Reclamation restricts water supply amid 3-year drought

Photo by dburns

THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY: Like many of the several Central Valley Project Resevoirs, both the Trinity and Shasta resevoirs are well below capacity.

In a move that would leave one million acres of farm land unirrigated and cost 40,000 jobs in California, the Bureau of Reclamation announced severe cutbacks of water allocated to settlement contractors and refuges due to the continuing drought.

“This is shaping up to be our third consecutive critically dry year,” Regional Director Mid-Pacific Region of Bureau of Reclamation Don Glaser said at a press conference in Redding on Feb. 20.

Already, drought losses by California agricultural industry was estimated over $308 in December 2008, according to California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Should the dry weather continue, the Bureau would allocate no water for agricultural uses, curtail 50 percent from municipal and industrial uses, and curtail only 25 percent from refuges.

“Refuges are getting 75 percent while farmers get nothing? How are we supposed to feed the nation?” Asked Happy Valley farmer Johanna Trenerry.

Glaser referred to the Central Valley Improvement Act, which “directed us to provide water to refuges.”

Many agricultural customers of the Clear Creek Community Services District only receive an agricultural designation and were initially scheculed to receive no water for their crops or their family, according to CCCSD CEO Char Workman-Flowers.

Workman-Flowers was assured by the Bureau that a health and safety allowance would be provided for family needs. Despite the bad news for farmers, she added that none she spoke with were talking of giving up on their permanent crops. Workman-Flowers added that the district would look into possible transfers from another water stakeholder to keep trees and vines alive.

Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District customers received letters from the district that their water supply would be reduced by 25 percent.