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Gov. Schwarzenegger announces water release to Central Valley farms

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 3, 2009 at 7:38 am

From the Office of the Governor:

Today the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will release up to 100,000 acre-feet of water to aid Central Valley farms. Today’s action comes after the Governor visited the farming community of Mendota June 19 where he met with local elected officials to discuss the three-year drought and its effects throughout the region.

“Nothing is more important to Central Valley farmers than ensuring there is water to fuel jobs and feed families, and with today’s announcement, we are taking quick action to deliver water to those who need it most,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “This situation further highlights the seriousness of our state’s water crisis and the critical need to upgrade California’s water infrastructure for our jobs and our families.”

The release represents a “water loan” from State Water Project (SWP) supplies to the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) conditioned on “repayment” of the water after this summer’s irrigation season. The emergency action will allow Central Valley farmers to continue receiving water supplies promised by the federal CVP. It will not result in a net reduction of supply for users of SWP water, which will be repaid no later than November 30, 2009.

DWR will continue to work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on possible additional support subject to “repayment” by the CVP. With California in its third year of drought, compounded by federal restrictions on Delta pumping, the CVP has less water than expected to deliver to Central Valley farms.

To help those impacted by the drought, the Governor last month requested a federal disaster declaration from President Obama for Fresno County and issued Executive Order S-11-09, activating the California Disaster Assistance Act. And in February, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to water supply shortages and associated drought impacts. The Governor has called for a comprehensive habitat and species conservation plan to better protect all Delta species while ensuring more reliable water supplies for farms, homes, industry and wildlife.

July 3, 2009 · Filed Under Agriculture, Drought, Weather & Snowpack

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