For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233
Westlands Water District Responds to Lack of Expected May Water Allocation Update
Fresno, CA – In response to the news that there will not be an allocation update from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for May for Central Valley Project (CVP) water users, Allison, Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District, issued the following statement:
“Central Valley Project water is the lifeblood of our agricultural community and meager allocations offered by Reclamation thus far simply do not make sense. This year’s low allocation after a wet year and a relatively good winter that filled the state’s reservoirs, and the state officially out of drought conditions, demonstrates the critical and urgent need to improve water management transparency and accountability. There is room for a more collaborative and transparent approach to these allocations and urge Reclamation to use sound data and science when making these critical decisions because if the future looks like this we will have to rely on other countries for our food.”
For background, the last update increased the allocation for South of Delta agricultural contractors, including Westlands Water District (District), to 40 percent of the total water contract – an incredibly disappointingly and unjustifiably low allocation for District water users.
Since the initial allocation of 15 percent at the end of February, Westlands has identified several conditions that are incongruent with a water supply allocation lower than 50 percent. California must remain steadfast in investing in a more predictable and reliable water supply system for our environment, residents, farms, and communities.
The District strongly encourages Reclamation to consider the devastating economic and human impacts of low and untimely allocations and increase our water allocation so that the District can continue to meet California’s – and the nation’s – food supply and food security needs.
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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 five 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.