This notice regards:
Items to Note
2024-2025 Land-Based Charges Due
Jessie Xiong:(559) 241-6212
The 2024-2025 Land-Based Charges bills were mailed on March 10, 2024. The first installment was due March 25, 2024, and the second installment is due September 25, 2024. A penalty will be added to unpaid charges on the day following the payment due date.
Assessment Equalization Hearing
Jessie Xiong: (559) 241-6212 or Stephen Farmer: (559) 241-6240
The Board of Directors will sit as a Board of Equalization and hold an equalization hearing to establish the District’s 2024 Benefit Assessment on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. at the District’s Fresno Office located at 286 W Cromwell Ave, Fresno, CA 93711 or via Zoom. Refer to the May Board of Directors meeting agenda for Zoom meeting ID, passcode, and dial-in number.
Copies of the 2024 Assessment Book are available for review at the Fresno and Five Points Shop and Field offices. The Assessment Book contains the valuation of all District lands and is based on the benefit assessment valuation schedule approved by the voters in August 2017, and the Board at its September 2017 meeting.
Landowners who question their land valuations and wish to petition the Board must submit a written application for a reduction of the land valuation on or before May 14, 2024. Landowners must include the reasons supporting the claim for reduction and an opinion of the proper valuation.
2024-2025 Budget, Water Rates, Charges
Water Users delivering Contract Water in Areas 1 and 3 can expect to pay $187.56 per AF at the end of the month. Water Users taking delivery of Contract Water in Area 2 can expect to pay $191.21 per AF at the end of the month. This is based upon a budget volume of 459,688 AF of water to be delivered in the Contract Year, assuming a 25% allocation. As the anticipated delivery volumes change, the rates charged will be adjusted.
Water Users who lease their well pumps and booster pumps to the District, under the Groundwater Management/ISMP programs can expect to pay an implied rate of $0.17 per kWh that will be charged to the Water User as a variable rate across the AF pumped. This is based upon a pumped volume of 75,000 AF. As the volumes pumped change from the budget, the rates charged may be adjusted.
The complete list of 2024-2025 rates, charges, and credits is available on the District’s website. From the home page, click Water Management, then click Water Rates.
Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures
The emergency telephone number for after-hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523
District offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024, in observance of Memorial Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday – May 25 or 26 | Friday, May 24, 9:30 a.m. |
| Monday or Tuesday – May 27 or 28 | Friday, May 24, noon |
Water Users Web User Login Page – Buy and Sell Offers
Customer Service Representative: (559) 241-6250
The District offers a message board for Water Users who wish to buy and sell water on its Web User login page. The message board allows Water Users to post their name, phone number, offers to buy or sell water, and a brief description, and matches Water Users with excess water and those with unmet demands.
2024-2025 Supplemental Water Application – Response May Be Required
Customer Accounting Representative: (559) 241-6250
The District is planning to acquire Supplemental Water from multiple sources for the 2024-2025 water contract year. The District anticipates that a substantial allocation of Supplemental Water to Water Users could occur in late spring.
When Supplemental Water is made available for allocation, the quantity allocated to a Water User’s account is a proration based on the water available at that time and the number of irrigable acres associated with accounts that have outstanding requests. When an account’s request has been fulfilled, it will no longer receive allocations, and the irrigable acres associated with that account will not be factored into subsequent allocations. Accordingly, Water Users with relatively high per-acre requests will receive the bulk (increment above the pro-rata amount) of their request later, if water is available.
Advance payment for acquisition costs of the water is required at the time Supplemental Water is made available for allocation, while operation and maintenance-related costs will be billed when the water is used. The District will notify Water Users regarding the allocation advance payment when acquisition costs are more certain. The allocation advance payment will apply toward the delivered Supplemental Water rate. If an advance payment is delinquent for 30 days or more, the District may withdraw the water made available for allocation to a Water User and reduce the Water User’s outstanding request by the same amount.
If you would like to be part of the 2024-2025 Supplemental Water program, please complete the enclosed agreement and return it to the Fresno Office by the close of business on May 31, 2024, by one of the following means.
- Mail to: Westlands Water District, P.O. Box 5199, Fresno, CA 93755. You may also hand deliver the agreement to the District’s Fresno Office, at 286 W. Cromwell Ave, Fresno, CA 93711.
- Scan and email: customeraccounting@wwd.ca.gov
- Facsimile to: (559) 241-6276
Agreements not received at the District or postmarked by the due date will not be considered timely. Late requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis after timely requests are filled.
Westlands Water District Announces Scholarship Application Period
Westlands Water District Westside Scholarship is receiving applications. Graduating seniors from 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, or Golden Plains Unified School District are eligible to apply. Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,000 to be used for accredited post-secondary education expenses. Applicants will be judged on their academic performance, school activities, essay, and community leadership. The Deadline to apply is April 21, 2024. For an application and list of instructions, visit the District’s Education & Outreach webpage.
