ITEMS TO NOTE
GWMP Meter Installation and Well Modifications
Alex Young: (559) 884-2523 X122 or ayoung@wwd.ca.gov
District staff has resumed installing meters on groundwater wells and as such will be reaching out to well owners on needed modifications and installation schedules.
The District would like to remind water users that meters installed on groundwater wells for compliance with the approved Groundwater Sustainability Plan are owned by the District and should not be adjusted or moved by water users or their staff. If water users are planning to abandon a well and want to move the meter to a new site, please contact District staff so it can be moved for you.
If a water user desires to connect a privately owned AMI or monitoring system to a District owned meter, please contact Water Measurement Specialist, John Johnston at 559-884-2523 ext. 131.
Please report meter issues, and do not remove or replace District-owned meters.
Public Affairs Survey
District staff is frequently contacted by people who want to learn more about activities in the District. Growers often have the answers and are in the best position to respond. For that reason, the District is reaching out to see if you would be willing to (a) answer a few questions about your farm or ranch and (b) participate in presentations, tours, media releases/editorials, interviews, etc., when the opportunity arises. The survey can be found on the water user site and by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BBZDBZC .
2022-2023 Agricultural Water Allocation Applications Due January 21, 2022
The District mailed the 2022-2023 Agricultural Water Allocation Application packets on December 16, 2021. Landowners will not receive packets unless they are also water users or have requested them previously. Applications are due at either the Fresno or Five Points offices by 5:00 p.m. on or before January 21, 2022.
Typically, the landowners’ tenant farmers will submit the allocation applications. However, landowners may apply if more direct control of the allocation to their land is desired, or tenants have not been selected. Landowners are reminded that the costs associated with water applied for and allocated must be paid, even if the water is not used.
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 rules and regulations. If no applicants own the land, priority will be given to the water user who provides evidence of the right to occupy the land and receive the allocation.
The District is also requesting an estimate of the number of acres you expect to fallow in the 2022-2023 water contract year. Providing this information will not affect your request for a water supply allocation; it will only be used to educate the public on how the continued lack of water supply is impacting our water users.
Westlands Water District Policy for Unclaimed Monies
The District’s Policy for Unclaimed Monies and a list of unclaimed monies for previous and current landowners and water users are available on both the District’s website and the web users’ login site.
Holiday Office Closures and Water Ordering Procedures
The emergency telephone number for after-hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523. District offices will be closed Monday, February 21 in observance of President’s Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
|---|---|
| Monday or Tuesday – February 21 or 22 | Friday, February 18, noon |
Public Hearing on Proposed 2022-2023 Water Rates, Charges, and Land-Based Charges
The District will hold a public hearing on the proposed water rates, charges, and land-based charges on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. At this public hearing, the Board shall 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 on December 30, 2021.
These rates and charges are proposed to pay the costs of water service, including District operations and maintenance; District water supply debt service; repairs of distribution system pipe; drainage service area costs for representation of landowners; activities of the Westlands Water Quality Coalition; Community outreach, debt service related to financing the prepayment of the District’s remaining obligation for construction cost of the Central Valley Project, and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). For additional information, please refer to the District’s notice dated December 30, 2021.
If you have any questions, please call the following:
- for water rates and charges, Customer Accounting at (559) 241-6250.
- for land-based charges, Jessie Xiong at (559) 241-6212.
- for Westlands Water Quality Coalition charges, Zachary Just at (559) 241-6245.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
Antonio Solorio: (559) 241-6244 or sgma@wwd.ca.gov
A Special meeting of the Advisory Committee (AC) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) are scheduled for February 3, 2022 At 3:00 PM to discuss the draft sections of the Rules and Regulations.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
Zachary Just: (559) 241-6245 or Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231, or email at wwqc@wwd.ca.gov.
On March 1, 2022 Coalition Members are required to submit the Farm Evaluation (FE), Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Practice (INMP), and the INMP Summary Reports on the website, https://wwd.ca.gov/resource-management/irrigated-lands-regulatory-program. The website is currently open for submissions and contains a tutorial video developed to guide members through the submission process.
The Coalition will also be hosting a virtual grower workshop February 3, 2022, at 9:00 am to help growers complete the reporting requirements for the 2021 Crop Year (October 1 – September 30). Members must attend at least one workshop as required in the General Order. Participation credit will be given to all who attend. An email with more details will be sent to members.
WATER SUPPLY
2021-2022 Water Supply Update
The Central Valley Project (CVP) currently has approximately 4.05 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 66% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 1.57 million acre-feet; 63% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 224,000 acre-feet; 41% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant has operated at about 85% capacity this month.
2021-2022 Supplemental Water
Customer Service Representative: (559) 241-6250
As of January 11, 2022, the timely requests for 2021-22 Supplemental Water totals 145,113 acre-feet on 362,364 acres. The District is acquiring Supplemental Water from multiple sources for the 2021-2022 water contract year. It is estimated that the District can acquire up to 153,000 acre-feet of Supplemental Water and the delivered price to water users is near $1,100 per acre-foot.
