A control-oriented model of a complex irrigation main canal pool (plant), which is characterized by the exhibition of large variations in their dynamic parameters when the discharge regime changes in the operating range [Q min, Qmax], has been developed using system identification for control procedure and also using real-time data. The control-oriented model is comprised by the nominal model of the true plant and for its uncertainty region bounded by the true plant models under low and high operating discharge regimes (limit operating models). The model is obtained from the use of both experimental data, which correspond to main operating discharge regimes of the true plant, and the Prediction Error framework. The results are very encouraging since control-oriented models facilitate the design of high-performance robust controllers, which allow the operability and efficiency of irrigation main canal pools to be increased and service to the users to be improved. © 2011 IFAC.