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In an unusual step, state board warns water-right holders

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 11, 2009 at 10:46 am

From the California Farm Bureau Federation:

Farmers and ranchers who hold water right permits and licenses could lose access to the state’s rivers and creeks this year if current drought conditions do not improve, the State Water Resources Control Board warned.

In a letter that went out in late February to some 7,400 water right holders in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Russian rivers and the Central Coast and Tule Lake watersheds, the state water board said unless there is sufficient additional rainfall this season, no water will be available for many surface water diverters.

California’s water supply has dwindled due to three consecutive dry years. And while recent rainfall provided some relief, the storms were not enough to lift the state’s current drought status, with reservoirs far from capacity and the snowpack still below average.

The letter from the board said when there is not enough water for all users, allocations will be made in order of water right priority. In addition, it noted that it might even be necessary this year to curtail more senior water rights, such as riparian rights or pre-1914 rights, which pre-date legislation for appropriating water and do not require a permit from the state water board.

“This is notice to direct diverters that they are in the same boat as the farmers who get water service through contracts with the big State Water Project and the Central Valley Project,” said Chris Scheuring, managing counsel for the California Farm Bureau Federation Natural Resources and Environmental Division.

“Just about all classes and types of agricultural water users are going to have to deal with this drought and are likely facing a very difficult water year,” he said.

Read more from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.

March 11, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack, Water Rights

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