For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233

Westlands Water District Addresses the 50% Allocation Update from the Central Valley Project 

Fresno, California – Today the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced an increase to the water allocation for Central Valley Project (CVP) South-of-Delta agricultural contractors from 40% to 50%. In response to the announcement, Westlands Water District General Manager Allison Febbo has issued the following statement:

“The recently announced increase to our CVP water supply allocation is welcome news. The families, farms, and communities served by Westlands Water District rely wholly on CVP water supply, which serves as lifeblood to grow food, support local jobs, and sustain the region’s economy. The increase comes as a result of plentiful storms in the Northern portion of the state, resulting in full reservoirs and high river flows. While we are grateful for the improved hydrology and the Bureau’s dedication to maximizing water supply, this year again reinforces the critical and urgent need to fix California’s broken water system and restore balance. We must do a better job of securing, storing, and managing water during relatively wet periods like these so that it’s available in dry years. We remain committed to continuing to work with state and federal partners to advance durable solutions that improve water supply for all Californians.”

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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233

Westlands Water District Responds to 40% Allocation Update from the Central Valley Project  

Fresno, California – In response to the recent announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on updated water allocations for the Central Valley Project (CVP) waters, Westlands Water District’s General Manager, Allison Febbo, offers the following statement. 

“This updated allocation reflects some of the recent rains that brought water to San Joaquin Valley and Northern California reservoirs and gives our farmers some additional assurances that there will be water to support their crops in the coming months. This modest increase from the initial allocation offered in February demonstrates that we must continue to work at both the state and federal levels to identify practical yet meaningful changes to strengthen our state’s water supply and reliability for all of California. We continue to be encouraged by the state and federal administration’s recent actions to maximize water supply for Californians and look forward to a subsequent allocation update that reflects the totality of recent hydrology.” 

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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233

Westlands Water District Appoints Renowned Fisheries and Water Management Expert Brad Cavallo as Science Advisor

Fresno, California – Westlands Water District is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Cavallo as its new Science Advisor. In this key role, Mr. Cavallo will provide scientific expertise and strategic guidance on water management, environmental compliance, regulatory matters, and scientific investigations. He will also collaborate closely with state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and key stakeholders to ensure water management decisions are grounded in sound science.

A highly respected expert in fisheries science and water management, Mr. Cavallo has spent more than 25 years tackling complex fish and water supply and delivery challenges throughout California’s Central Valley, leading cutting-edge research on water operations, fish populations, and habitat restoration in the Bay-Delta ecosystem.

“Brad Cavallo’s deep expertise in fisheries science and water management will be a tremendous asset to Westlands,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District. “His extensive background as a biologist and leader in environmental research—combined with his track record of developing innovative, evidence-based solutions—will strengthen our ability to address California’s evolving water challenges while balancing the needs of agriculture, fisheries, and communities.”

Most recently, Mr. Cavallo served as Vice President and Principal Scientist at Cramer Fish Sciences, where he played a key role in shaping fisheries research and policy. Previously, he worked as a Senior Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Water Resources and a Fisheries Biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

 “There are real opportunities to improve water supply reliability for Californians while also supporting the health of important fish species like Chinook salmon,” said Brad Cavallo. “I’m excited to collaborate with the highly talented Westlands team and its partners to advance science-based solutions that benefit both water users and the environment.”

Mr. Cavallo holds a Master of Science in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from the University of California, Davis. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications on fisheries management, water operations, and ecosystem dynamics.

He officially began his new role on March 17, 2025.

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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233

Westlands Water District Now Accepting Applications for 2025 High School Scholarships 

Fresno, CA – Westlands Water District is pleased to announce the twenty-first year of the District’s annual scholarship program in support of high school seniors pursuing higher education. Demonstrating its continued commitment to San Joaquin Valley youth, the Westlands Water District Board of Directors is once again awarding up to twenty $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors in 2025. Over the past 20 years, the District has proudly helped more than 140 students pursue their academic goals.

High school seniors graduating from the following Westside school districts are eligible to apply for the District’s scholarship: Reef-Sunset Unified School District, Coalinga-Huron Unified School District, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District, Hanford Joint Union High School District, Lemoore Union High School District, Mendota Unified School District, Riverdale Joint Unified School District, and Golden Plains Unified School District.

“Receiving the Westlands Water District scholarship meant I could continue my education with less stress relating to the costs of university.” -Susana Gamino, 2023 Westlands Scholarship Recipient

Students will be evaluated based on their application, essay, academic transcripts, reference letters, demonstrated leadership, contributions to local communities, career goals, and need. Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,000 for accredited post-secondary education expenses.

The deadline to apply for the Westlands Water District 2025 High School Scholarship is 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2025. All applications and supporting documents must be received by the District on or before the application deadline. Students can submit their applications and supporting documents through the District’s website.

For more information please contact the public affairs office at (559) 241-6233 or at pubaffairs@wwd.ca.gov. 

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About Westlands Water District

Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233

Westlands Water District Responds to Initial 2025 Allocation

Fresno, California – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced an initial 35% water allocation for Westlands Water District (District) and other South-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural contractors.  This allocation marks a notable improvement over last year’s dismal 15% initial allocation under similar hydrologic conditions, providing our farmers with a critical opportunity to make timely planting decisions, reduce groundwater pumping, and help sustain our nation’s food supply.

“We are encouraged by the state and federal administration’s recent efforts concentrating on water, maximizing water supply for Californians and spotlighting California’s complex longstanding water issues,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager. “This allocation offers our farmers the opportunity to make critical planting decisions that optimize feeding the nation.  Westlands looks forward to working with Reclamation and other agency partners to continue prioritizing improvements to our state’s water supply and reliability for all of California.”

While the allocation is an important and very positive first step toward implementing recent directives aimed at maximizing water supply, much work remains. Recent winter storms predominantly benefitted Northern California, leaving the central region—and, by extension, San Joaquin River flows—less fortunate. South-of-Delta CVP allocations are limited by low San Joaquin River flows due to current Delta regulations.

Furthermore, the lack of adequate surface water storage meant a large amount of water was left uncaptured. This underscores the pressing need to revisit current regulations that prevent higher allocations and invest in additional storage capacity and an improved conveyance infrastructure. These measures are critical to better capturing and delivering available water in years with similar hydrologic conditions. We anticipate working with Reclamation on these next steps soon.

The District is hopeful that continued hydrological improvements will lead to an increased updated allocation for farms and communities in the coming months. Meanwhile, Westlands Water District will continue to engage with Reclamation on the review of current regulations and spring water supply operations decisions that will shape both this year’s and the long-term water supply.

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About Westlands Water District

Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.