The Oakdale Irrigation District is embarking on a search to fill the Water Operations Manager position. Kevin King completed six years with the district and has held the Water Operations Manager position since early 2006. King’s last day will be Nov. 2.

General Manger Steve Knell reported that King has taken a job at Solano Irrigation District. Knell added that King and his wife are from the Solano area.

The OID Board of Directors approved at its Oct. 6 meeting that William Avery and Associates Inc. will handle the recruitment for the position. The district anticipates it will take several months to fill the position and expect it will be filled after the first of the year.

The Water Operations Manager oversees the duties of all water related functions at OID including the Ag water department, pest control department, and water utilities department, which are made up of 31 employees.

More specifically, Knell reported that the position manages and schedules the 23 DSOs (ditch tenders) needed to run irrigation water; prepares and manages the 300,000 acre feet water budget made available annually to OID; identifies improvement projects for better water management; ensures that OID and its landowners comply with the reasonable and beneficial use standards of the State; oversees the collection, testing and management of OID and constituent drainage discharges to ensure state compliance, prepares and submits an annual report to the State; oversees the district’s pest management and aquatic weed control program; wintertime storm water management of the system; and oversees staff associated with OID’s Rural Water System of domestic water customers and the management of six Domestic Water Improvement Districts.

“Organization-wise he is taking a lateral move,” Knell said of King. “We all will miss Kevin both as a friend and for what he brought to OID professionally.”