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 currently 50 percent for the 2018-2019 water contract year. The CVP currently has approximately 8.99 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 111 percent of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 3.77 million acre-feet; 106 percent of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 592,000 acre-feet; 124 percent of the 15-year average. The State Water Resources Control Board’s D1641 salinity and outflow requirements are currently limiting Jones pumping. The Banks Pumping Plant has reduced exports due to required maintenance on the California Aqueduct. The current Total Agricultural Water Rate for 2018-2019 CVP water is $211.05 per AF.
2018-2019 Rescheduled Water
Reclamation indicated that it “is planning to limit the overall amount of water in San Luis Reservoir that is rescheduled at the end of the contract year into the 2019 contract year to 150,000 acre-feet.” District staff sought a clarification from Reclamation because in prior years, a cap on rescheduled water applied only to allocated Project water. Reclamation confirmed that the 150,000 acre-feet cap is intended to apply only to the 2018 allocation of Project water and any Project water allocated in a prior year, but rescheduled into the 2018 contract year. The District’s share of a 150,000 acre-feet cap on allocated Project water would be approximately 100,000 acre-feet. Non-Project water acquired by Westlands and stored under a Warren Act contract will not be subject to 100,000 AF cap. However, non-Project water stored in this manner is at a higher risk of loss if San Luis Reservoir fills.
The District anticipates that it will acquire about 25,000 acre-feet of non-Project water this year. District staff plans to store and carry this water into the 2019 water contract year, to maximize total carryover storage (about 125,000 acre-feet) that is made available to all water users, without unduly increasing the risk of loss. Though the acquisition of non-Project water is being taken to increase total carryover storage, neither the types of water in a water user’s account nor participation in the supplemental program are factors that affect the relative amount of water that an individual water user can successfully carryover under the District’s Rescheduling Guidelines. As a reminder, if a water user loses water, the District will bill the water user the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority O&M, applicable District rates, and any other costs the District incurs. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Russ Freeman at (559) 241-6241.
2018-2019 Supplemental Water Supply Update
The total 2018-2019 Supplemental Water request as of June 15 was 92,683 acre-feet on 256,450 acres. The District anticipates that it will meet these requests. The estimated Supplemental Water delivered cost will range from $430 – $475 per acre-foot. The District allocated 59,069 acre-feet on May 31, 2018, and the timing and amounts of expected allocations for the year are shown in the table below. This schedule will continue to be updated monthly to reflect supplies and/or changes to the timing of delivery.
| Allocation Month | AF Amount |
| April | 0 |
| May – Actual | 59,069 |
| June – Estimated | 17,000 |
| July – Estimated | 16,700 |
Typically, 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 delivered. However, for the May allocation only, the District is modifying the advance payment requirement, as discussed in further detail in the next section of this notice. The allocation advance payment will apply toward the delivered Supplemental Water rate. The water will be allocated to water user accounts as Project water or nonProject water (if available), allowing Full-Cost rates to be applied as required by Reclamation Law. Additionally, since the District has committed to purchase Supplemental Water, agreements may not be revoked or amended.
2018-2019 Supplemental Water Advance Charges
To provide financial relief to water users who received an allocation of 2018-2019 Supplemental Water in May 2018, the General Manager has exercised his authority under Section 10 of the District’s Terms and Conditions for Agricultural Water Service to establish the due dates for advance payments. Payments for the advance charges for 2018-2019 Supplemental Water allocated in May 2018 will be due and payable in three equal monthly installments with one third (1/3) due June 25, one third (1/3) due July 25, and one third (1/3) due August 27.
Timely payments made under this payment plan will not incur penalty, interest, or monitoring charges. The 2018-2019 Supplemental Water will become available for use by water users as the advance payments are received. Please call your Customer Service Representative at (559) 241-6250, if you have any questions.
