On November 16, 2020, Chuck Birdsong installed a starter coupler that helped join one pipe to another so that water from the Tuolumne River could be pumped from the Rodoni property to the Rairden property on leased ground also known as the AB La Grange Ranch. Both properties are along Highway 132, a few miles west of La Grange and just over twelve miles east of Waterford in the southeastern corner of Stanislaus County. The Tuolumne River borders the south edge of both properties.
At least four other men were involved in installing the pipe and irrigation system. The pump along the river is 24 horsepower, 480 volts, operates at 1800 revolutions per minute and can deliver 3400 gallons per minute. It’s located on a 50 acre parcel.
All the information above is from Todd Sill’s journal. Readers of recent stories will remember Mr. Sill as the person who contradicted Larry Byrd’s claim on July 8 that he pumps “almost daily and sometimes daily” from two deep wells on the AB La Grange Ranch…