Items to Note
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
Antonio Solorio: (559) 241-6244 or sgma@wwd.ca.gov
The District recommends water users take advantage of the surplus water by developing a recharge project for the Groundwater Credit Program. The 2023 Recharge Program Application and supporting guidance document can be found on the District’s SGMA Website. The District established its policies and procedures for private recharge in its SGMA Rules and Regulations.
As you plan your water budget for the next contract year, which began on March 1, 2023, please review Article 1. Regulations for the Groundwater Allocation Program and Use of Groundwater within the Westside Subbasin, available on the Regulations page of the website. Please note, a Groundwater User must apply for voluntary participation in the Groundwater Allocation Program to receive a groundwater allocation. Per Article 1, the transitional allocation cannot be carried over to the following Contract Year or transferred to another water user account.
The Groundwater Allocation Applications were due on January 18, 2023, to be considered timely. Landowners with an outstanding Groundwater Allocation Application should submit the application as soon as possible, but no later than July 31, 2023.
The Westlands Water District GSA will have its Joint Meeting of the Advisory and Technical Advisory Meeting on March 29, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. The GSA will be accepting Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee applications. Applications are posted on the SGMA website and are due by March 24, 2023.
Monthly Notice Electronic Only Starting March 2023
Customer Accounting: customeraccounting@wwd.ca.gov
Starting March 2023, the District will only issue electronic versions of the monthly notice. Hard copies will no longer be mailed. Please contact the Customer Accounting department to update water user and landowner records to ensure that you receive notices via email starting in March 2023. Alternatively, notices can be found on the notice page of the District’s website.
Annual Water Users’ Workshop
The Annual Water Users’ Workshop was held Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the District’s Five Points Shop and Field Office. District staff provided updates on District activities and other matters. A copy of the presentation has been posted on the District’s website.
Bollibokka Reservations
Reservations are being accepted for the Bollibokka McCloud River property. The Bollibokka McCloud River property is very private, located along seven miles of the McCloud River immediately upstream of Shasta Lake. The McCloud River is esteemed for its beauty and is renowned as a premier stream for trout fishing in the world. In order to protect this unique fishery, all fishing is catch and release, fly only, and barbless hooks. Details can be found under the Finance and Administration Section of this notice.
Geotechnical Investigation for Recharge Potential
Zac Just: (559) 241-6245 or zjust@wwd.ca.gov
The District was awarded grant funding to conduct geotechnical testing (Cone Penetration Tests) on the sections of land listed in Tables 1 and 2 in Attachment 2 of the Rules and Regulations. If you are interested in coordinating with the District and receiving free geotechnical testing on your lands, please contact Zac Just.
2023-2024 Land-Based Charges Due
Jessie Xiong:(559) 241-6212
The bills for the 2023-2024 Land-Based Charges were mailed on March 10, 2023, with the first installment due March 27, 2023, and the second installment due September 25, 2023. A penalty will be added to unpaid charges on the day following the payment due date.
Groundwater Well Meter Installation and Well Modifications
Alex Young: (559) 884-2523 ext. 122 or ayoung@wwd.ca.gov
District staff continues to install meters on groundwater wells. Notices were mailed on November 15, 2022, to well owners with locations that require pipe discharge modifications. Staff will contact users who have not modified their pipe and do not have a District-owned meter installed. Well owners that delay the installation of meters by failing to make necessary modifications risk being delayed (or prohibited) from participating in the groundwater allocation program beginning on March 1, 2023, and possibly affect the well owners’ ability to participate in other District programs.
The District would like to remind water users that meters and grounding rods installed on groundwater wells for compliance with the approved Groundwater Sustainability Plan are owned by the District and should not be adjusted, altered, or moved by water users or water users’ staff. If a water user observes installation issues, would like to connect their own AMI or monitoring system, or plans to abandon a well and wants to move the meter to a new site, please contact District staff so the issue can be resolved.
Please report meter issues to the District, and do not remove or replace District-owned meters.
Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures
The emergency telephone number for after-hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.
District offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday– May 27 or May 28 | Friday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. |
| Monday or Tuesday– May 29 or May 30 | Friday, May 26, 12:00 p.m. |
2023-2024 Supplemental Water Application – Response May Be Required
Customer Accounting Representative: (559) 241-6250
The District is planning to acquire Supplemental Water from multiple sources for the 2023-2024 water contract year. The District anticipates that a substantial allocation of Supplemental Water to water users could occur in late spring.
When Supplemental Water is made available for allocation, the quantity allocated to a water user’s account is a proration based on 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 that account will not be factored into subsequent allocations. Accordingly, water users with relatively high per-acre requests will receive the bulk (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 Supplemental Water is made available for allocation, while operation and maintenance-related 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 be part of the 2023-2024 Supplemental Water program, please complete the enclosed agreement and return it to the Fresno Office by close of business on May 1, 2023, by one of the following means.
- Mail to: Westlands Water District, P.O. Box 6056, Fresno, CA 93703. You may also hand deliver the agreement to the District’s Fresno Office, at 3130 N. Fresno Street.
- Scan and email: customeraccounting@wwd.ca.gov
- Facsimile to: (559) 241-6276
Agreements not received at the District or postmarked by the due date will not be considered timely. Late Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis after timely requests are filled.
WATER SUPPLY
2023-2024 CVP Contract Allocation
On February 22, 2023, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an initial 2023-24 Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation of 35% for south of Delta agricultural water contractors. Staff anticipates that Reclamation will make an additional allocation announcement by the end of the month and periodically thereafter based on updated hydrologic information as it is available.
The final allocation, typically made in April or May, will depend on the actual hydrology in the watersheds that produce runoff in the upper Sacramento River basin. District staff projects that the allocation, under a median hydrology, could be 65-75%. If the hydrology is above average, and if there is significant runoff on the San Joaquin River during the spring, the allocation could be greater. The District will continue to monitor and timely report any changes to the CVP allocation.
