This notice regards:
ITEMS TO NOTE
E-Statement Availability
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many District staff are working from home. Therefore, you will not receive paper statements from the District for the near future. To access your monthly Statement of Account and Water Activity Report, please login to your Westlands Water District web account, select Menu, then E-Docs.
To ensure your payment is correctly applied to your account(s), always include your account number(s) on your check and/or the remittance stubs from the top section of your monthly billing statement(s).
The District also offers an Automatic Bill Payment (ABP) option for paying your monthly agricultural water bill. Participation in ABP will ensure your payment is always timely and avoids penalty, interest, or monitoring charges due to late payments. The ABP authorization form is available on your Westlands Water District web account by selecting Menu, then Forms, and Automatic Bill Payment Authorization.
If you have any questions, please contact the Customer Accounting Department at (559) 241-6250.
2020-2021 Supplemental Water Application – Due Date Revised – Response May Be Required
The Supplemental Water Application submission due date was extended to close of business on Friday, May 22, 2020.
The District plans to acquire supplemental water from multiple sources for the 2020-2021 water contract year. It is estimated that the delivered cost to water users will range from $600 – $700 per acre-foot. The District anticipates that the majority of the Supplemental Water will be allocated in late summer.
When the allocation of Supplemental Water occurs, the quantity allocated to a water user’s account is a proration based upon 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 of 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. The water will be allocated to water user accounts as Project water or non-Project water (if available), allowing Full-Cost rates to be applied as required by Reclamation law.
If you would like to be part of the Supplemental Water program, please complete the enclosed agreement, and return it to the Fresno Office by close of business on May 22, 2020. Westlands Water District requests that landowners and water users return the agreement by mail, facsimile, or email, considering the recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- If transmitted by mail: Westlands Water District, P.O. Box 6056, Fresno, CA 93703. (Postmarked by the due date is considered timely.)
- If transmitted by facsimile: (559) 241-6276
- If transmitted by email: customeraccounting@wwd.ca.gov
Late requests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, after timely requests are filled. Agreements not received at the District, or postmarked, by the due date will not be considered timely. Please direct questions to your Customer Accounting Technician at (559) 241-6250.
Storage Loss on Rescheduled Water
Effective for the 2020-2021 water contract year, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Rescheduling Guidelines for San Luis Reservoir storage provide for a 1% 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, 2020, and each subsequent month, until the District delivers all rescheduled water. It is possible that due to water users’ use of other water types (e.g. 2020 Contract Water), 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.
2020-2021 CVP Contract Allocation
On February 25, 2020, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an initial 2020-2021 Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation of 15% for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors. Reclamation may make additional allocation announcements based on updated hydrologic information.
The final allocation, which is expected in May, 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 range from 15 – 25%. The District will continue to monitor and timely report any changes to the CVP allocation.
Office Communication During COVID-19 Pandemic
Westlands Water District requests that water users conduct all District related business via phone and email, in lieu of visiting District offices. The District’s Fresno and Five Points offices will remain open during regular business hours.
The District is following guidelines announced by the Whitehouse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the virus. District staff will monitor the developments closely and seeks to maintain the safety of employees, water users, and the public. Westlands will continue its commitment to water users by providing timely and reliable water services.
Please contact District staff if you have questions. Contact the main office by phone: (559) 224-1523, or email: info@wwd.ca.gov. The District will provide notices to landowners and water users should District operations be further impacted by Federal or State recommendations to slow the spread of the virus.
Holiday Office Closure & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2020, 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 23 or 24 | Friday, May 22, 9:30 a.m. |
| Monday or Tuesday – May 25 or 26 | Friday, May 22, noon |
WATER SUPPLY
2020-2021 Water Supply Update
The CVP currently has approximately 8.8 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 103% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 3.75 million acre-feet; 100% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 584,000 acre-feet; 81% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant has operated at about 50% capacity this month.
End of Rescheduling Period
The District ended the 2019-20 water contract year with 141,155 acre-feet remaining, of which 21,460 acre-feet returned to Reclamation for 2020-21 water supply, due to the limit Reclamation placed on the amount of water rescheduling allowed in San Luis Reservoir (SLR). This return of water is defined as Cap Loss under the District’s rescheduling guidelines, Article 2.10 of the District’s Regulations. Because SLR did not fill this year, the District applied Cap Loss based on March 10, 2020 account balances and the loss was reflected on March statements.
As a reminder, if a water user loses water, the District will bill the water user all costs associated with the lost water. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Russ Freeman at (559) 241-6241.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Water Ordering and Meter Turn Off
It is important water users comply with the District’s water ordering procedures. Conveyance capacity through many laterals is constrained and 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 District’s Terms and Conditions for Agricultural Water Service.
Further, 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 portion of or entire lateral monitoring fee of $647.31. 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.
The schedule for placing water orders is as follows: water orders for Tuesday through Saturday must be placed the prior day between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., by telephone or fax. Orders placed over the website are accepted until 10:00 a.m., for the following day. Water orders for Sunday and Monday must be placed by noon the preceding Friday, either by phone, fax or website. Orders may be placed by calling (559) 241-6250 or (800) 266-6574, by Fax (559) 241-6276, or online through your water user account at District’s Web Site. To set up a Westlands online account, please contact your Customer Service Representative at (559) 241-6250.
