Byron, CA (April 30, 2025) – The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) Board of Directors has declared an emergency following the failure of the aging Wicklund Cut Pump Station. The failure threatens water supply to thousands of acres of farmland.
Critical Infrastructure Failure
The main electrical system for century-old Wicklund Cut Pump Station failed, damaging critical pumps and controls.
Half of the pumping capacity is currently lost. With no replacement parts available for the 100-year-old pumps, water deliveries to 6,500 acres of farmland and over 100 growers in BBID’s West Side Service Area are at serious risk.
Temporary emergency measures are in place, including the use of a backup generator to power the remaining pumps.
“These emergency measures are merely a temporary fix. They keep water flowing for now, but they don’t address the root of the problem — we’re depending on a century-old facility to serve today’s needs,” said BBID General Manager Ed Pattison. “This crisis underscores the critical need for long-term investment in a fully modernized Wicklund Cut Pump Station — a project we remain committed to and continue actively pursuing funding to bring to life.”
Diesel generator powers operations until emergency repair is complete.
Economic Impact and Urgent Need
The affected farmland generates approximately $7 million annually from high-value crops and orchards, and supports numerous related industries. A complete failure of the remaining pumps could devastate the agricultural economy of the region during peak growing season.
The Wicklund Cut Pump Station is the sole source of water for BBID’s West Side Service Area and is being evaluated as a possible critical backup water supply for the City of Mountain House, which is under a state mandate to secure a secondary water source during periods of curtailment of BBID’s rights.
An aerial view of the Wicklund Cut Pump Station.
Call for Emergency Support
BBID is actively seeking emergency funding assistance from federal and state agencies to offset the cost of emergency repairs while expediting the development of a modern, reliable replacement facility.
In 2023, BBID and the City of Mountain House began planning to replace the century-old pump station with a modernized facility to serve the area for generations to come. BBID is seeking grant funding to help pay for the $45 million pump station replacement project. In the meantime, the District remains committed to securing an immediate solution to prevent the interruption of water deliveries to growers this summer.
“We’re racing against time,” Pattison added. “We need our partners at all levels of government to recognize the urgency of this situation and join us in taking action.”
WATCH: Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wicklund Cut Pump Station Replacement Project (May 2024)
