Westlands Water District is committed to providing current and accurate information to our water users and to the general public. Our Public Affairs staff are available to answer questions and provide information. News releases, monthly newsletters, and our blog “Food for Thought,” are provided below. Media inquiries please email at media@wwd.ca.gov; all other inquiries please contact Public Affairs at 559-241-6233 or by email at pubaffairs@wwd.ca.gov.
News Releases & Statements
Westlands Water District provides regular updates on District activities, legislative updates and news. Press releases are organized below by subject matter and by date.
Westlands Water District Addresses the 50% Allocation Update from the Central Valley Project
Westlands Water District Responds to 40% Allocation Update from the Central Valley Project
Westlands Water District Appoints Renowned Fisheries and Water Management Expert Brad Cavallo as Science Advisor
Westlands Water District Now Accepting Applications for 2025 High School Scholarships
Westlands Water District Responds to Initial 2025 Allocation
Westlands Water District Lauds President Trump's Commitment to Improving California Water
Westlands Water Announces Promotion of Key Staff
Westlands Water District Elects Five Board Members
Stephen Farmer Assumes Role as Chief Administrative Officer for Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District Secures $2M WaterSMART Grants for Conservation and Drought Resiliency
Westlands Water District Supports use of Adaptive Management
Assemblywoman Soria’s AB 2661 to Accelerate Clean Energy Development in the Central Valley Signed by Governor Newsom
Westlands Water District Celebrates the Completion of Phase One of the Pasajero Groundwater Recharge Project
Westlands Water District Awarded Nearly $2M to Increase Water Management Efficiency and Conservation throughout the District
Westlands Water District Awarded $1,000,000 by the California Department of Water Resources
Westlands Water District Responds to Water Allocation Update
Westlands Water District Responds to Lack of Expected May Water Allocation Update
Westlands Water District Awarded $25 Million through a Federal Grant to Fund Drought Preparedness Projects
Westlands Water District Announces 2024 Scholarship Winners
Westlands Water District Responds to Disappointing Central Valley Project Water Allocation Update
Westlands Water District Responds to the 35 Percent Water Allocation for the Central Valley Project
Westlands Water District Exceeds Annual Groundwater Recharge Goal
Westlands Water District Now Accepting Applications for 2024 High School Scholarships
Westlands Water District Responds to Central Valley Project Initial Water Allocation
Westlands Water District Welcomes Jeff Payne as New Assistant General Manager
Westlands Water District Achieves Ambitious Groundwater Recharge Goal
Westlands Water District Statement on Senator Feinstein's Passing
Westlands Water District Clears Key Milestone Toward Groundwater Recharge Goal
Westlands Water District Announces Departure of Key Personnel
Westlands’ Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Receives Green Light
Westlands Water District Farmers Awarded $4 Million through LandFlex Program to Minimize Groundwater Footprint
Westlands Water District Shows Groundwater Recharge Success
Westlands Water District & Partners Awarded Grant from California Department of Conservation for Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program
Westlands Water District Encourages Growers to Apply for Phase 2 of LandFlex Grant Funding
Westlands Water District Announces 2023 Scholarship Winners
Westlands Water District Receives Grant Award for Desalination and On-Farm Recycling Project
Westlands Water District Celebrates 100% Water Allocation from the Central Valley Project
Westlands Water District Responds to Increased Central Valley Project Initial Water Allocation
Westlands Water District Names New General Manager
Westlands Water District Receives Recommendation for Approval to Advance Groundwater Storage and Sustainability Efforts
Westlands Water District Now Accepting Applications for the District’s 2023 High School Scholarships
Westlands Water District Responds to Central Valley Project Initial Water Allocation
Westlands Water District Names Jose Gutierrez as Interim General Manager
New Board President and New Board Members
Westlands Water District General Manager, Thomas Birmingham, Announces Retirement
Announcement of General Manager's Retirement
Westlands Water District Celebrates 70th Anniversary
Westlands Water District announces recipients of its 2022 West Side Scholarship
Westlands Water District awarded $7.6 Million Grant by the California Department of Water Resources
Westlands Water District Announces 2022 Scholarship Application Period
New Report Finds Over 35,000 Local Jobs Rely on Westlands Water District Agricultural Production
Westlands Water District Board of Directors Appoints Jeff Fortune to Fill Board Vacancy
Westlands Water District Statement on Initial CVP Water Allocation
Westlands Water District Responds to Incomplete Determination for Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Westlands Water District Provides Families in Huron with Food for the Holidays
Eight accomplished high school students awarded Westlands Water District’s 2021 Westside Scholarship
Westlands Water District Prohibits Landscape Watering in Response to Bureau of Reclamation’s Allocation Reduction for Agricultural, Municipal and Industrial Water Contractors
Westlands Water District Applauds Governor Newsom’s Drought Declaration, Investment in Water Infrastructure Repairs
Westlands Wins $3.96 Million from DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program
