AWWA WQTC52769

Woodward Reservoir is located in Stanislaus County in northern Californiaand is owned and operated by South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID). The District can impoundup to 36,000 acre-feet of Stanislaus River water in the reservoir. The water has been used for agricultural irrigation within the District's boundaries since the beginning of the 20th century. The reservoir is also used for recreational activities including body contact recreation, boating, and fishing. SSJID is proposing to use its surface water supply as a source of treated water to supplement groundwater supplies in order to meet growing urban demands. Irrigation demands control upstream releases into the reservoir from Goodwin Dam on the Stanislaus River. The California Department of Health Services does not allow water body contact sports in reservoirs used for drinking water supply. The challenge, discussed in this paper, was to develop a system that will allow the continued use of the reservoir for recreation, allow grazing to continue on the watershed, and, at that same time, provide source protection to reduce the risk from microbial contamination. Includes 14 references, tables, figures.