater supplies and provide a reliable water source for the region.

Today, CCWD encompasses approximately 47,415 gross acres, including 41,788 irrigable acres, and 39,699 productive acres. The District’s primary mission is the delivery and responsible management of Central Valley Project surface water. While agriculture remains the District's largest customer, CCWD has “Urban Customers” using non-potable irrigation delivered under an Municipal and Industrial (M&I) contract. This includes recreational and public facilities, helping support both the local economy and quality of life.

Through responsible water management and long-term planning, the District works to maximize the benefits of imported surface water while supporting the sustainable management of local groundwater resources for future generations. Although the District's primary focus is the delivery of imported surface water, responsible groundwater management remains an important part of protecting the region's long-term water resources. Since the passage of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014, CCWD has worked alongside local agencies to support sustainable groundwater management.

Our History

The Colusa County Water District was formed in 1954 with the goal of securing a dependable supply of Central Valley Project water for the region. At the time, local agriculture relied heavily on groundwater pumping, and imported surface water was intended to supplement those supplies, improve water reliability, and reduce pressure on local aquifers.

Water deliveries became possible following the construction of the Tehama-Colusa Canal, a major feature of the Central Valley Project. Today, CCWD receives water from the Tehama-Colusa Canal and operates the facilities needed to distribute that water throughout the District to agricultural, municipal, and industrial customers.

CCWD is a founding member of the Colusa Groundwater Authority (CGA), which serves as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for much of Colusa County. Through this partnership, the District helps implement groundwater sustainability efforts.