This notice regards:
2019 – 2020 Water Supply Update
On June 14, 2019, the Bureau of Reclamation increased the 2019 – 2020 Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation to 75% for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors. The District will continue to monitor and report changes in the CVP allocation.
The CVP currently has approximately 10.6 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 130% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 4.4 million acre-feet; 123% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 727,000 acre-feet; 152% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant is operating at capacity, approximately 4,400 cubic feet per second, and is expected to continue to do so into September.
Benefit Assessments
The 2019 Benefit Assessment statements were mailed on June 25, 2019. The charges are due now and delinquent after November 21, 2019. A five percent penalty will be added after the delinquent date. Please contact Jessie Xiong at (559) 241-6212 for additional information about Assessments.
2019 – 2020 Supplemental Water Update – Response May Be Required
As of June 20th, the total request for 2019 – 2020 Supplemental Water is 23,392 acre-feet on 58,035 acres. The estimated Supplemental Water delivered cost will range from $290 – $310 per acre-foot. The District will meet all timely requests and has 29,956 acre-feet of additional Supplemental Water available to meet late requests. Allocations of Supplemental Water will begin this month, 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 additional supplies and/or changes to the timing for delivery.
| Allocation Month | Amount (acre-feet) |
| June – Actual | 22,465 |
| July – Estimated | 9,000 |
| August – Estimated | 8,600 |
| September – Estimated | 6,800 |
| October – Estimated | 6,400 |
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 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.
Applications for late requests must be received by July 5, 2019. Any unsubscribed water will thereafter be subject to a general allocation. For additional details, see discussion below.
If you would like to submit a late request for the Supplemental Water program, please complete the agreement, included in the February 21, 2019 Landowner Notice, (see pages 5 and 6) and return it to the Fresno Office by July 5, 2019. Late Requests receive a lower priority for allocations and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please direct questions to your Customer Accounting Technician at (559) 241-6250.
General Allocation of Excess Supplemental Water
As indicated above, the District will stop accepting Late Requests for Excess Supplemental Water on July 5th. Thereafter, any remaining/excess Supplemental Water will be 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 $201.52 per AF, delivered. The District anticipates allocating this Other Water in July.
The Board has approved the transfer of up to 29,956 acre-feet of Excess Supplemental Water out of the District for use by water users on commonly owned lands, whether it be Excess Supplemental Water allocated as a result of a late request received on or before July 5, 2019, or Excess Supplemental Water allocated as Other Water. Requests to transfer water will be taken on a first come, first served, basis. Water users will be responsible for obtaining additional regulatory approvals for transfers outside the District
Kings River Floodwater Supply Available
The District pumped approximately 5,800 acre-feet of Kings River floodwater from the Mendota Pool while it was available in May and June. The water will be ratably allocated only to water users with outstanding requests for Central Valley Project Contract water. Kings River floodwater will be priced at approximately $125 per acre foot.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
At the June 24, 2019 Board Meeting, District staff presented the Westside Sub-basin’s proposed 2020 costs for the Groundwater Sustainability Plan implementation. As a reminder, all meetings are open to the public, and presentation materials are available on the District’s website. For more information, contact Kiti Campbell at (559) 241-6226 or sgma@wwd.ca.gov.
Groundwater Credit Pilot Project
At the March 19, 2019 Board meeting, the Board approved the development of a Groundwater Credit Pilot Project. The purpose of the pilot project is to collect data, encourage groundwater recharge, and enable water users to develop groundwater recharge projects. The 2019 Groundwater Credit Pilot Program Terms and Conditions are located on the District’s website on the SGMA page (PDF). If you are interested in participating in the pilot project, please contact Antonio Solorio at (559) 241-6244 or sgma@wwd.ca.gov.
Advance Notice of 2019-2020 Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
The following table is provided for water users as a reminder of the District’s planned pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for fiscal year 2019-2020. If you have questions regarding these scheduled shutdowns, please contact the District’s Maintenance Scheduler, Jimmy Weedin at (559) 884-2523 x108.
2019-2020 Quinquennial Shutdown Schedule
| Week | Division Valves | Pumping Plants |
| October 7, 2019 | 26-1.7 | 26L |
| October 14 | 25R | |
| October 21 | 5L | |
| October 28 | 14RA, 14RB, 14RC | |
| November 4 | 29RA, 29RB | |
| November 18 | 8L | |
| December 2 | 14L | |
| December 9 | 28RA, 28RB, 28R-1.0W | |
| December 16 | 9L | |
| January 6, 2020 | 23L | |
| January 13 | 11L | |
| January 27 | 18R |
Water Ordering Procedures for Pumps Enrolled in District Power Programs
The District’s Groundwater Management Program and Temporary Diversion Program provide Western Area Power Administration energy to temporary diversion pumps, groundwater pumps, and drip system booster pumps. The District’s Terms and Conditions for Agricultural Water Service apply to water delivered under these programs. Accordingly, water users are required to place their water orders three days in advance if they are delivering water through a pump enrolled in a District power program. It is critical that water users comply with the ordering procedures to ensure that the District’s request for power to operate these facilities is accurate. Failure to place timely “on” or “off” orders will result in inaccurate power requests and, therefore, increase power costs which are then passed on to program participants.
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. Interested water users should contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235, nbranum@wwd.ca.gov to begin the application process. Additional information is also available
on the District’s website.
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.
Public Education Program Update
The District has worked diligently to reinforce the role of agriculture as an integral part of California’s economy and to emphasize Westlands’ agricultural contribution locally, statewide, and nationally. The District’s efforts focus on educating the public about issues such as water supply, water availability, agricultural economics, and food security; all while countering inaccurate information by using facts.
Have you seen this month’s “Water Supply Update” video featuring Chief Operating Officer Jose Gutierrez? Follow the link to watch: YouTube Video. If you are interested in seeing the District’s public outreach efforts in real time, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Holiday Office Closure & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in observance of Independence Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
| Thursday – July 4 | Wednesday, July 3, 9:30 a.m. |
| Friday – July 5 | Wednesday, July 3, noon |
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 Alex Young at (559) 241-6225 or ayoung@wwd.ca.gov. The number of evaluations offered is limited by available funding.
Irrigation Evaluation Cost Share Rebate
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 the District’s website or call Alex Young at 559-241-6225 for additional assistance.
Planned Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule – July and August
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 |
| 7-17 to 7-18 | Entire Coalinga Canal | Aquatic Growth Treatment | Canal Capacity Limited (100 CFS) |
| 7-2 to 7-3 | 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | 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 |
| 7-31 to 8-1 | 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |
| 8-6 to 8-7 | 2R “A” and “B” Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2RA and 2RB Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |
| 8-13 to 8-14 | 17R “A”, “B” and “C” Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17RA and 17RB Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |
| 8-20 to 8-21 | 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 24hr Shutdown |
| 8-21 to 8-22 | Entire Coalinga Canal | Aquatic Growth Treatment | Canal Capacity Limited (100 CFS) |
Summer Hours of Operation
Effective June 18th, the Five Points Shop and Field Office (including TFO, HFO and PVPP), commenced 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.