Fair Oaks Water District

Fair Oaks Water District Municipal Water Report Info

Since its founding in 1917, the District has evolved from delivering untreated surface water in large, horse-drawn tank wagons to providing high-quality water through 180 miles of modern pipeline. Throughout this evolution, the District's story has been closely intertwined with the community's development.

In the early 1890s, approximately 6,000 acres near the American River were purchased, subdivided, and named Fair Oaks. The Howard-Wilson Publishing Company of Chicago extensively marketed the area in the Midwest as the "Sunset Colony," promoting its many virtues: no saloons, beautiful scenery, respectable citizens, perpetually blooming flowers, year-round fruits and vegetables, no frost or snow, and superior fruit-growing conditions.

The first train arrived in November 1895 with 150 settlers. By late 1897, 1,000 acres had been cleared and planted with oranges, olives, almonds, and other crops. Early settlers understood that the North Fork Ditch Company would provide water indefinitely at $3 per acre annually. However, when North Fork requested a rate adjustment in 1915, concerned Fair Oaks residents formed the Fair Oaks Water Takers Association.

On March 12, 1917, the community voted 184 to 16 to establish the Fair Oaks Irrigation District, which was approved by Sacramento County Supervisors two weeks later. The newly formed Board of Directors included Chairman Sam E. Mack (farmer), J.E. Adams (timber merchant), and Joseph Broadley (contractor).

At its inaugural meeting on March 27, 1917, the Board appointed resident Robert Parker as secretary (at $200 annually), arranged to rent the back room of the Fair Oaks Bank Building for monthly meetings ($60 yearly), and voted to compensate themselves $4 daily plus expenses when conducting District business.

The three-member elected Board governed for 35 years until Fair Oaks voters expanded it to five members serving staggered four-year terms, a structure that continues today. One notable pioneer was Eric Fulton, who served as manager for over 35 years (1913-50). Eric and his son Edwin (Bud) dedicated many hours of service, often with inadequate equipment or compensation.

The District initially supplied untreated surface water from North Fork Ditch Company to irrigate approximately 4,000 acres of vegetables and fruit trees. Water was initially delivered via horse-drawn wooden tank wagons, later upgraded to a wooden main pipe connected to a reservoir. To supplement surface water supplies, the District drilled its first groundwater well in 1940 and a second in 1943.