Food for Thought

In the 2019 calendar year, power utilized in Westlands Water District (District) was 100% carbon-free power, in accordance with the standards created by the California Energy Commission.

The Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority (PWRPA) and the District

The District utilized hydroelectric and solar power, purchased from the Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority (PWRPA), to achieve 100% carbon-fee power. PWRPA is a joint powers authority governed by representatives from irrigation and water districts that spans a significant portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin valleys and coastal counties of California. PWRPA’s portfolio generally includes hydroelectric power from the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and utility scale solar power.

The District’s participation in PWRPA provides a low-cost energy alternative to deliver water on farms for growers, promotes conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water supply, and enhances water management. In the 2019 calendar year, PWRPA delivered carbon-free power to facilities enrolled in the District’s Groundwater Management Program (groundwater wells), Irrigation System Management Program (filtration and drip/micro spray systems), and by pumping plants that divert water from canals.

Carbon-Free Power

The District’s achievement aligns with the state of California’s goal of reaching 100% renewable and zero-carbon electricity by 2045. Using carbon-free power reduces the dependence on, and need for, fossil fuel-based energy sources.

Generally, the most widely available sources of carbon-free energy are hydroelectric plants, wind farms, and solar farms. These types of carbon-free power are replenished when used and, when sufficient water, wind, and sun are present, provide non-depleting sources of energy.

Celebrating A Carbon-Free 2019

The District is proud to have utilized sustainable and 100% carbon-free power in 2019. Westlands works alongside its growers to constantly improve upon the effective and responsible ways fresh and nutritious food and fiber products are produced within the District.

What is happening in the District 

Winter in California agriculture can commonly evoke images of beige balding trees, desolate fields and long solitary country roads. However, a much more colorful and vibrant picture exists thanks to the Central San Joaquin Valley’s Mediterranean climate, rich soil and availability of surface water – citrus harvest happens in the dead of winter all across the Valley. Bright tangerines, yellow lemons, plump oranges, and blush grapefruit lay hidden within the thick greenery of citrus trees, ripe for harvest. 

There’s always something colorful happening in the District, it is out there just waiting to be discovered. 

By The Numbers – Citrus:

The Central San Joaquin Valley is truly unique as its one of only five[1] Mediterranean climates globally. The combination of climate, soil and water make this region a year-round producer of your favorite fruits, vegetables, fiber and legumes. Stay tuned for the magic of blossom season, you won’t want to miss thousands of acres in bloom! 

What else is happening in the District?

In Westlands, a network of underground, fully enclosed pipelines serve water users. District staff work closely with growers in order to ensure every drop of water running through over 1,000 miles of that underground network is preserved, delivered, and efficiently used. 

District staff is constantly working to improve its delivery system. One of the projects Westlands is undertaking this year is the replacement of approximately 1.5 miles of piping, named lateral* 27R, located in the southern part of the District.  This replacement project will improve the ability of the District to provide its users with a reliable water supply.

The 27R project is scheduled for completion this month, until then, you may see plenty of neon vested individuals working diligently in an effort to continue carrying out the District’s mission of providing timely and reliable water services to landowners and water users in western Fresno and Kings counties.

Interested in learning more about the District?

In every season of the year, growers in Westlands are busy planning, planting, irrigating, harvesting, and transporting in order to provide nutritious, delicious and sustainable fruits, veggies and fibers we use and enjoy daily. 

If you are interested in experiencing the District and the agriculture in this region of the world, contact the Public Affairs department for a tour. We will show you why and how this area of the world has become industry leaders in technological innovation, water conservation and production. 

Public Affairs Contact information:
Email: pubaffairs@wwd.ca.gov 

[1] International Union for Conservation of Nature

April 19, 2018

The Anti-Ag Agenda

Judges often require litigants to engage in settlement negotiations and make a good faith attempt to reach a mutually-beneficial solution. That well-established process was followed by the Obama Administration and the Westlands Water District in agreeing to a settlement involving the federal government’s failure to provide a drainage solution under the San Luis Act.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Not to the professional critics of Westlands Water District. Their opposition to the settlement is yet another Trojan Horse in their long effort to oppose any progress that helps California agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. They consistently condemn policies that allow flexibility in water management, criticize efforts to improve the state’s water infrastructure, and oppose projects to build storage to offset water shortages. They refuse to acknowledge present day solutions to end a decades-old issue.

But now it should be clear to everyone, it’s not about the settlement, it’s about being anti-agriculture. Fresno Bee’s Website.

It’s time for honesty in the very worthwhile debate about how YOUR water is being prioritized.

June 15, 2018

Why is it that raising taxes is always the first option?

A recent Sacramento Bee editorial (Some 360,000 Californians can’t drink the water. And still no fix for this disgrace) focused exclusively on a proposal to impose a new water tax on water users to ensure clean drinking water statewide. Although the budget effort failed, the proponents of the water tax would have you believe the issue is simply about water contamination and the funds necessary to pay for new water treatment facilities. But that’s not true.

Without question, ensuring that all Californians have access to clean drinking water is critically important. Here’s a novel idea policy-makers should consider in addressing the underlying cause of this problem; federal and state regulators should operate the statewide water system in place to supply the maximum amount of water available to urban and rural communities. This, more than any other action, would do more to improve groundwater levels and improve water quality around the state, which would address harm caused by the weather- and regulatory-induced droughts.

The Bee editorial is right –– it’s not rocket science. California can improve water quality by allowing its water system to operate effectively. But, unlike the water tax, it will not cost one additional penny.

It’s time for honesty in the very worthwhile debate about how YOUR water is being prioritized.

July 3, 2018

But why is “Part A” always ignored or understated?

Water quality in the Central Valley is a real problem and a recurring theme in the media. A recent story (Overpumping of Central Valley has side effect: too much arsenic) focused on the problem. The trouble is, usually one cause of the problem is overemphasized, and the other cause of the problem is underreported. In this article, groundwater pumping is mentioned 11 times as the cause of the problem, while the lack of surface water deliveries to the Central Valley, due to federal and state laws and regulations, is mentioned only once and not much of an explanation is provided.

To be clear, the laws and regulations restricting operation of the federal Central Valley Project have drastically reduced surface water deliveries to California communities and farms. As a result, communities and farms have been forced to pump groundwater (see graph below). To handle Part B of the problem, the state is implementing a major program, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The program promises to “halt overdraft and bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge.”

To permanently solve the problem and not only halt overdraft, but also recharge the underground aquifers, the government needs to solve Part A of the problem. A good start would be an acknowledgement that Part A is a problem. The water system needs to be operated as it was intended – a system to provide surface water to urban and rural communities throughout the state for residential and agricultural purposes.

So, to improve the quality and quantity of water, a good start would be for all involved to first agree on the FACTS.

It’s time for honesty in the very worthwhile debate about how YOUR water is being prioritized.