With the possibility of an increased CVP South of Delta allocation and potential for Delta Division Section 215 Water, Water Users are encouraged to use surface water and refrain from pumping groundwater.
2022-2023 Water Supply Update
The CVP currently has approximately 7,249,000 AF of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 97% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 3,537,000 AF; 108% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir (SLR) is 856,000 AF; 130% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant has operated at about 96% capacity this month.
2022-2023 Carryover Water
Russ Freeman: (559) 241-6241
San Luis Reservoir is expected to fill in about two weeks. With flood flows into the Mendota Pool expected to continue beyond May, and increased Delta inflows expected in April and May, Jones Pumping Plant pumping will meet demands and the CVP share of SLR should stay full through most of May. Based on historical deliveries in similar type years, the District expects to deliver all the carryover water, 75,000 AF, by the end of April. If all the District carryover water is delivered before sustained drawdown occurs, then the risk of loss of carryover water is eliminated.
Once SLR fills, Reclamation may declare Delta Division Section 215 Water available. The District will use as much Delta Division Section 215 Water as possible to meet water demands. Water delivered during this period will benefit from reductions in Reclamation’s Storage Operation and Maintenance and Water Marketing rate components.
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; 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.
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 lateral monitoring fee of up to $734.01. 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.
2023-2024 Groundwater Allocation
Customer Service Representative: (559) 241-6250
On March 14, 2023, the District allocated 0.6 AF of 2023-2024 SGMA Groundwater, and 0.7 AF of SGMA Transitional Groundwater to those who applied for it. Applications and revisions may be turned in to the District until July 31, 2023.
Bollibokka Reservations Details
The reservation season begins on April 26, 2023, and ends on November 13, 2023. If you are interested in reserving a week for a fishing trip to Bollibokka, please review the following information and contact the manager listed below. Remember that for reservation purposes, the week begins on Wednesday morning and ends at sunset on the following Monday. The property is closed on Tuesdays for cleaning unless reserved for consecutive weeks. There are two accommodations available for rent on the property:
The Way Station is located on the upper two miles of the property. The Way Station can accommodate up to six guests, and that is also the maximum number of rods permitted on this portion of the river. The cost is $6,050 per week.
The Club House and Rock House are located on the lower five miles of the property. The two buildings can accommodate ten and four guests, respectively, and the maximum number of rods on this portion of the river is twelve. The cost is $9,350 per week.
The District is utilizing the experienced fly-fishing services of The Fly Shop in Redding, California to oversee property management activities and coordinate all uses of the property. Additionally, the Fly Shop has associations with many fly-fishing guides familiar with the McCloud River.
For more information, please contact Chris King of The Fly Shop at:
Phone Number: (800) 669-3474
Fax Number: (530) 222-3572
Email: chris@theflyshop.com
Mail: 4140 Churn Creek Road, Redding, CA 96002
For additional information, visit the Fly Shop’s website. The Fly Shop will try to accommodate all reservation requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your reservation is accepted, The Fly Shop will provide a Confirmation Package, which contains directions to the facilities, updated policies, information on cooking and cleaning services, and additional contact information. Payment for your stay should be made directly to The Fly Shop.
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Planned Maintenance Shutdown Schedule 2023
Alex Garcia: (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1R-4.0C & D | May 17 | Algae Treatment | 1R-4.0C Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 3:30 pm |
| Coalinga Canal | May 18 – May 19 | Algae Treatment | Limit 100 cfs |
| 13R | May 31 | Algae Treatment | 13R-A Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 3:30 pm |
2023-2024 Quinquennial Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
Alex Garcia: (559) 884-2523 ext. 108
The following table lists the District’s general order and initial dates planned for the pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for fiscal year 2023-2024.
| Week | Division Valves to be inspected | Pumping Plant |
|---|---|---|
| 9/25/2023 | 4R | |
| 10/2/2023 | 18L | |
| 10/9/2023 | 26R | |
| 10/16/2023 | 19R | |
| 10/23/2023 | 30R | |
| 10/30/2023 | 16R A, B, C | |
| 11/13/2023 | 20R | |
| 12/4/2023 | 15L | |
| 12/11/2023 | 38L | |
| 1/8/2024 | 20L | |
| 1/22/2024 | PVPP | |
| 1/29/2024 | 17L | |
| 2/5/2024 | 35L | |
| 2/12/2024 | 16L | |
| 2/19/2024 | 37-0.3 | 37L |
| 2/26/2024 | 2-0.5 | 2L |
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231; Zac Just: (559) 241-6245, or wwqc@wwd.ca.gov
The 2022 crop year Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) Reports were due on March 1, 2023. All INMP submissions are required to be completed on the Coalition Website.
The Coalition hosted the Annual Member Outreach Workshop on January 31st, 2023. If you have not fulfilled the Annual Outreach requirement, the “2023 WWQC Annual Outreach Event” video is now available to watch on the Coalition Website.
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
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231 or kpeterson@wwd.ca.gov
In 2021, 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 systems and recharge project equipment. Water users who plan to install an irrigation 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’s EISIP/Public Purpose Program (P3) Grant. Additional information is available on the EISIP and P3 pages on the District’s website.
Irrigation Evaluation Cost Share Rebate
Kori Peterson: (559) 241-6231 or kpeterson@wwd.ca.gov
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% of the invoice or $500, whichever is less. Funds are limited, and availability is on a first come, first served basis. Applications and information are available on the Water Use Efficiency page on the District’s website.
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 the Groundwater Management and Temporary Diversion 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 the District’s 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 increased power costs, which are then passed on to program participants.
No. 699