Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
March 2, 2009
Top Items–
Delta cutbacks put Valley farm town on edge
Sacramento Bee
CALIFORNIA'S WATER: A VANISHING RESOURCE
State of emergency expands in hopes of relieving drought
San Diego Union Tribune
AGRICULTURE: Avocado, citrus may be on the way out
Drought, cutbacks, price increases could deal final blow
North County Times
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Delta cutbacks put Valley farm town on edge
Sacramento Bee – 3/2/09
By Susan Ferris
MENDOTA – In the San Joaquin Valley, the most productive farmland on earth, panic is more abundant than the crops that usually blanket the ground.
Drought and environmental concerns have led to severe cuts in irrigation water deliveries from Northern California over the past year, and unemployment in this town of 10,000 is approaching 40 percent.
Mendota may be proud to call itself the Cantaloupe Capital of the World, but with California in danger of a third year of drought and more water cuts planned, people wonder if they'll get enough rice and beans to scrape by. It took volunteers at the Westside Youth Center's monthly food giveaway less than three hours, not the normal two days, to distribute a record 750 boxes of a few days' worth of groceries.
Much of the debate over how much water to pump out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for thirsty farms to the south has focused on the fish endangered by deteriorating conditions in the estuary.
But thousands of people here and in other little San Joaquin Valley towns are worried about the human toll: They fear that without water, they won't be called back to work as the growing season heats up.
"They're worrying about the fish but not about the humans' life," said Jose Ruiz, 42, a foreman still clinging to the job he's had since 1979 with a vegetable firm in Mendota.
At one end of town, Maria Avila de Romero can't believe that in America's cornucopia, she has had so little work for so long that she has to ration milk and boil it to stretch it past the expiration date. Her $61 weekly unemployment has run out.
In another neighborhood, Luis Cervantes, 38, and a father of four, stared into the brand-new house he lost to foreclosure in October that now stands empty. Cervantes was a vegetable farm foreman who earned good money, but his hours were steadily cut until he also was laid off.
The crisis in Mendota offers a glimpse into a sober future.
Without a major restructuring of how water is moved in California, the Central Valley's anchor industry faces a dramatic decline.
"Why is nobody helping?" asked Mendota Mayor Robert Silva, who has a message for urban folk: "Get away from your lattes and see the real world. This is California, too."
Plantings, harvests, jobs cut
American consumers may not realize that a vast quantity of their food comes from here, Silva and others say. And if it isn't going to come from here, then consumers, too, must prepare to swallow some big changes. It's no bluff, the farm industry warns, that food from other countries will fill the vacuum.
For decades, water has been diverted from the Delta via canals to Los Angeles. That water created a farm behemoth in the Central Valley that produces more than 250 products.
Eighty percent of the world's almonds grow in the Central Valley, and the land fanning out around Mendota yields most of California's processed tomatoes, which are 45 percent of the world total. Western Fresno County alone produces 95 percent of U.S. lettuce sold in April and October.
Probably half the 600,000 acres in the area's Westlands Water District will not be planted or brought to harvest this year, district managers estimate. Spring lettuce plantings are at 9,000 acres, compared with 16,000 last year, said Fresno County Supervisor Phil Larsen.
About 130,000 acres are permanent nut and pomegranate trees and grapevines that must be watered to survive. Some farmers will buy water on the open market to keep orchards alive but not invest in developing a crop.
Farmers with wells can irrigate, and those who can are sinking new wells at more than $600,000 each. But drawing from groundwater also raises environmental concerns.
A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.
The shock will inevitably reverberate through a regional economy staggering from the housing collapse and recession.
"I want (Gov.) Schwarzenegger to list me on the California endangered species list," said farmer Todd Allen, whose family has farmed outside Mendota for more than 30 years. #
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1663578.html?mi_rss=Top%20Stories
CALIFORNIA'S WATER: A VANISHING RESOURCE
State of emergency expands in hopes of relieving drought
San Diego Union Tribune – 2/28/09
By Michael Gardner
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday broadened a previous emergency drought declaration, flexing his power to sidestep environmental protections to expedite deliveries to thirsty cities and parched farms.