Westlands Water District Board of Directors Appoints Ryan Ferguson as President
Westlands Water District Announces 2021 Scholarship Application Period for College-Bound Seniors
Westlands Water District Responds to Reclamation’s Delay in Access to Water Allocation for South-of-Delta Repayment and Water Service Contractors
Westlands Water District Awarded $1.6 Million WaterSMART Grant From U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Westlands Water District Responds to Reclamation’s Five Percent Allocation for South-of-Delta Repayment and Water Service Contractors
Westlands Water District Applauds Gov. Newsom’s Habitat Improvement Funding Proposal
Westlands Water District Board of Directors Appoints Ceil Howe III to Fill Board Vacancy
Westlands Water District Donates 4.61 Acres to City of Mendota for Rojas Pierce Park Expansion Project
Westlands Water District and the California Department of Water Resources partnered to complete Delta habitat restoration project
Congratulations to Daniel Errotabere, the 2020 Agriculturalist of the Year
Westlands accepting Board of Director Declarations of Candidacy
Westlands Water District announces recipients of its 2020 West Side Scholarship
Statement from Westlands Water District Board President on Letter from U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Members of the House of Representatives to Governor Newsom
Westlands Water District Announces 2020 Scholarship Application Period for College-Bound Seniors
Statement on Congressional Letter to Governor Newsom on Incidental Take Permit
Statement from Thomas Birmingham, General Manager of Westlands Water District, on the Execution of the District’s Repayment Contract
Westlands Water District Statement on 2020 Initial Allocation
Don Peracchi Steps Down as President of Westlands Water District
Statement from Tom Birmingham, General Manager of Westlands Water District, in response to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s proposed conversion of the Westlands Water District water service contract to a repayment contract
Termination of Shasta Dam Raise CEQA Analysis
Statement on Petition for Writ of Mandate
Westlands Water District Announces Recipients of the Six Westside Scholarships
Statement on May 2019 allocation increase
Westlands Water District Special Projects Manager announces retirement
Statement from Westlands Water District on Bureau of Reclamation’s April Allocation Announcement
Westlands Water District Announces 2019 Scholarship Application Period for College-Bound Seniors
Statement from Westlands Water District on Bureau of Reclamation’s Water Supply Allocation Announcement
Westlands Water District Announces Departure of Deputy General Manager of External Affairs, Johnny Amaral
Statement from Westlands Water District on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Initial Water Supply Allocation
Agreement Between U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources Supported by Public Water Agencies
Westlands Water District Selects New Public Affairs Representative
Drought Resiliency Grant Awarded to Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District Announces Recipients of the West Side Scholarships
Westlands Water District Selects New General Counsel
Westlands Growers Launch Charitable Fund to Support Central Valley Students, Communities, and Causes
Westlands Growers Launch Charitable Fund to Support Central Valley Students, Communities, and Causes
Westlands Water District Statement on California WaterFix
Current Water Policies Impacting the Central Valley Create Uncertain Future for Central Valley Ag Communities, New Report Details
Westlands Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy
Westlands Water District Announces Recipients of the West Side Scholarships
Statement from Westlands Water District on 100 Percent Allocation Announcement
Statement from Westlands Water District on Bureau of Reclamation’s Initial Water Supply Allocation
Statement by the Board of Directors of the Westlands Water District on the Selection of a New General Counsel and Special Counsel
November 7, 2016 (PDF) Surplus Equipment / Vehicle Sale
August 16, 2016 – Joint Press Release (PDF) UC Davis Study Proves Government-Caused Drought Far Worse Than Drought Caused By Mother Nature
July 12, 2016 – Press Release (PDF) Fitch Removes Westlands’ Negative Watch Rating
FitchRatings Document – July 2016
June 24, 2016 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Don Peracchi, President of the Board
June 8, 2016 (PDF) 2016 Scholarship Recipients
April 1, 2016 (PDF) Statement of Westlands on Bureau of Reclamation’s Allocation Announcement
March 9, 2016 (PDF) WWD Statement on Settlement with US SEC
February 10, 2016 – Joint Press Release (PDF) Water Agencies Encouraged by Introduction of Senate Water Bill
January 13, 2016 – Press Release (PDF) Intro of HR 3466, San Luis Unit Drainage Resolution Act
October 30, 2015 – Joint Press Release (PDF) Statement on Closure of Comment Period for CA WaterFix EIR
SLDMWA & WWD Comments on RDEIR (PDF)
Public Water Agencies Joint Comment Letter (PDF)
September 15, 2015 (PDF) Statement of Westlands Water District on Settlement of Drainage Lawsuit
Drainage Settlement Factsheet (PDF)
Fresno Bee editorial – Westlands Settlement Deal is a Smart Compromise (PDF)
August 2015 – Joint Press Release (PDF) Court Denies Motion to Enjoin Releases to the Klamath River
August 2015 – Joint Press Release (PDF) Federal Agencies Release Water From Trinity Reservoir Despite Making Claims of “California’s Historic Drought”
August 2015 – Joint Press Release (PDF) Senate Water Bill Introduction is Welcomed News for Multiple Water Agencies
