*Note: The emergency telephone number for after hours and holidays is (559) 224-1523.
ITEMS TO NOTE
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Update – Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adoption December 17
On December 17, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., the Westlands Water District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) will hold a public hearing at Westlands Water District’s Fresno Office, 3130 N. Fresno St. Fresno, CA 93703. The Board of Directors of Westlands Water District serving as the GSA will consider adopting the Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP).
At the November 19, 2019 Board Meeting, District Staff presented Draft GSP Frequently Asked Questions. As a reminder, materials concerning SGMA implementation, including the effort to prepare the Draft GSP, are available on the District’s website.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Workshop
The District plans to hold a second ASR workshop in January 2020. The workshop will focus on implementation of the District’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program and provide an opportunity for the District’s water users to ask technical experts questions about ASR. For more information regarding this workshop, please contact Kiti Campbell at 559-241-6226 or kcampbell@wwd.ca.gov.
2019 Benefit Assessment
Assessment payments are due now and delinquent after November 21, 2019. A five percent penalty will be added after the delinquent date and water service will not be provided. Please contact Jessie Xiong, at (559) 241-6212 for additional information about assessments.
2019-2020 Rescheduled Water
The District anticipates the amount of water that can be rescheduled into the 2020 water contract year will be limited to about 120,000 acre-feet. Any water in excess of that quantity will revert to Reclamation’s 2020 Central Valley Project (CVP) water.
Additionally, if San Luis Reservoir (SLR) fills on or after March 1, then any Rescheduled Water that is not used when SLR begins sustained drawdown will likely revert to Reclamation, depending on the foregone pumping calculated while SLR is full.
SLR could fill at the end of February or beginning of March 2020, in which case water users would potentially experience a similar loss of Rescheduled Water. For these reasons, water users should manage their water use between now and the end of the water contract year to reschedule an amount they can use in the March through early April time period.
In 2019, water users delivered 70,000 acre-feet from the time SLR filled on March 9, until water levels began a sustained drawdown on April 12. Reclamation declared that any unused Rescheduled Water was lost because the amount of calculated foregone pumping exceeded the amount of remaining Rescheduled Water.
If water users reschedule more than they can use in this time period and SLR fills, then any unused Rescheduled Water will likely revert to Reclamation’s 2020 CVP water. Be aware that neither the types of water in an account, nor participation in the Supplemental Water program are factors that affect the amount of water that an individual water user can 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, please contact Russ Freeman at (559) 241-6241.
2020-2021 Agricultural Water Allocation Applications Due January 15, 2020
Water users will receive their 2020-2021 Agricultural Water Allocation Application packets during the first part of December 2019. 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 15, 2020.
Typically, the landowners’ tenant farmers will submit the allocation applications. However, landowners may apply for allocations, especially if more direct control of the allocation to their land is desired or tenants have not been selected. In these situations, 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 2020-2021 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.
WATER SUPPLY
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 does not anticipate any additional increases to the CVP allocation for this water contract year.
The CVP currently has approximately 7.9 million acre-feet of water stored in northern CVP reservoirs; this represents 135% of the 15-year average. Shasta Reservoir storage is approximately 3.2 million acre-feet; 137% of the 15-year average. Federal storage in San Luis Reservoir is 263,000 acre-feet; 64% of the 15-year average. Jones Pumping Plant has operated at about 26% capacity through the first half of month, approximately 1,163 cubic feet per second. Pumping has been reduced to comply with the fall X2 standard under the Biological Opinion for protection of Delta Smelt.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Water Ordering and Meter Turn Off
It is important that water users 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.
The schedule for placing water orders is as follows: water orders for Tuesday through Saturday must be placed the prior day between 7:30 a.m. 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 at District’s Website. To set up a Westlands online account, please contact your Customer Accounting Technician at (559) 241-6250.
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
District Pumping Plant Power Outages
As part of the District’s scheduled Annual Inspection and Maintenance Shutdown of District pumping plants, staff coordinates outages with PG&E. Water users are reminded that PG&E has occasionally delayed shutting off and/or restoring power to our facilities which has resulted in either delaying, canceling, or extending these shutdowns. Although this is beyond the District’s control, staff will continue to communicate our concerns to PG&E and advocate for the requested schedule. We ask for your patience as the District works to address these issues.
Holiday Office Closures & Water Ordering Procedures
District offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2019, in observance of Thanksgiving; Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, 2019, for the Christmas holiday; and Wednesday, January 1, 2020, for New Year’s Day. The affected water ordering deadlines are as follows:
| For Water Use On | Place Water Order By |
| Thursday or Friday – November 28 or 29 | Wednesday, November 27, 9:30 a.m. |
| Saturday, Sunday or Monday – November 30 or December 1 and 2 | Wednesday, November 27, noon |
| Tuesday – December 24 | Monday, December 23, 9:30 a.m. |
| Wednesday or Thursday – December 25 or 26 | Monday, December 23, noon |
| Wednesday – January 1 | Tuesday, December 31, 9:30 a.m. |
| Thursday – January 2 | Tuesday, December 31, noon |
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 | |
| November 4 | 29RA, 29RB | |
| November 12 | 14RB, 14RC | |
| 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 |
Planned Maintenance Shutdown Schedule – 2019
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. Please, see list below:
| Lateral(s) Impacted | Dates | Scheduled Work | Notes |
| 13RB | 11-18 to 11-20 | Tank Paint – Remove Temporary Tanks | Lateral back in full service after 11-20 |
| 20R | 11-18 to 11-20 | PLC Replacement | |
| 23R | 11-20 to 11-22 | PLC Replacement | |
| 21R | 12-2 to 12-4 | Tank Paint – Remove Temporary Tanks | Lateral back in full service after 12-4 |
| 27R | 12-2 to 12-4 | PLC Replacement | |
| 30R | 12-4 to 12-8 | PLC Replacement | |
| 25R | 12-9 to 12-11 | PLC Replacement | |
| PV2 | 12-16 to 12-18 | PLC Replacement | |
| PV4 | 12-18 to 12-20 | PLC Replacement | |
| 7R | 1-6 to 1-10 | PLC Replacement – Repair By-Pass Valve | |
| PV3 | 1-13 to 1-15 | PLC Replacement | |
| PV6 | 1-13 to 1-15 | PLC Replacement | |
| PV9 | 1-15 to 1-17 | PLC Replacement | |
| PVPP | 1-13 to 1-17 | PG&E to set New Switch Pole in Switchyard | |
| 18R | 1-27 to 1-31 | PLC Replacement | |
| 21R | 1-27 to 1-29 | PLC Replacement | |
| 1R | 2-3 to 2-12 | PLC Replacement | See Shutdown Notice for Specific Meters |
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Westlands Water Quality Coalition Members
The Westlands Water Quality Coalition (WWQC) is seeking coalition volunteers with wells screened above the Corcoran Clay, varying in depth from 200 to 800 feet below ground surface, to participate in the Groundwater Quality Trend Monitoring (GQTM) Program.
The GQTM Program is required by the Western Tulare Lake Basin General Order (GO) R5-2014-0001and participation will involve minimal commitment with no cost. Water quality constituent sampling will occur once per year, in the fall. If you have an Upper Aquifer well that might be a candidate or have any questions about the GQTM Program, please contact Edith Ramirez at 559-241-6242 or eramirez@wwd.ca.gov.
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. 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. Interested water users should contact Nicole Branum at (559) 241-6235 or nbranum@wwd.ca.gov to begin the application process. Additional information is also available on the District’s website.