Assessment Equalization Hearing
The Board of Directors will hold an equalization hearing to establish the District’s 2020 Benefit Assessment on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., at the District’s Fresno Office, 3130 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, California. Copies of the 2020 Assessment Book are available for review at the Fresno and Five Points offices. The Assessment Book contains the valuation of all District lands and is based on the benefit assessment methodology approved by the voters in August 2017 and the Board in September 2017.
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 12, 2020. Landowners must include the reasons supporting the claim for modification and an opinion of the proper valuation. For additional information, please contact Jessie Xiong at (559) 241-6212.
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Advance Notice of 2020-2021 Quinquennial Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
The following table lists the District’s planned pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for fiscal year 2020-2021. If you have questions or feedback regarding these shutdowns, please contact the District’s Maintenance Scheduler, Jimmy Weedin at (559) 884-2523 ext. 108.
2020-2021 Quinquennial Shutdown Schedule
| Week | Division Valves | Pumping Plants |
| September 14, 2020 | 25L | |
| September 21, 2020 | 32-2.0 | 32L |
| September 28, 2020 | PV4 | |
| October 5, 2020 | 23R | |
| October 12, 2020 | PV6 | |
| October 19 2020 | Replace 3-2.7 Slide Gate | 31L |
| October 26, 2020 | 6-1 & 6-2 | |
| November 2, 2020 | 3L | |
| November 16, 2020 | Repair Bypass Valve at 7RA | 7RA, 7RB, 7RC, 7RD |
| December 7, 2020 | 11R | |
| December 14, 2020 | 4L | |
| January 11, 2021 | 17RA, 17RB, 17RC | |
| January 25, 2021 | 33-2.0 | 33L |
| February 1, 2020 | 22L | |
| February 8, 2020 | 24L |
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
2020-2021 Canal Integration Program
The District is pursuing approvals to operate the Canal Integration Program (CIP) if the CVP allocation is 20% or less.
If the CIP is approved, participating groundwater wells must collect and conduct initial and ongoing water quality testing to determine if the wells meet the required water quality standards, including the following:
- Title-22 water quality analysis (required every 3 years);
- Testing for specific constituents of concern prior to start-up and weekly for the first four weeks;
- Monthly testing for specific constituents of concern in the second month
If a well does not meet the established standards at any point, it will be shut off. Water users that are interested in participating in the CIP and would like to begin testing their wells in anticipation of an approved CIP, should contact David Vang at (559) 241-6202 or dvang@wwd.ca.gov.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
Crop year 2019 Farm Evaluation Surveys and Nitrogen Summary Reports were due March 1, 2020; both reports are required to be completed online at WWQC Website. If you need assistance with the submittal process, please contact James Reynolds at (559) 241-6231 or by email at jreynolds@wwd.ca.gov, or Edith Ramirez at (559) 241-6242, or by email at eramirez@wwd.ca.gov. For questions regarding your online submittal or use of the Westlands Water Quality Coalition (WWQC) reporting system, contact wwqc@wwd.ca.gov. Failure to complete submittals could result in fines assessed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
For members who have not completed their attendance requirement, you can receive credit by viewing the last Grower Workshop video that can be accessed through your member portal. Additionally, the WWQC will be holding a virtual Grower Workshop in the coming months.
Bollibokka Fishing Club Reservations
Reservations are still being accepted for the Bollibokka Fishing Club. The Club 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. In order to protect this unique fishery, all fishing is catch and release, fly only, barbless hooks.
The fishing season begins on April 24, 2020 and ends on November 15, 2020. If you are interested in reserving a week for a fishing trip to Bollibokka, please review the following information and contact the Club manager listed below. Remember that for reservation purposes, the week begins on Wednesday morning and ends at sunset on the following Monday. The Club is closed on Tuesday for cleaning unless reserved for consecutive weeks.
There are two accommodations available for rent on the property:
- The Way Station is located on the upper two miles of the property. The Way Station can accommodate up to six guests, and that is also the maximum number of rods permitted on this portion of the river. The cost is $4,410 per week.
- 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 $7,350 per week.
The District is utilizing the experienced fly-fishing services of The Fly Shop in Redding, California to oversee Club 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 Bollibokka Fishing Club’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.
Lands Available for Lease
The District has several parcels for lease in Fresno and Kings counties. For a list of available land, please contact Cork McIsaac of Agriculture Industries, Inc. at (916) 372-5595 or (800) 822-1415.
Low Interest Irrigation Equipment Lease Program
The District’s Expanded Irrigation System Improvement Program (EISIP) offers low interest loans at 3.1% to water users for the lease-purchase of irrigation system equipment. The EISIP provides funding up to $130,000 towards the purchase of irrigation system equipment, the design of irrigation system and purchase of portable aluminum irrigation pipe, micro irrigation, linear move, and center pivots. Interested water users should contact Juan Pacheco at (559) 241-6228 or jpacheco@wwd.ca.gov to begin the application process. Additional information is also available on the District’s website.
2020-2021 Agreement to Accept and Purchase Supplemental Water