This notice regards:
ITEMS TO NOTE
2020-2021 CVP Contract Allocation
On May 19, 2020, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an increase in the 2020-21 Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation from 15% to 20% for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors. This is likely the final allocation for 2020-21 contract water year.
Assessment Equalization Hearing
At the equalization hearing on May 19, 2020, the Board of Directors established the District’s 2020 Benefit Assessment, which constitutes liens on each parcel of land assessed, due and payable as of May 19, 2020. Statements will be mailed in June and the assessments are delinquent after November 19, 2020. Please contact Jessie Xiong at (559) 241-6212 for additional information.
Website Change – External Links
To enhance user security, we implemented a change on our website that identifies external links. External links available on the District’s Website, are identified by the following image: (a small square +arrow icon) to the right of the link text. When a user clicks on an external link, a pop-up window will notify the user they are leaving the District’s Website.
For security reasons, Westlands maintains and separates public and private customer sites. The site separation allows enhanced security measures. When a user is viewing our public website, and then clicks the “Log In” button, the pop-up notification will appear. This behavior is expected since the private section is considered external.
Holiday Office Closure & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2020, 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 23 or 24 | Friday, May 22, 9:30 a.m. |
| Monday or Tuesday – May 25 or 26 | Friday, May 22, noon |
Public Education Program Update
The District is working diligently to reinforce the role of agriculture as an integral part of California’s economy, as well as to emphasize Westlands’ agricultural contribution locally, statewide, and nationally. The District’s efforts focus on educating the public on issues such as water supply, water availability, agricultural economics, and food security.
Have you watched “A Commitment to Growing Food – Now and Always”? Watch on Westlands’ YouTube page. If you are interested in seeing the District’s public outreach efforts in real time, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
2020-2021 Supplemental Water Application – Response May Be Required
The Supplemental Water Application submission due date is close of business on Friday, May 22, 2020.
The District plans to acquire supplemental water from multiple sources for the 2020-2021 water contract year. It is estimated that the delivered cost to water users will range from $600 – $700 per acre-foot. The District anticipates that the majority of the Supplemental Water will be allocated in late summer.
When the allocation of Supplemental Water occurs, the quantity allocated to a water user’s account is a proration 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 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 of 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. 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.
If you would like to be part of the Supplemental Water program, please complete the enclosed agreement, and return it to the Fresno Office by close of business on May 22, 2020. Westlands Water District requests landowners and water users return the agreement by mail, facsimile, or email, considering the recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- If transmitted by mail: Westlands Water District, P.O. Box 6056, Fresno, CA 93703. (Postmarked by the due date is considered timely.)
- If transmitted by facsimile: (559) 241-6276
- If transmitted by email: customeraccounting@wwd.ca.gov
Late requests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, after timely requests are filled. Agreements not received at the District, or postmarked, by the due date will not be considered timely. Please direct questions to your Customer Accounting Technician at (559) 241-6250.
WATER SUPPLY
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update
On May 19, 2020, the Board of Directors of Westlands Water District, serving as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) of the Westside Subbasin, appointed applicants to the Advisory Committee (AC) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). AC and TAC meetings will be held quarterly via video calls and open to the public. For more information regarding the AC and TAC, please contact Kiti Campbell at (559) 241-6226 or kcampbell@wwd.ca.gov.
2020-2021 Water Supply Update
The CVP currently has approximately 8.6 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 100% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 3.58 million acre-feet; 95% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 481,000 acre-feet; 76% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant has operated at about 20% capacity this month.
Storage Loss on Rescheduled Water
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Rescheduling Guidelines for San Luis Reservoir storage provide for a 1% storage loss factor for evaporation and system losses. This loss factor will be prorated to rescheduled water remaining in water user accounts on April 1, 2020, and each subsequent month, until the District delivers all rescheduled water. The District is reviewing all costs associated with this water and will be posting appropriate charges to affected water user accounts.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
E-Statement Availability
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many District staff are working from home. Therefore, you will not receive paper statements from the District for the near future. To access your monthly Statement of
Account and Water Activity Report, please login to your Westlands Water District web account, select Menu, then E-Docs. To ensure your payment is correctly applied to your account(s), always include your account number(s) on your check and/or the remittance stubs from the top section of your monthly billing statement(s).
The District also offers an Automatic Bill Payment (ABP) option for paying your monthly agricultural water bill. Participation in ABP will ensure your payment is always timely and avoids penalty, interest, or monitoring charges due to late payments. The ABP authorization form is available on your Westlands Water District web account by selecting Menu, then Forms, and Automatic Bill Payment Authorization. If you have any questions, please contact the Customer Accounting Department at (559) 241-6250.
Water Ordering and Meter Turn Off
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 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 $647.31. 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.
The schedule for placing water orders is as follows: water orders for Tuesday through Saturday must be placed the prior day between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., by telephone or fax. Orders placed over the website are accepted until 10:00 a.m., for the following day. Water orders for Sunday and Monday must be placed by noon the preceding Friday, either by phone, fax or website. Orders may be placed by calling (559) 241-6250 or (800) 266-6574, by Fax (559) 241-6276, or online through your water user account at
District’s Website. To set up a Westlands online account, please contact your Customer Service Representative at (559) 241-6250.