WATER SUPPLY
2024-2025 CVP Contract Allocation
On March 22, 2024, the Bureau of Reclamation increased the 2024-25 Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation from 15% to 35% for south of Delta agricultural water contractors. The initial allocation is based on runoff projections using hydrologic information through the end of February and conservative estimates for hydrology and CVP operations going forward. Reclamation will make additional allocation announcements based on updated hydrologic and operational information, as it is available. The next allocation announcement is expected the week of April 22, 2024.
The final allocation, expected in May or June, will depend on the actual hydrology in the watersheds that produce runoff in the upper Sacramento River basin. District staff projects that the allocation, under a median hydrology, could be 50%. If the hydrology is above average, and if there is significant runoff on the San Joaquin River during the spring, the allocation could be greater. The District will continue to monitor and timely-report any changes to the CVP allocation.
2023-2024 Water Supply Update
The CVP currently has approximately 10,186,000 acre-feet (AF) of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 124% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 4,356,000 AF; 120% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 942,000 AF; 131% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant operated at 22% of capacity thus far in April, due to steelhead and winter run salvage at the Jones and Banks Pumping Plants.
2023-2024 Water Rescheduling
Russ Freeman: (559) 241-6241, Stephen Farmer: (559) 241-6240
The District was limited to rescheduling approximately 120,000 acre-feet into the 2024-25 water contract year, based on limits set by the Bureau of Reclamation in its Rescheduling Guidelines for San Luis Reservoir (Guidelines). The water remaining at contract year-end in excess of the rescheduling limit was lost according to the District’s Rescheduling Policy. The District considered SLR not full while implementing the District’s Rescheduling Policy and extended the Rescheduling Period to February 28, 2025. Cap Loss was applied after adjusting for internal transfers and posted to accounts on March 19th. Applicable water charges for lost water will appear on April water bills which will be mailed in May.
The Guidelines provide for a 1% per month storage loss factor for evaporation and system losses. This loss factor will be prorated to rescheduled water remaining in Water User accounts on April 1, 2024, and each subsequent month, until the District delivers all of the rescheduled water. It is possible, due to Water Users’ use of other water types, that when the loss is prorated the percentage of loss applied will be less than 1%. The District is reviewing all costs associated with this water and will be posting appropriate charges to affected Water User accounts.
2024-2025 Groundwater Allocation Applications
On December 19, 2023, staff mailed the Groundwater Allocation Applications to landowners. The Applications were due to the District at or before 5:00 p.m., January 18, 2024, to be considered timely. Late applications can still be submitted no later than July 31, and can be faxed to the District at (559) 241-6277, mailed to or dropped off at the District’s main Fresno office, 286 W. Cromwell Ave, Fresno, CA 93711, or Five Points office, 23050 W. Mt Whitney, Five Points, CA 93624.
All GroundWater Users within the Westside Subbasin boundary are subject to the District’s Regulations. The groundwater allocation is made at the parcel level to all eligible gross acres (also referred to as assessed acres).
If more than one application is received for the same parcel of land, priority will be given to the Landowner in accordance with the District’s Regulations. If none of the applications are from the Landowner, priority will be given to the Water User who provides evidence of the right to occupy the land and receive the allocation.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Water Ordering and Meter Turn Off
Customer Service Representative: (559) 241-6250
To set up a Westlands online account, please contact your Customer Service Representative.
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday-Saturday | Day before | 7:30-9:30 a.m., by telephone or fax, or 10:00 a.m. by website |
| Sunday-Monday | Friday before | 12:00 p.m. by telephone, fax, or website |
Phone (559) 241-6250 or (800) 266-6574; fax (559) 241-6276; water user account at wwd.ca.gov
Water Users should comply with the District’s water ordering procedures. Conveyance capacity through many laterals is constrained. District staff determines lateral demand based on water orders. When demand exceeds the capacity of the lateral, the entire lateral is adversely affected, and water service can be lost for all users on the lateral. To properly operate and maintain the District’s water distribution system and, to a larger extent, the Central Valley Project, Water Users are required to place proper water orders in accordance with the District’s Terms and Conditions for Agricultural Water Service.
Water Users who are found to be running without an order will have their meter(s) turned off pursuant to Article 2, Section 2.6.H of the District’s Rules and Regulations. In addition, meters found running without a valid water order may be subject to a lateral monitoring fee of up to $771.81. Accurate water orders are also critical for reference if a meter malfunctions or varies from a standard calibration range. Your monthly billing can be directly affected by the accuracy of your water orders.
