About the IID Canal System

Were it not for a steady supply of water from the Colorado River, the Imperial Valley would be little more than desert sand dotted with scrub and creosote. But thanks to the hard work of the farsighted and resourceful pioneers who settled here in the early 1900s, a half-million acres now bloom year-round under a myriad of different crops. With cultivated lands producing nearly $1 billion a year in food and fiber, valley agriculture has earned the region the nickname Winter Salad Bowl of the Nation and contributes significantly to local, state and national economies.

Tucked away in California's southeasternmost corner, the inland valley is bordered by Arizona and Mexico to the east and south, and Riverside and San Diego counties to the north and west. The Colorado River flows along its eastern edge and supplies the sole source of water for cities, farms and industry. The All-American Canal, a superhighway for billions of gallons of water, is the link to the Colorado River. Branching off are three main canals (and the Coachella Valley arm of the All-American Canal) that, with a 3,000-mile-long network of smaller canals and drains, circulate the valley's lifeblood.

The entire system is operated and maintained by the Imperial Irrigation District, which was formed by the people of the area in 1911. Delivering nearly 3.1 million acre-feet of water annually, IID is the world's largest irrigation district and a model of operating efficiency and technical innovation. In addition to water, this public agency also provides electricity to the people of the Imperial and neighboring Coachella valleys.

IID's entire irrigation system is gravity-flow and sprinkled with turbines that generate hydroelectric power. For much of their journey, the canals are like man-made rivers, coursing above ground. Where they cross under roads, land or bridges, the water goes into big concrete pipes, called siphons. These siphons, and other features that enable the system to operate so efficiently, make it especially dangerous to anyone who enters, whether by accident or design. For example, canals are usually located in remote areas far away from population centers - and help. As more of the system becomes automated, gates may be opened by remote control and without warning, so water levels are subject to sudden changes.

The water flowing in canals can be as deep as 20 feet and, while it may appear calm and slow, beneath the surface are swift, strong currents that are extremely hazardous, Sharp rocks, waterfalls and rapids pose additional dangers. Whether lined with concrete or soil, the sides are slippery, steep and extremely difficult to climb once the canal is entered.