Schwarzenegger and his advisers also reiterated warnings that mandatory rationing may be ordered unless Sierra snowstorms bring enough water to refill depleted reservoirs.
Leaders of Southern California's giant water agencies applauded the action but sent strong signals that forced cutbacks could be imposed starting as early as July 1.
“These are vital steps to help San Diego County and the rest of California mitigate the impacts of the shortage, but mandatory water-use restrictions are still very likely this year,” said Bud Lewis, chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority board.
Timothy Brick, chairman of the Metropolitan Water District board, said directors are expected to authorize a new allocation plan “that likely will reduce water supplies to its member agencies, leading to mandatory conservation.”
Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger administration officials and public water agency managers renewed a call for legislation that would authorize and pay for construction of new reservoirs, which deeply troubles some Democrats and environmentalists. At least four water-related bond measures, some approaching $10 billion, have been introduced in the Legislature.
The governor's proclamation again pleads for more conservation, requires state agencies to cut their own use, makes it a priority to assist drought-stricken regions, and takes steps to improve water quality in the Sacramento delta, among other directives.
“This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our communities, our economy and our environment, making today's action absolutely necessary,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Storms over the past two weeks have brightened the outlook somewhat. State officials are expecting even better news Monday when they take another snow survey high in the Sierra. A bountiful storm is expected there tomorrow.
To date, statewide precipitation is 86 percent of average, but just 59 percent of what's needed for the entire season, which ends June 30. More ominous: Reservoirs are at their lowest level since the early 1990s. Most are less than half full.
“We are still very far behind,” said Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources.
In response, the state is preparing to deliver just 15 percent of normal supplies to its customers, and the federal government has temporarily shut down deliveries to most farms in the San Joaquin Valley.
Economists at the University of California Davis estimate that the drought could cost 95,000 jobs and $2.8 billion in revenue this year. Much of the pain is centered in the San Joaquin Valley, where idle fields idle workers.
While this is considered the fourth-worst drought on record in terms of actual water shortages, “it may be the worst in terms of economic impact,” Snow said.
The governor last year issued a more modest emergency declaration to help nine hard-hit counties in the San Joaquin Valley, from Kern to Sacramento, shortly after he declared a statewide drought in June.
To develop emergency supplies, the state is putting together a drought water bank program to broker sales between agencies that have water and those that need it.
But the program could run afoul of the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA. For example, the endangered giant garter snake survives in rice fields. If farmers do not plant so they can sell the water, the snakes could be harmed. Also, firing up diesel pumps to draw groundwater could violate clean-air standards.
To clear those obstacles and others, the governor has invoked his authority to pursue some projects immediately and repair any environmental damage later.
“We can shortcut the CEQA process,” Snow said.
But Snow added that impacts on fish and wildlife would be alleviated over time, and none of the newly exerted authority would be used to speed up construction of nonemergency reservoirs and canals.
“There's no intention to use this for construction of any permanent, controversial facilities. It really is oriented to streamline response to the drought,” Snow said.
The state has not determined which water projects would be exempt from the safeguards, but officials promise public disclosure.
Schwarzenegger yesterday also directed state agencies to “prioritize and streamline permitting and regulatory compliance actions” for water-producing projects such as desalination and recycling.
The governor said that if the water picture does not significantly improve by March 30, he will order “additional regulatory relief or permit streamlining.”
Barry Nelson of the Natural Resources Defense Council said alternatives to dams could boost supplies by capturing storm water, recycling, reusing wastewater and improving groundwater.
“These tools have the potential to provide more water than we've ever pumped out of the Sacramento delta” for farms and cities, Nelson said.
The administration insists that dams must be part of any overall solution, given the crisis.