July 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Statement on Intro of CA Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015
July 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Statement on Passage of H.R. 2898
June 2015 – Joint Press Release (PDF) House Water Bill Introduction Passed
June 2015 – Press Release (PDF) 2015 Scholarship Recipients
June 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Urges Reclamation to Comply With ESA Regarding Releases to the Trinity River
April 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy
April 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Broadview Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy
March 2015 – Press Release (PDF) Johnny Amaral to Join Westlands Water District
February 2015 – Press
November 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Approves Emergency Water for Rural Westside City of Huron
November 2014 – Statement From Don Peracchi, President of Westlands Water District (PDF) Los Angeles Times Ad – “A Little Straight Talk About Agriculture…”
May 2014 – Press Release (PDF) 2014 Scholarship Recipients
May 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas Birmingham upon Passage of the Emergency Drought Relief Act
March 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Statement of WWD on 9th Circuit Decision
February 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands – Zero Allocation for California Farms
February 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Statement on Introduction of CA Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014
January 2014 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands See Drought Declaration as Key Element of Addressing Water Crisis
January 2014 – Press Release (PDF) California Farms and Consumers in Jeopardy
December 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Supports Congressional and State Efforts to Fix Immediate Water Crisis
October 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Water District – Draft Action Plan for Water
August 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas Birmingham – Trinity River Releases
June 2013 – Press Release (PDF) 2013 Scholarship Recipients
May 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Water District Files Legal Action Against Delta Plan
April 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy
April 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Broadview Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy
March 2013 – Press Release (PDF) Federal Water Allocation Decrease Will Harm Farming, Communities
February 2013 – Press Release (PDF) STMT by Thomas W. Birmingham – Bureau of Reclamation Allocation Announcement
July 2012 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas W. Birmingham – BDCP Announcement
June 2012 – Press Release (PDF) 2012 Scholarship Recipients
April 2012 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas W. Birmingham – April 2012 Water Allocation Increase
December 2011 – Press Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas W. Birmingham – Oliver W. Wanger and Westlands – 12/6/2011
September 2011 – Press Release (PDF) Court Rejects 2009 Salmon Biological Opinion: Found Unlawful – 9-20-2011
August 2011 – Press Release (PDF) Good Science Wins in Latest Delta Smelt Ruling – August 31, 2011
August 2011 – Press Release (PDF) Statement of Westlands Water District on passing of Jerald R. Butchert
June 2011 – Press Release (PDF) 2011 Westlands Scholarship Recipients
June 2011 – HR 1837 June 2 2011 (PDF) Thomas Birmingham Testimony
May 2011 Statement on the Passing of Jack Stone (PDF)
May 2011 Accepting Board of Directors Declarations of Candidacy (PDF)
April 2011 – Thomas Birmingham Testimony (PDF) Testimony before the Subcommittee on Water and Power
January 2011 – Media Release (PDF) Westlands Elects Don Peracchi – New President of District Board
January 2011 – Media Release (PDF) Statement by Thomas W. Birmingham
December 2010 – Statement (PDF) BDCP Status
December 2010 – Statement by Thomas W. Birmingham (PDF) U.S. District Court Ruling on Delta Smelt
December 2010 – Letter to Deputy Secretary of the Interior (PDF) Westlands Pulls Its Support from BDCP
November 2010 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Pulls Its Support from BDCP
November 2010 – Interview (PDF) Irrigation Leader Magazine Interview w/Tom Birmingham, Gen Mgr/Gen Council
November 2010 – Press Release (PDF) Tom Birmingham, General Manager/General Council, Westlands Water District on Env
March 2010 – Press Release (PDF) Department of Interior Allocation Announcement
February 2010 – Press Release (PDF) Statement for Tom Birmingham Request for Change in Allocation Forcasting
November 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Thanks for Passage of Comprehensive Water Legislation
August 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Statement from Thomas Birmingham Regarding “Water Hoarding”
June 2009 – Press Release (PDF) California Water Districts Sue to Force Federal Fish Agencies…
June 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Statement on NMFS Biological Opinion on Salmon
May 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Westlands Accepting Board of Directors declarations of candidacy
April 2009 – Press Release (PDF) 10% Water Allocation Already in Jeopardy
April 2009 – Press Release (PDF) California needs a water system for 21st century
April 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Economic Opportunities Commission Receives $22,000 from Westlands…
February 2009 – Press Release (PDF) Water Allocation 0%
December 2008 – Press Release (PDF) Public Water Agencies Throughout California File Suit