The South San Joaquin Irrigation District will end its decades-long management agreement with Stanislaus County at Woodward Reservoir, citing concerns over finances, facility upkeep and the protection of drinking water for nearby cities.
The district’s board voted unanimously Tuesday to terminate the agreement, giving one year’s notice before assuming full control of the 2,900-acre reservoir in October 2026.
“It’s the heart of our irrigation system, and for our wholesale water treatment that we provide for communities of Manteca, Lathrop and Tracy,” said Katie Patterson, the district’s public and government relations manager…