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Westlands Water District

Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

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January Monthly Notice (#568)

January 18, 2019

This notice regards:

  • 2019-2020 Rescheduled Water Outlook
  • Projected 2019-2020 CVP Contract Allocation
  • Public Hearing on Proposed 2019-2020 Water Rates, Charges and Land-Based Charges
  • Reclamation Law Certification/Reporting
  • General Allocation of Other District Water
  • Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
  • Westlands Special Election for Vacant Board of Director Position
  • Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
  • Low Interest Irrigation Equipment Lease Program
  • Westlands Booth at World Ag Expo
  • Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures

2019-2020 Rescheduled Water Outlook

The District anticipates that a limit of approximately 165,000 acre-feet will be placed on the amount of water that may be carried over to the 2019 water contract year. 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:

  1. Any remaining Rescheduled Water in excess of the Acreage Based Cap (0.5 acre-feet per irrigable acre)
  2. Water rescheduled by the District
  3. Remaining Rescheduled Water
  4. Delivered Rescheduled Water in excess of the Acreage Based Cap
  5. Delivered Rescheduled Water within the Acreage Based Cap

Although the District’s Rescheduling Policy permits rescheduling in excess of the Acreage Based Cap, staff expects that after Cap Loss is applied, there will be about 0.35 acre-feet per acre remaining, assuming all eligible acres participate in rescheduling water. If the San Luis Reservoir fills and there is a loss due to foregone pumping (Rescheduling Loss), then that loss will be applied in addition to the Cap Loss.

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.

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 will probably be less than 15%. 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. District staff projects that the allocation under a dry hydrology could range from 15-25%, and the allocation under a median hydrology could range from 35-45%. If the hydrology is above average, especially on the San Joaquin watershed, the allocation could be 60% or greater.

The CVP currently has approximately 6.8 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 106% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 2.5 million acre-feet; 95% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 713,000 acre-feet; 115% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant is operating four units to comply with Old and Middle River reverse flow limitations set by the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Biological Opinion for protection of listed anadromous species.

Public Hearing on Proposed 2019-2020 Water Rates, Charges and Land-Based Charges

The District will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2019-2020 water rates, charges and land-based charges on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at the District’s Fresno Office, 3130 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93703. At this public hearing, the Board will hear and consider all objections or protests, if any, to the proposed water rates, charges and land-based charges. Official notice of the hearing was mailed out on January 4, 2019.

These rates and charges are proposed in order to pay the costs of water service, including District operations and maintenance; repairs of distribution system pipe; drainage service area costs for representation of landowners; and activities of the Westlands Water Quality Coalition associated with the waste discharge requirements general order for the Western Tulare Lake Basin Watershed. For additional information, please refer to the District’s notice dated January 4, 2019.

If you have any questions, please call the following:

  • For water rates and charges, Customer Accounting at (559) 241-6250
  • For land-based charges, Steve Farmer at (559) 241-6240
  • For charges of the Westlands Water Quality Coalition, Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235

Reclamation Law Certification/Reporting

Earlier this month, notices were mailed to water users and landowners regarding the Reclamation Law’s annual certification/reporting requirements. The forms are due for filing with the District by February 1, 2019. Lands are ineligible for service in the new water year until the forms are submitted. This filing deadline allows timely processing of the forms and helps to ensure water service is not interrupted. Water users who lease land may want to check with their landowners to make sure the landowner is aware of and will return the form(s) by the deadline. If you have any questions, please call your Customer Service Representative at (559) 241-6250.

General Allocation of Other District Water

The District acquired approximately 102,700 acre-feet of supplemental water this water contract year. Upon allocation of supplemental water subscribed by water users, approximately 9,900 acre-feet remained 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.

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update

At the January 15 Board Meeting, District staff provided the Board a summary of the concepts previously presented to manage the groundwater subbasin. 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 Special Election for Vacant Board of Director Position

A special election is scheduled to be held in Westlands Water District on February 26, 2019, for the office of Director. The election will be conducted as an all-mail ballot election and there will be no polling places. Ballots will be mailed to each District landowner. In order to have your vote counted, you must use the official ballot and return it by mail or deliver it to the District office in Fresno, using the identification/return envelope provided.

Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members

2018 Farm Evaluations and Nitrogen Summary Reports are due on March 1, 2019. All submissions are required to be completed online. The Westlands Water Quality Coalition (WWQC) will hold a workshop on Thursday, January 24 at 10:00 AM at the Fresno County Farm Bureau Office (1274 W Hedges Ave Fresno, CA 93728) that will cover information on upcoming submittals, Nitrogen Summary feedback, WWQC updates, and General Order revisions. For further information and to RSVP for this workshop, contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235 or by email nbranum@westlandswater.org.

The Central Valley Water Board released proposed revisions to the Waste Discharge Requirements General Order R5-2014-001 For Growers Within the Western Tulare Lake Basin Area That Are Members of a Third-Party Group (General Order). A public hearing will be held on February 7 and 8, 2019 in Rancho Cordova. Members are encouraged to review revisions and contact Debra Dunn at 559-241-6242 or ddunn@westlandswater.org if you have any questions or comments.

As a reminder, all landowners and farm operators adjacent to the Panoche-Silver Creek, Cantua Creek and Arroyo Pasajero should allow District staff and laboratory personnel access to creeks for water quality sampling. Please contact Debra Dunn at (559) 241-6242 if water is flowing in the aforementioned creeks.

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. 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% 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. Additional information is also available under our Water Management Resources.

Westlands Booth at World Ag Expo

The World Ag Expo is just around the corner (February 12 to 14 in Tulare, CA), featuring seminars, farm equipment, ag technology and delicious food. Westlands will be at Booth 4108 in Pavilion D to help educate attendees and exhibitors on the importance of a reliable agricultural water allocation, the nexus between ag production and economic success, irrigation efficiencies, and current water supply challenges. Be sure to stop by to see our educational materials and talk with staff.

Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures

District offices will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2019, in observance of President’s Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:

For Water Use OnPlace Water Order By
Saturday or Sunday – February 16 or 17Friday, February 15, 9:30 a.m.
Monday or Tuesday – February 18 or 19Friday, February 15, noon

The emergency telephone number for after hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.

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