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Groundwater Well Maintenance
Quinn Manning: 559-884-2523 ext. 131
The District would like to remind Water Users that the meters installed on groundwater wells for compliance with the approved Groundwater Sustainability Plan are owned by the District and should not be removed, relocated, or adjusted by Water Users, their staff, or contractors. If a meter needs to be removed during regular maintenance or emergency repairs of the well and/or its discharge piping, please contact District staff so the meter can be removed during the work to avoid any damage to the meter.
To connect privately owned AMI or monitoring systems to a District-owned meter, please contact Water Measurement Specialist, Quinn Manning.
Planned Maintenance Shutdown Schedule 2024
Alex Garcia: (559) 884-2523 ext. 108
The District issues a monthly listing of the maintenance schedule for the next 45 to 60 days. Shutdown notices for scheduled work are sent to affected Water Users in advance of each shutdown. If Water Users are not receiving these notices, please contact your Customer Service Representative to update your contact information.
| Lateral(s) Impacted | Date(s) | Scheduled Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22R | April 22 – 24 | Prep. For TWS Install | |
| 10L P-Line | April 22 – 24 | Deferred Electrical Maint. | P-Line Only |
| 29L P-Line | April 22 – 24 | Deferred Electrical Maint. | P-Line Only |
| 28L | April 22 – 29 | Capitol Valve Project | |
| 34L P-Line | April 24 – 26 | Deferred Electrical Maint. | P-Line Only |
| 19L P-Line | April 24 – 26 | Deferred Electrical Maint. | P-Line Only |
| 24R | May 6 – 9 | Capitol Valve Project | |
| 29L | May 13 – 17 | Capitol Valve Project | Affected Meters (29125-29200) |
| 1R-4.0C & D | May 16 | Algae Treatment | 7:00AM – 3:30PM Affected Meters (101230-101300) |
| Coalinga Canal | May 21 – 22 | Algae Treatment | 7:00AM – 7:00AM |
| 13RA | May 30 | Algae Treatment | 7:00AM – 3:30PM |
| 2RA | June 3 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM |
| 17RA | June 6 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM |
| 14RB & C | June 11 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM Affected Meters (114075-114180) |
| 7RA & B, C | June 17 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM |
| 1R-4.0C & D | June 18 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM Affected Meters (101230-101300) |
| Coalinga Canal | June 20 – 21 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 6:00AM |
| 13RA | June 24 | Algae Treatment | 6:00AM – 2:30PM |
2024-2025 Quinquennial Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
Alex Garcia: (559) 884-2523 ext. 108
The following table lists the District’s general order and initial dates planned for the pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
| Week | Division Valves to be inspected | Pumping Plant |
|---|---|---|
| 9/30/2024 | 26-1.7 | 26L |
| 10/7/2024 | 25R | |
| 10/14/2024 | 5-6.0 | 5L |
| 10/21/2024 | 14RA, 14RB, 14RC | |
| 10/28/2024 | 29-0.1 | 29RA, 29RB |
| 11/4/2024 | 8-5.0 | 8L |
| 11/18/2024 | 14-3.5, 14-5.5, 14-7.5, 14-10.5 | 14L |
| 12/2/2024 | 28R-1.0 | 28RA, 28RB, 28R-1.0W |
| 12/9/2024 | 9L | |
| 12/16/2024 | 11-2.0 | 11L |
| 1/6/2025 | 18R | |
| 1/13/2025 | 23L |
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Land Available for Lease
Cork McIsaac of Agriculture Industries, Inc.: (916) 372-5595 or (800) 822-1415
The District has several parcels for lease in Fresno and Kings counties. For a list of available land, please contact Cork McIsaac.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231 or wwqc@wwd.ca.gov
The 2023 crop year Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) Reports were due on March 1, 2024. All INMP submissions are required to be completed on the Coalition Website.
The District hosted the Annual Member Outreach Event on February 6th. If you have not fulfilled the Annual Outreach requirement, the “2024 WWQC Member Outreach Event” video is now available to watch on the Coalition Website.
The Coalition prohibits agricultural discharges into the westside creeks, including discharges due to filtration system backflushing, irrigation leaks, and tailwater runoff. These discharges are also considered a waste of water and are violations of the District’s “Article 2 – Regulations for the Allocation and use of Agricultural Water Within Westlands Water District”. Members are required to implement Best Management Practices to ensure there are no discharges to the westside creeks.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
Antonio Solorio: (559) 241-6244 or sgma@wwd.ca.gov
As you plan your water budget for the new contract year, which began on March 1, 2024, please review Article 1, Regulations for the Groundwater Allocation Program and Use of Groundwater within the Westside Subbasin. Please note, that Groundwater Users must apply for voluntary participation in the Groundwater Allocation Program to receive a groundwater allocation. Per Section 1.4 of the Rules and Regulations, installation of groundwater flow meters is mandatory
on all wells regardless of participation in the Groundwater Allocation Program.