Office Communication During COVID-19 Pandemic
Westlands Water District requests that water users conduct all District related business via phone and email, in lieu of visiting District offices. The District’s Fresno and Five Points offices will remain open during regular business hours.
The District is following guidelines announced by the Whitehouse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the virus. District staff will monitor the developments closely and seeks to maintain the safety of employees, water users, and the public. Westlands will continue its commitment to water users by providing timely and reliable water services.
Please contact District staff if you have questions. Contact the main office by phone: (559) 224-1523, or email: info@wwd.ca.gov. The District will provide notices to landowners and water users should District operations be further impacted by Federal or State recommendations to slow the spread of the virus.
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Advance Notice of 2020-2021 Quinquennial Inspection and Repair Shutdown Schedule
The following table lists the District’s planned pumping plant system inspection and repair shutdown schedule for fiscal year 2020-2021. If you have questions or feedback regarding these shutdowns, please contact the District’s Maintenance Scheduler, Jimmy Weedin at (559) 884-2523 ext. 108.
2020-2021 Quinquennial Shutdown Schedule
| Week | Division Valves | Pumping Plants |
| September 14, 2020 | 25L | |
| September 21, 2020 | 32-2.0 | 32L |
| September 28, 2020 | PV4 | |
| October 5, 2020 | 23R | |
| October 12, 2020 | PV6 | |
| October 19 2020 | Replace 3-2.7 Slide Gate | 31L |
| October 26, 2020 | 6-1 & 6-2 | |
| November 2, 2020 | 3L | |
| November 16, 2020 | Repair Bypass Valve at 7RA | 7RA, 7RB, 7RC, 7RD |
| December 7, 2020 | 11R | |
| December 14, 2020 | 4L | |
| January 11, 2021 | 17RA, 17RB, 17RC | |
| January 25, 2021 | 33-2.0 | 33L |
| February 1, 2020 | 22L | |
| February 8, 2020 | 24L |
Planned Maintenance Shutdown Schedule 2020
To keep water users apprised of upcoming planned pumping plant and system maintenance, the District issues a monthly listing of the upcoming 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. Please, see the list below:
| Lateral(s) Impacted | Date(s) | Scheduled Work | Notes |
| Entire Coalinga Canal | 5/20 to 5/21 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 100 CFS Limited Capacity – 24 Hour |
| 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | 6/10 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 2R | 6/17 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2R-A & 2R-B Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 17R | 6/24 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17R-B & 17R-C Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Entire Coalinga Canal | 7/1 to 7/2 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 100 CFS Limited Capacity – 24 Hour |
| 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | 7/8 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 2R | 7/15 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2R-A & 2R-B Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 17R | 7/22 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17R-B & 17R-C Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Entire Coalinga Canal | 8/5 to 8/6 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 100 CFS Limited Capacity – 24 Hour |
| 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | 8/11 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 2R | 8/19 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2R-A & 2R-B Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 17R | 8/25 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17R-B & 17R-C Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Entire Coalinga Canal | 9/9 to 9/10 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 100 CFS Limited Capacity – 24 Hour |
| 1R-4.0C & D Reaches | 9/17 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 1R-4.0D Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 2R | 9/23 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 2R-A & 2R-B Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| 17R | 9/30 | Aquatic Growth Treatment | 17R-B & 17R-C Reservoir Treatment 7:00 am – 5:00 pm |
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
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.
2020-2021 Groundwater Pumping and Conveyance Project
The District is pursuing approvals to operate the Groundwater Pumping and Conveyance Project, commonly known as the Canal Integration Program (CIP), if the CVP allocation is 20% or less.
If the CIP is approved, participating groundwater wells must collect and conduct initial and ongoing water quality testing to determine if the wells meet the required water quality standards, including the following:
- Title-22 water quality analysis (required every 3 years);
- Testing for specific constituents of concern prior to start-up and weekly for the first four weeks;
- Monthly testing for specific constituents of concern in the second month
Groundwater levels will also be monitored. If a well does not meet the groundwater level standards, then the well cannot participate in the CIP program.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the District prepared a Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration (IS/ND) for the CIP, which is available on the District’s website for public review and comment. The public review period is May 21, 2020 through June 19, 2020. All written comments on the Draft IS/ND must be submitted to the District no later than June 19, 2020. Following the public review period, the Board of Directors will consider adoption of the Final IS/ND at its July 21, 2020 Board meeting.
Water users interested in participating in the CIP and testing their wells in anticipation of an approved CIP, should contact David Vang at (559) 241-6202 or dvang@wwd.ca.gov.
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
Crop year 2019 Farm Evaluation Surveys and Nitrogen Summary Reports were due March 1, 2020; both reports are required to be completed online at WWQC Website. If you need assistance with the submittal process, please contact James Reynolds at (559) 241-6231 or by email at
jreynolds@wwd.ca.gov. For questions regarding your online submittal or use of the Westlands Water Quality Coalition (WWQC) reporting system, contact wwqc@wwd.ca.gov. Failure to complete submittals could result in fines assessed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
For members who have not completed their attendance requirement, you can receive credit by viewing the last Grower Workshop video that can be accessed through your member portal. Additionally, the WWQC will be holding a virtual Grower Workshop in the coming months.
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.
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. The 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 Juan Pacheco at (559) 241-6228 or jpacheco@wwd.ca.gov to begin the application process. Additional information is also available on the District’s website.
2020-2021 Agreement to Accept and Purchase Supplemental Water