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Paradise Irrigation District details recovery work, Magalia Dam repair and potential regional partnerships
Summary
Kevin Phillips, district manager of Paradise Irrigation District, described post‑Camp Fire recovery projects (replacement of service laterals, new meters), Magalia Dam repair design at roughly 60% complete, and possible regional water partnerships including transfers via Hendricks Canal. He said the district hopes to begin construction on the dam repair in 2026.
Kevin Phillips, district manager of Paradise Irrigation District (PID), presented a status update on PID recovery and long‑range projects, including replacement of service laterals, Magalia Dam repair design, and opportunities to partner with Butte County on regional water storage and transfers.
Phillips said PID has replaced service laterals for new lots after the Camp Fire and expects to finish that project in August (year not specified). He said the Magalia Dam design is about 60% complete and the district has applied for construction funding; the dam repair would restore roughly two‑thirds of the reservoir’s lost capacity, increasing storage from about 800 acre‑feet to roughly 2,250 acre‑feet (an increase of approximately 1,500 acre‑feet). He said the district hopes to begin construction in 2026 and suggested a completion timeframe that may extend toward 2028.
Phillips described several operational and regional options: releases into Little Butte Creek, transfers via the Hendricks Canal and the potential to use Hendricks to bring Feather River water into PID reservoirs. He said treated‑water pipeline options and partnerships with Cal Water were discussed after the fire but noted technical, control and cost questions remain; PID has capacity in its treatment plant but is not currently pursuing the Tuscan Ridge development as an operator.
Commissioners and members of the public raised technical questions about conveyance capacity, environmental constraints and whether PID could market stored water to help regional groundwater sustainability. Phillips suggested PID could potentially market several thousand acre‑feet (he mentioned 2,500 acre‑feet as a plausible, illustrative figure) but said numbers will depend on operations and the outcome of design work.
Public commenters and commissioners also discussed the timing of reservoir spills, current turbidity and local conveyance plumbing that can route water to different systems. Several participants indicated interest in follow‑up meetings and field visits.
What’s next: PID offered to continue coordination with county staff and commissioners; commissioners asked for future updates on dam health and any features affecting Lake Oroville or other nearby storage.
