West Valley farmers await word on water
By: Mark Grossi

A west Valley water leader says a much-needed increase in the summer irrigation forecast might happen in the next few days, even though the Interior Department says any update would come weeks from now.

Interior last week announced west-siders would receive only 5% of the water they are allowed under contracts on the federal Central Valley Project, adding that the allotment might jump to 30% if storms continue.

Two winter storms are rolling into California this week, following a wet weekend. Reservoir and snowpack conditions already support the increase, said Tom Birmingham, general manager of the Westlands Water District, the project's largest customer.

He said the increase must be announced now, so farmers can meet planting schedules to bring more acres back into production. He said he is working closely with federal officials and talking daily with farmers.

"I had a grower call me and ask if he should take the delivery of his tomato seed this week," Birmingham said. "To answer his question, we need to know about the forecast in the next day or so. I'm hopeful it will happen."

The precipitation appears to be ending the state's three-year drought.

The Sierra snowpack is 106% of average at this point. Shasta Reservoir, which provides water for the west side, has reached its average capacity for this time of year, erasing much of the deficit from the drought.

But reservoir and snowpack levels are not the only considerations. The delivery prediction for this summer also factors in the federal project's responsibility to provide fresh river flows for water quality and dying fish populations.

West-side farmers usually suffer the biggest cutbacks to protect these fish, because their water must pass through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into large pumps that can kill the protected fish. West-side farmers also are a lower priority than wildlife refuges and cities.

Last year, farmers received a forecast of zero as officials wrestled with the drought and pumping cutbacks to protect fish species. The forecast was increased to 10%, but not until the third week in April -- too late for most farmers to bring additional land into production. Many farmers left the extra water in San Luis Reservoir, planning to use it this year.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, owner and operator of the federal water project, announces delivery updates in the third week of each month after the first forecast in February. Interior officials in Washington, D.C., say that schedule will be used this year, too.

"For Westlands Water District and other west-side water service contractors, we will give them an update the week of March 22," said Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff.