For Immediate Release
Contact: Public Affairs
(559) 241-6233
Westlands Water District Statement on Congressional Delegation Request for Governor Newsom to Act on Port Chicago Standard
On February 1, fresh water quality conditions in the Delta narrowly triggered the Port Chicago compliance location for the so-called Delta X2 standard under the State Board’s Water Quality Control Plan and in the State Water Project and Central Valley Project water rights permit conditions in D-1641. Up to 600,000 acre-feet of water could be lost due to an outdated regulation, even as we face low snowpack and dry conditions.
Since then, Representatives Jim Costa, David Valadao, Adam Gray, and Vince Fong sent a letter to Governor Newsom urging immediate action to address this situation. The letter calls on the Governor’s agencies to analyze the efficacy of the Port Chicago standard and to use all available tools to modernize operations of California’s water system.
This letter reinforces what the District has been communicating: the outdated Port Chicago standard was intended to address Delta food web conditions that have fundamentally changed due to clam infestation. Science no longer supports the premise behind this regulation, yet its inflexible application continues to result in significant water supply losses for growers and communities and may even harm the cold water pool needed to support salmon populations.
The following statement can be attributed to Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westland Water District:
“We greatly appreciate the Congressional concern expressed to Governor Newsom on the recent triggering of the Delta X2 Port Chicago D-1641 standard which will release up to 600,000 acre-feet of water into the ocean rather than preserve it for future use for California farmers and families. The Board’s decision was rooted in inflexible water management standards that fail to reflect real-world conditions and will only deepen shortages later. California can protect fish and ecosystems without wasting water, but that requires adaptive management—not blind adherence to decades-old, archaic standards. Water is the lifeblood of California—we can and must do better and appreciate our Congressional representatives joining us in ringing the alarm bell.”
Read letter from Westland Water District here:
Westlands Water District Letter Regarding Port Chicago
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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.