Los Banos Rotary Club History
Treadwell Tells of New Water Dist.

The intent, scope and purpose of the Central California Mutual Water District was explained to members of the Rotary Club Tuesday noon by Willard Treadwell, Merced attorney who is attached to the district’s legal staff.
Briefly tracing the history of irrigation water on the West Side, Treadwell pointed out that the San Joaquin Canal Co. was created in 1871, and in the ensuing years this company and its affiliates have been able to create for the agricultural land of this area water rights that are of tremendous value.

The Mutual Water District, Treadwell explained, was organized and incorporated in November, 1944, for the avowed purpose of protecting and preserving these water rights of the people of this area. It is a non-profit corporation, with membership open to owners, contract-buyers or tenants of land included within the service areas of the local canal companies. The stock is subject to assessments as determined by the Board of directors, up to a maximum of 25c per acre.

Treadwell pointed out that with the Bureau of Reclamation assuming an ever greater control of all irrigation waters in the state, the members feel that a strong permanent organization is needed to safeguard the water rights of this area. Competent engineers and expert legal counsel will be employed primarily as a fact-finding body so that if the need comes, the district will have available all necessary facts and information that might be pertinent to the situation.

“Water is the lifeblood of this area.” Treadwell concluded, “and if, through lack of diligence we permit our service rights to be disturbed or latered, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”

The speaker was introduced by program chairman D. Oliver Germino, who in his opening remarks paid high tribute to the speaker’s father, Atty. Edward Treadwell of San Francisco, whom, Germino said is the man most responsible for creation of California law establishing and protecting water rights as an integral part of the land itself.

July 15, 1947

 

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