The District made 123,410 acre-feet available for allocation thus far and will make additional Supplemental Water available as it is confirmed pumped south of Delta. The District anticipates the remaining Supplemental Water will be available this month.
When Supplemental Water is made available for allocation, the quantity is prorated 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 the account will not be factored into subsequent allocations. Accordingly, water users with relatively high per-acre requests will receive the bulk (the 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 water is made available for allocation, while operation and maintenance 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 submit a late request for the Supplemental Water program, please complete the agreement included in the April 23, 2021 Landowner Notice, and return it to the Fresno Office. Late requests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis after timely requests are filled.
Projected 2022-2023 CVP Contract Allocation
The District expects that Reclamation will make an initial allocation in February. However, given the very low storage currently in CVP reservoirs, it is likely that the initial allocation to South of Delta agricultural water contractors will be 0%. Additionally, if the 2022 water year hydrology is below normal, the final allocation to South of Delta agricultural water contractors is likely to remain at 0%.
2020-2021 Rescheduled and Carryover Water
As you develop your water supply plans for the upcoming contract year, be reminded that Reclamation’s Rescheduling Guidelines impose a 1% per month storage loss factor for evaporation and system losses on remaining 2020-21 rescheduled and carryover water in San Luis Reservoir. This loss factor will be prorated to rescheduled and carried over water remaining in water user accounts each month until the District delivers all remaining 2020-21 rescheduled and carried over water. It is possible due to water users’ use of other water types, 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.
2021-2022 Carryover Water
The District anticipates no cap on the amount of water that it can carry over into the 2022-2023 contract water year. The San Luis Reservoir (SLR) is unlikely to fill under median or lesser hydrology, in which case there will be no loss based on “foregone pumping” and water users will continue to have access to carryover water throughout the 2022-2023 contract water year, subject to the 1% loss, beginning on April 1, 2022, and discussed above.
However, if SLR fills on or after March 1, then any carryover water that is not used when SLR begins sustained drawdown will likely be lost, depending on the “foregone pumping” calculated while SLR is full.
Neither the types of water in an account nor participation in the Supplemental Water program are factors that affect the amount of water that a water user can carry over under the District’s Rescheduling Guidelines. If a water user loses water, the District will bill them for San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority O&M, applicable District rates, and any other costs the District incurs. Contact Russ Freeman at (559) 241-6241 for more information.
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 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 the 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 $647.12. 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
Cross Connections and District Facility Protection
Field Engineering Staff: 559-884-2523
District facilities and adjacent water user property have suffered minor damages due to cross-connections with the District’s distribution system. We understand that flexibility is needed to connect and operate on-farm irrigation systems. Consideration needs to be given to the District’s distribution system when cross-connecting groundwater wells and other sources of water to protect District pipelines, tanks, reservoirs, and adjacent private property from damage. For assistance on proper connections, please contact District Field Engineering staff.
Planned Maintenance Shutdown Schedule 2022
Jimmy Weedin: (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36L | 1/24 to 1/28 | Quinquennial Inspection | |
| 1R | 1/26 to 1/27 | PG&E Shutdown | |
| 22R | 1/31 to 2/4 | Quinquennial Inspection | |
| 6L | 2/7 to 2/11 | Quinquennial Inspection | |
| PV2 | 2/14 to 2/18 | Quinquennial Inspection | |
| 21R | 2/28 to 3/4 | Quinquennial Inspection |
Advanced Notice of 2022-2023 Quinquennial Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
Jimmy Weedin: (559) 884-2523 ext. 108
The following table lists the District’s general order and initial dates planned for pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for fiscal year 2022-2023. Contact the District’s Maintenance Scheduler, Jimmy Weedin for more information.
| Week | Division Valves to be inspected | Pumping Plant |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2022 | 12-0.5 | 12L |
| October 3 | 21L | |
| October 10 | 30-1.3 | 30L |
| October 17 | 27-5.0 | 27L |
| October 24 | 28-2.0, 3.0, & 4.0 | 28L |
| October 31 | PV9-1.5 | PV9 |
| November 14 | 1RA, 1R-2.0B, & 1R-4.0B | |
| December 5 | 1R-4.0C & 1R-4.0D | |
| December 12 | 1R-4.0-1.0C & 1R-4.0-1.0D | |
| January 9, 2023 | 3R | |
| January 23 | 10L | |
| January 30 | 29-1.0 | 29L |
| February 6 | 34L | |
| February 13 | 19L | |
| February 27 | 1L |
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.
Low-Interest Irrigation Equipment Lease Program
Juan Pacheco: (559) 241-6228 or jpacheco@wwd.ca.gov
In October the District amended the Expanded Irrigation System Improvement Program (EISIP) to include recharge project equipment. The District’s EISIP offers low-interest loans, of up to $130,000, to water users for the lease-purchase of irrigation system and recharge project equipment. 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 $45,000, from the District’s Expanded Irrigation System Improvement Program (EISIP)/Public Purpose Program (P3) Grant. Interested water users should contact Juan Pacheco. Additional information is available on the EISIP and P3 pages on the District’s website.