General Allocation of Excess Supplemental Water
The District has acquired approximately 16,500 AF of excess supplemental water this year, and it has been designated as Other Water. Per Article 2.4.A of the District Regulations pertaining to Other Water, the District will be allocating this 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 $211.05 per AF, delivered. The District anticipates allocating Other Water in July and August.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Update
The District’s next planned workshop is Monday, July 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Harris Ranch Ballroom, 24505 West Dorris Avenue, Coalinga, CA 93210. The purpose of the workshop is to present Westlands SGMA Groundwater Management Strategies and provide a status of the District’s SGMA efforts. This will be the District’s thirteenth workshop. All meetings are open to the public. Presentation materials are available at the District’s Website. For additional information, contact Kiti Campbell at (559) 241-6226 or sgma@westlandswater.org.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition
Crop year 2017 Farm Evaluation Surveys and Nitrogen Summary Reports were due March 1, 2018; both reports are required to be submitted using the WWQC web-based system at 4Creek Website. Members who have not submitted the reports are considered non-compliant and could be subject to fine assessed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Notices will be mailed to all non-compliant members. If you have questions or comments, please contact Debra Dunn at (559) 241-6242, ddunn@westlandswater.org or Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235, nbranum@westlandswater.org.
Benefit Assessments
The 2018 Benefit Assessment statements were mailed on June 15, 2018. The charges are due now and delinquent after November 15, 2018. A 5 percent penalty will be added after the delinquent date. Please contact Deborah Tuggle at (559) 241-6212 for additional information about Assessments.
Summertime Irrigation Evaluation Program
The Irrigation Training and Research Center of Cal Poly (ITRC) is once again offering free irrigation evaluations this summer under a program funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Water Resources. Additional information on the types of evaluations being offered is included in the ITRC Website. Interested water users should contact Israel Sanchez at (559) 241-6237 or isanchez@westlandswater.org as soon as possible because the number of evaluations being offered is limited by available funding.
The District is offering water users a rebate for mobile lab services. Mobile lab services perform irrigation system evaluations by measuring water rate application, system distribution uniformity and by providing efficiency improvement recommendations. The amount of rebate per field evaluation is limited to 25 percent of the invoice or $500, whichever is less. Funds are limited, and availability is on a first come, first serve basis. Application and information are available on our Website or call Israel Sanchez at 559-241-6237 for additional assistance.
Summer Hours of Operation
Effective June 18, the Five Points Office and Field Offices (including TFO, HFO and the Corporate Yard), will hold summer hours of operation from 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday. All other District offices and operations will remain unchanged which is 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The emergency telephone number for after hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.
Recap of the Recent Dos Amigos Pumping Plant Shutdown
The District would like to extend its appreciation to the many water users who assisted in the recent planned Dos Amigos Pumping Plant shutdown by limiting water orders or postponing the use of water. While the shutdown did last longer than anticipated, the impacts were limited due to the cooperative actions of water users which help avoid overruns, potential damage to the distribution system, and possible penalties and fines.
Lands Available for Lease
The District has approximately 13,000 acres 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.
Holiday Office Closure & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in observance of Independence Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
| Wednesday – July 4 | Tuesday, July 3, 9:30 a.m. |
| Thursday – July 5 | Tuesday, July 3, noon |
The emergency telephone number for after hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.
Planned Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule – June and July
In an effort to keep water users apprised of upcoming planned pumping plant and system maintenance, the District will publish a monthly listing of the upcoming schedule for the next 45 to 60 days.
| Dates | Lateral(s) Impacted | Scheduled Work | Notes |
| 6-18 to 6-20 | 13L | 2 Pipeline Repairs | Entire Lateral Out of Service |
| 6-19 to 6-20 | Entire Coalinga Canal | Aquatic Growth Treatment | Canal Capacity Limited (100 CFS) |
| 6-25 to 6-29 | 7L | 7-1 Isolation Valve Repair | Repair will not affect Water Delivery at this time |
| 7-17 to 7-18 | Entire Coalinga Canal | Aquatic Growth Treatment | Canal Capacity Limited (100 CFS) |
| 7-17 to 7-18 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown | |
| 7-19 to 7-20 | 17R “B” and “C” Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17RB and 17RC Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |
| 7-24 to 7-25 | 2R “A” and “B” Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2RA and 2RB Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |