Feds: Less water for California agriculture this year

Federal officials announced today that they may not be able to provide the agricultural water supply to more than 200 water districts in the Central Valley for the upcoming growing season "unless things begin to improve."

It marks the first time in 17 years that the Federal Bureau of Reclamation has announced that it does not have enough water to fulfill its agricultural contracts to parts of the Central Valley, including about 3 million acres of farmland typically irrigated by the agency. In addition to 1992, the agency also announced a zero-percent supply for agriculture in 1977. In both 1992 and 1977, the water supply eventually increased to 25% of the contracts, agency spokesperson Lynnette Wirth said.

"This year is on the heels of two previous critically dry years, and this is the third year in a row," Wirth said, adding that the zero-percent projection affects only the agency's agricultural service contractors. Today's announcement was the agency's initial water allocation projection for 2009, and Wirth said officials were hopeful the allocations could be increased if there is more precipitation.

According to a dry forecast projection released by the agency, agriculture contracts north and south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta would receive zero percent allocation while municipal and industrial groups would receive 50% of their contracts in the same area. Refuges and people under "water rights" contracts are projected to receive 75% of their contracts, Wirth said.

Tom Birmingham, general manager of the Westlands Water District, which has the largest contract with about 1.2 million acre-feet of water delivered by the federal agency, issued a statement in response to the projection, describing a water crisis already underway.

"Farmers in the Westlands Water District have already begun destroying thousands of acres of almond orchards and plan on fallowing over 300,000 acres of land. Wherever possible, almond production will be stunted in hopes of keeping the trees alive through this desperate time. But there is no question that many years worth of investments will be lost," he said in the statement.

"In Westlands, the crisis is well underway," he continued. "Cropping decisions have already been made. Fields are being abandoned. The unemployment rate in the community of Mendota alone has soared to 40%."

The state Department of Water Resources announced today that it would be able to allocate only 15% supply to each of its contractors.

"Reduced deliveries will require contractors to rely on dry water year contingency plans to meet their needs. If precipitation were to increase and hydrologic and reservoir conditions improve, it is possible the allocation could rise in coming months," water resources officials said in a statement.

Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of State Water Contractors, a nonprofit association of 27 public agencies across California that buys water from the state, said "the drought has simply drawn the regulatory noose a little tighter."

The SWC delivers water to more than 750,000 acres of farmland and to more than 25 million California residents.

"Water agencies up and down the state will be forced to adopt increasingly restrictive water management approaches, including mandatory conservation, rationing and rate hikes," Moon said in statement. "We need to move forward as quickly as possible with a proactive, comprehensive approach to protect fish as well as the water supply people depend on.”

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Comments

[Heather Czerniak]

Time for secession! Oregon and Washington State will be next. And hopefully, New England and the Great Lakes states will follow. Alaska? Hawaii?

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Long PAST due; rice, alfalfa and cotton growing in the 'desert' just north of LA...such STUPIDITY!!!!!!

[Amy]

I avoid patronizing factory farms whenever possible, and have relatives among the last remaining family farmers. They face so many struggles, with water access posing a continual problem. California is facing a perpetual drought crisis, but I've seen firsthand that most family farmers simply cannot use any less water and still produce the food we eat.

Maybe if we had fewer pools and year-round green lawns and meaningful restrictions on municipal, residential and industrial water use in this desert (all far more ridiculous and wasteful uses of water than the "rice, alfalfa and cotton" cited by Robert above) we would have more water for agricultural use. Insatiable is not sustainable, and we need to get serious about water conservation or these problems are going to reach catastrophic levels.

[grandpa]

Hello - look at the sky-see the milky white stuff there ? the so - called "contrails" that last for hours ? That's not natural, folks.
They appear to be weather modification efforts. There is a drought. How much is caused by "black budget" operations ? Of course the government would never do this ..right ? Ask your congressperson...the same bunch who let the current fiscal and other stuff happen.. ask them anyhow ...look at the skies..what is this stuff ? think barium compounds .. Good luck...

[Rob N]

lawn watering is the culprit !! Lawns in California are stupid. Ban lawns and there will be plenty of water. I ripped up my grass 5 years ago. I planted beautiful drought tolerant succulents. My landscape looks green and lush, and I never water. I have the best looking yard in town.

[H. Craig Bradley]

LIKE THE THIRTIES, BAD NEWS COMES IN SPADES

If "mandatory conservation, rationing and rate hikes" become reality in coming months in the many municipalities served by the Metropolitian Water District (MWD), then each city will have to change their residential "greenscape" requirements. Presently, most of the front yard (setoff) must have "green vegetation" and can not be completely "hardscaped", according to municipal zoning codes.

IF insufficient water is available, then more people will stop watering their lawns this summer. IF water rates increase enough to prevent overuse, the lawns are going to be toast. The money won't be available to pay higher residential water rates because more banks are going to fail or require nationalization this Spring. Uninsured savings are toast. The excess amounts in your account(s) are toast. In addition, Inflation may be on the increase, after Federal government has been printing so many trillions we did not have. Soon, you too will be toast.

(Time to have confession).

[tinman]

Rice, alfalfa and cotton comprise a third of water consumption in CA. I'll stop watering my lawn when they're no longer subsidized.