About Us

Who We Are

The San Joaquin Tributaries Authority (SJTA) is a Joint Powers Authority formed in 2012 with the vision of strengthening the resilience and reliability of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. Our mission is to advance collaborative, sustainable water management to achieve reliable and cost-effective water supplies for agriculture, the environment, and communities.

The SJTA members are water suppliers that each bring over a century of experience in water operations and watershed stewardship on the tributaries of the San Joaquin River. For the past century, communities in Alameda, Merced, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties have benefited from the stability, resilience, and quality of resources managed by SJTA members. Together, they serve approximately 260,000 acres of irrigated farmland and 3.2 million residents in communities spanning the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.

Our Members

TID Water and power serving California since 1887 Turlock logo

TID

Turlock Irrigation District

Established in 1887, TID was the first irrigation district in the State of California. TID delivers water through over 250 miles of a gravity-fed canal system that irrigates approximately 150,000 acres of farmland and provides retail electricity to a population of 240,000 within a 662 square-mile area. With a push towards innovation, TID has been a leader in new initiatives and data-driven practices to provide value to its customers.
Modesto Irrigation District logo

MID

Modesto Irrigation District

Established in 1887, MID is a vertically integrated public utility which provides water to more than 2,300 agricultural accounts that irrigate close to 60,000 acres, as well as electricity to more than 131,000 residential, commercial and agricultural accounts in Modesto, Empire, Salida, Waterford, Mountain House, and parts of Escalon, Oakdale, Ripon and Riverbank. MID also treats and delivers up to 67,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of drinking water to the City of Modesto on a wholesale basis.
South San Joaquin Irrigation District logo SSJID

SSJID

South San Joaquin Irrigation District

Established in 1909, SSJID uses its pre-1914 appropriative water rights on the Stanislaus River to supply irrigation water to nearly 50,000 acres of agricultural land through 362 miles of canals and laterals, and 315 miles of pipelines. SSJID provides domestic drinking water to 215,000 customers in the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy, across its 112 square-mile service area in southeastern San Joaquin County, and through a partnership with Oakdale Irrigation District co-owns the Tri-Dam Project that produces carbon-free wholesale electric power.
Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System Services of the San Francisco public utilities commission logo

SFPUC

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Established in 1932, SFPUC owns and operates the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System (RWS), which serves 2.7 million residents and thousands of businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. With system facilities constructed above Don Pedro Reservoir, SFPUC works with MID and TID as partners on the Tuolumne River.

What We Do

Collectively, SJTA’s members have honed expertise on these rivers and in delivering essential services to our communities. We are committed to being involved and engaged in securing the future of both our region and these critical water resources. As stewards of pre-1914 water rights, we know the critical value of established and well managed water rights. These are the foundation of our communities, and support our ability to sustain the people, economy, and environment we serve now and into the future. For more than a century, SJTA member agencies have demonstrated the ability to adapt to changing conditions. Our agencies have adapted to increasing challenges including changing climate, growing populations, new standards for water efficiency technology and treatment, regulations, disaster preparedness and response, all while maintaining a reliable and safe supply of water for our communities.

Our Priorities

SJTA’s priorities include:

  • Optimize Assets: Identify, elevate, and maximize SJTA’s collective resources, scientific expertise, and proven track record of effective water and energy management.
  • Local Discretion: Protect regional water system investments through local control.
  • One Voice: Elevate the identity and effectiveness of SJTA by developing a unified voice.
  • Cultivate Relationships: Cultivate and broaden relationships with policy leaders, elected officials, and government staff at all levels to strengthen trust and achieve the mission of SJTA.
  • Collaborate: Build collaborative partnerships and projects for multiple benefits.
  • Tell the Story: Increase awareness and understanding of the widespread benefits from the water systems and resources managed by SJTA members.

Commissioners

SJTA is governed by a Commission composed of one elected representative from each member agency. The Commission sets the organization’s priorities, oversees the organization and actively represents SJTA in various state and federal venues. The SJTA Commission holds quarterly meetings that are open to the public for participation in person at the Turlock Irrigation District (333 E. Canal Drive, Turlock, CA) or via webinar.

Meet Our Commissioners

Staff

Executive Director

Andree Lee has over 18 years of professional experience performing and managing water resources projects. Her specialty is facilitating collaborative solutions to complex water management challenges among agencies and stakeholders. She has managed multi-million-dollar efforts to plan for water resilience in the face of climate change, growth, and regulatory changes. Her experience also includes leading regional and countywide supply planning efforts, securing water transfer options, and evaluating the feasibility of developing new water supply sources such as ocean desalination, recycled water, groundwater banking. Ms. Lee is supported by EKI Environment and Water Inc.’s Water Resources and Engineering team.