Central Valley farmers received a modest boost to their contracted water supplies on Tuesday, an increase that was disappointing for Westlands Water District.
Westlands General Manager Allison Febbo called for changes to California’s water delivery system, saying Valley farmers should be receiving more water given current conditions.
The big picture: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that it has increased south-of-Delta contracted water supplies from 50% to 55%.
- That’s up from the initial 35% allocation that was set in February and has gradually increased since.
- North-of-Delta Central Valley Project contractors are at 100% of their contracted supplies, and municipal and industrial water service and repayment contractors had their allocations increased from 75% to 80%.
What they’re saying: “As California’s primary precipitation season concludes, we now have greater certainty about water availability for the remainder of the water year,” said Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. “This allows us to responsibly adjust Central Valley Project allocations to better meet the needs of our water users while continuing to support environmental requirements.”
- Febbo said an increase is appropriate given current reservoir levels and snowpack, but only a 5% increase is disappointing, saying that even in average hydrological years, California’s outdated water system is clearly falling short of delivering the water that the Valley’s communities need.
- “As a state, we are failing the family farms and rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley that depend on CVP water to grow food, provide jobs, and sustain the economy. We can and must do better,” Febbo said. “We cannot simply hope for rain or snow. Our state needs a modernized water infrastructure that performs consistently regardless of annual hydrology. Westlands remains committed to working with state and federal partners to advance balanced, science-based solutions that improve the regulatory landscape, water storage, and delivery capabilities for the hardworking families who grow the food that feeds California – and the nation – day in and day out.”
