2018-2019 CVP Water Supply Update
The Bureau of Reclamation’s allocation to Central Valley Project (CVP) south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors is 50 percent for the 2018-2019 water contract year. The CVP currently has approximately 6.3 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 105 percent of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 2.2 million acre-feet; 92 percent of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 555,000 acre-feet; 106 percent of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant is operating five units in response to increased Delta inflow. The current Total Agricultural Water Rate for 2018-2019 CVP water is $211.21 per acre-foot, delivered.
2018-2019 Rescheduled Water Outlook
As reported in Notice No. 552 dated August 3, 2018, the District anticipates a limit on the amount of water that may be carried over to the 2019 water contract year, which has been revised to approximately 165,000 acre-feet and not 170,000 acre-feet. The water remaining at contract year-end in excess of the limit will be lost according to the District’s Rescheduling Policy.
Water users are reminded that according to the District’s Rescheduling Policy, loss (whether cap or rescheduling) is prorated based on volume per acre, from highest to lowest, and is applied in the following order and manner:
- Any remaining Rescheduled Water in excess of the Acreage Based Cap (0.5 acre-feet per irrigable acre)
- Water rescheduled by the District
- Remaining Rescheduled Water
- Delivered Rescheduled Water in excess of the Acreage Based Cap
- Delivered Rescheduled Water within the Acreage Based Cap
Water users are given until March 10 to transfer water between accounts to reduce exposure to the Acreage Based Cap. 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.
General Allocation of Other District Water
The District acquired approximately 102,700 acre-feet of north-of-Delta transfer water this year. Upon allocation of supplemental water subscribed by water users, approximately 9,900 acre-feet remains unsubscribed, as surplus. At its June meeting, the Board determined to allocate this remaining surplus water as Other Water. Per Article 2.4.A of the District Regulations pertaining to Other Water, the District allocated Other Water to all eligible cropland in the District on a per acre basis, excluding District acquired land. Other Water is priced at the District’s current Total Agricultural Water Rate of $211.21 per acre-feet, delivered to non-full cost lands. The District allocated Other Water in November. Water users who believe they may be at risk of losing water at the end of the year should ensure this water is first in order of use to avoid incurring additional charges related to acquisition.
2018-2019 Supplemental Water Supply Update
The total 2018-2019 Supplemental Water request as of July 15 was 92,963 acre-feet on 256,450 acres and the District will meet the request. The Finance and Administration Committee recently set the rate at $450 per acre-foot at its meeting on October 16th. The District has fulfilled all requests, and the timing and amounts of expected allocations for the year are shown in the table below:
| Allocation Month | AF Amount |
| April | 0 |
| May – Actual | 59,069 |
| June – Actual | 0 |
| July | 21,418 |
| August | 0 |
| September | 0 |
| October | 12,476 |
| Total | 92,963 |
Projected 2019-2020 CVP Contract Allocation
The Bureau of Reclamation has not announced an initial 2019-2020 allocation for CVP water service contractors. The District expects that Reclamation will make an initial allocation in February. Based upon current hydrologic conditions, the initial allocation could be less than 20%. The final allocation, typically made in April or May, will depend on the actual hydrology, especially in the watersheds that produce runoff in the upper Sacramento River basin.
2018 Benefit Assessment
Assessment bills for the 2018 Benefit Assessment were mailed on June 15, 2018 and became delinquent after November 15, 2018. A five percent penalty will be added after the delinquent date, and water service will not be provided. Please contact Stephen Farmer at (559) 241-6240 for additional information about assessments.
2018-2019 Land-Based Charges
The second installment of the 2018-2019 Land Based Charges became delinquent after September 25, 2018. A penalty will be added to unpaid charges on the day following the payment due date. Please contact Stephen Farmer at (559) 241-6240 for additional information about Land-Based Charges.
Groundwater Sustainability Plan
At the December 18th Board Meeting, District staff gave a presentation discussing the District’s groundwater allocation and reallocation concept. As a reminder, all meetings are open to public, and presentation materials are available on the District’s website. For additional information, contact Kiti Campbell at (559) 241-6226 or sgma@westlandswater.org.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
The Westlands Water Quality Coalition (WWQC) will hold a workshop on Thursday, January 24th at 10:00 AM at the Fresno County Farm Bureau Office: 1274 W Hedges Ave Fresno, CA 93728. The workshop will cover information regarding General Order revisions, WWQC updates, upcoming submittals, and Nitrogen Summary feedback. For further information and to RSVP for this workshop, contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235 or by email nbranum@westlandswater.org.
2018 Farm Evaluations and Nitrogen Summary Reports are due on March 1, 2019. All submissions are required to be completed online on the 4Creeks website. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235 to schedule an appointment for a WWQC representative to assist in the submittal process. For questions regarding your online submittal or use of the system contact wwqc@westlandswater.org.
Low Interest Irrigation Equipment Lease Program
The District’s Expanded Irrigation System Improvement Program (EISIP) offers low interest loans at 3.1 percent to water users for the lease-purchase of irrigation system equipment. 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. Water users who plan to install a system on land that is served by a pump enrolled in a District power program may also be eligible for a 35 percent cost share, up to $45,500, from the District. Interested water users should contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235 to begin the application process.
Lease of District Owned Land
The District currently has approximately 30,000 acres of land available for lease. For a detailed list of available land, please contact Cork McIsaac of Agriculture Industries, Inc. at (916) 372-5595 or (800) 822-1415.
Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed Monday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday; Tuesday, January 1, for New Year’s Day; and Monday, January 21,
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
| Tuesday – January 1 | Monday, December 31, 9:30 a.m. |
| Wednesday – January 2 | Monday, December 31, noon |
| Saturday or Sunday – January 19 or 20 | Friday, January 18, 9:30 a.m. |
| Monday or Tuesday – January 21 or 22 | Friday, January 18, noon |
The emergency telephone number for after hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.
Happy Holidays
From all the staff at the District, have a safe and happy holiday season!