The District plans to host a Groundwater Allocation Program Workshop in May 2024 to present Article 1. Rules and Regulations and provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions.
Bollibokka Reservations Details
Reservations are being accepted for the Bollibokka, McCloud River property. The Bollibokka McCloud River property is very private, located along seven miles of the McCloud River immediately upstream of Shasta Lake. The McCloud River is esteemed for its beauty and is renowned as a premier stream for trout fishing in the world. To protect this unique fishery, all fishing is catch and release, fly only, and barbless hooks.
The reservation season begins on April 24, 2024, and ends on November 11, 2024. If you are interested in reserving a week for a fishing trip to Bollibokka, please review the following information and contact the manager listed below. Remember that for reservation purposes, the week begins on Wednesday morning and ends at sunset on the following Monday. The property is closed on Tuesdays for cleaning unless reserved for consecutive weeks. There are two accommodations available for rent on the property:
The Way Station is booked for the season.
The Club House and Rock House are located on the lower five miles of the property. The two buildings can accommodate ten and four guests, respectively, and the maximum number of rods on this portion of the river is twelve. The cost is $9,817.50 per week. Dates are still available for the Club House and Rock House.
The District is utilizing the experienced fly-fishing services of The Fly Shop in Redding, California to oversee property management activities and coordinate all uses of the property. Additionally, the Fly Shop has associations with many fly-fishing guides familiar with the McCloud River.
For more information, please contact Chris King of The Fly Shop at:
Phone Number: (800) 669-3474
Fax Number: (530) 222-3572
Email: chris@theflyshop.com
Mail: 4140 Churn Creek Road, Redding, CA 96002
For additional information, visit the Fly Shop’s website. The Fly Shop will try to accommodate all reservation requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your reservation is accepted, The Fly Shop will provide a Confirmation Package, which contains directions to the facilities, updated policies, information on cooking and cleaning services, and additional contact information. Payment for your stay should be made directly to The Fly Shop.
Low-Interest Irrigation or Recharge Equipment Lease Program
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231 or kpeterson@wwd.ca.gov
The District increased the loan amount for the Expanded Irrigation System Improvement or Recharge Program (EISIRP). The District’s EISIRP now offers low-interest loans of up to $200,000, to Water Users for the lease-purchase of irrigation systems and recharge project equipment. Water Users who plan to install an irrigation system on land that is served by a pump enrolled in a District power program may also be eligible for a 35% cost share, up to $70,000, from the District’s EISIP/Public Purpose Program (P3) Grant. Additional information is available on the EISIRP and P3 pages on the District’s website.
Distribution Integration Program
Antonio Solorio: asolorio@wwd.ca.gov
The District is currently offering the Distribution Integration Program (DIP) for Water Users who wish to participate. The DIP provides Water Users with the flexibility to develop and manage groundwater supplies for conveyance throughout the District. To be approved to participate in the DIP, Water Users must submit a DIP application, and a water quality report that demonstrates compliance with standards, receive approval from the other users along the respective DIP lateral, and construct an integration facility per District Specifications. Information about the program is posted on the CIP-DIP Page on the District’s website.
Irrigation Evaluation Cost Share Rebate
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231 or kpeterson@wwd.ca.gov
The District is offering Water Users a rebate for mobile lab services. Mobile lab services perform irrigation system evaluations by measuring water rate application, and system distribution uniformity, and by providing efficiency improvement recommendations. The amount of rebate per field evaluation is limited to 25% of the invoice or $500, whichever is less. Funds are limited, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications and information are available on the Water Use Efficiency page on the District’s website.
Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training & Research Center (ITRC) received funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to bring back the Summer Irrigation Evaluation Program. ITRC will be hosting Ongoing Irrigation Evaluations throughout the Central Valley in the Summer of 2024. The link to ITRC’s website and a flyer with more information are available on the Water Use Efficiency page of the District’s website.
Water Ordering Procedures for Pumps Enrolled in District Power Programs
Jenny Montoya: (559) 241-6242 or mailto:jmontoya@wwd.ca.gov
The District’s Groundwater Management, Irrigation System Management, and Temporary Diversion Programs use lower-cost Western Area Power Administration energy to operate groundwater pumps, drip system booster pumps, and temporary diversion pumps, respectively. The District’s Terms and Conditions for Agricultural Water Service apply to water delivered under programs. Accordingly, Water Users are required to place their water orders three days in advance if they are delivering water through a pump enrolled in the District’s power program. It is critical that Water Users comply with the ordering procedures to ensure that the District’s request for power to operate these facilities is accurate. Failure to place timely “on” or “off” orders will result in inaccurate power requests and increased power costs, which are then passed on to program participants.
No. 739