“Now is the time to act,” said Mike Chrisman, natural resources secretary. Snow agrees that even minimal conservation could save at least 1 million acre-feet of water, enough to serve 2 million households for a year, “without anybody changing their lifestyle.”
While the administration is hesitant to order Californians to use less water, that view may change.
“If it is a deteriorating situation, we could see for the first time the state invoking mandatory conservation,” Snow said. “The strong preference, however, is that local jurisdictions implement their own plans.” #
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/28/1n28drought005141-state-emergency-expands-hopes-re/?uniontrib
AGRICULTURE: Avocado, citrus may be on the way out
Drought, cutbacks, price increases could deal final blow
North County Times – 3/1/09
By BRADLEY J. FIKES - Staff Writer
Avocado and citrus groves have adorned the hilly landscape of rural North San Diego and Southwest Riverside counties for decades. But in just a few years, their lush, semitropical foliage could be replaced by nature's original desert landscape.
Water is the reason.
Its shortage is becoming a permanent condition of California's economy. Even after the current drought is over, court-imposed environmental restrictions on water transfers will ensure there won't be enough to go around, water officials and growers say.
"This is what happens when the state doesn't develop its water supply," said Gary Arant, general manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District, pointing to a stand of dead avocado trees.
Critical decisions on water supply and pricing expected during the next 12 months will affect the fate of growers not only in Valley Center but in other major centers of production such as Fallbrook, Rainbow and Riverside County.
The effects of these decisions could be seen as early as this summer, when the avocado trees are most in need of water.
-- Courts are expected to rule this spring on further restricting water shipments from the critical Sacramento River Delta, source of 40 percent of Southern California's water, to protect endangered fish there.
-- In April, Metropolitan Water District, Southern California's main water wholesaler, is scheduled to consider whether it will cut water deliveries. Metropolitan imports water from the delta.
-- Next January, Metropolitan is scheduled to consider imposing a wholesale cost increase of from 20 to 35 percent on water agencies, cities and farmers who buy directly from Metropolitan. The bulk of water for San Diego and Riverside counties comes through Metropolitan.
The drought has been caused by below-normal rainfall in Northern California along with several years of inadequate snowfall in the Sierra Mountains, which supplies reservoirs as snow melts in the spring and summer.
It's made worse, Arant said, because California hasn't developed major new sources of water since the 1970s. So the state is trying to support a population with water sources developed more than 30 years ago.
Even if California began immediately to develop new sources of water, it would take at least a decade to put them in place, Arant said. By then, production of both avocado and citrus will be mostly gone from Valley Center.
With about 14,000 acres of avocado groves containing about 100 trees per acre, that's 1.4 million potentially doomed avocado trees in Valley Center alone.
Dying trees
California's production of avocados, valued at $251 million in 2007, would be crippled if San Diego County's avocado groves are abandoned.
About half the crop comes from San Diego County, most from Valley Center, Fallbrook and Rainbow. Avocado sales from the county's 24,000 acres of groves totaled $127 million in 2007. By comparison, citrus is a minor crop in the county.
Already, thousands of avocado and citrus trees have been cut down or left to die in Valley Center, Arant said.
Touring Valley Center with a North County Times reporter and photographer, Arant pointed out areas of dead groves dating back to the early 1990s, along with more recent groves of newly dead or dying avocado and citrus trees.
Some avocado trees have been "stumped" to temporarily take them out of production, which reduces their water needs.
Valley Center grower Al Stehly said stumped avocado trees can regrow if enough water is available during the hot summer months. If not, they'll die.
"Everybody has to make that decision whether or when they'll give up," Stehly said. So far, he said, his fellow growers are hoping those trees can be saved.
Ben Drake, a grove manager with Temecula-based Drake Enterprises, said growers are looking at how much water they can get, at what price and what their budget will be.
If Metropolitan charges more for delivering less water, as seems likely, avocado production will fall, Drake said.
"If you've had any kind of root rot, or are in an area where you've had marginal production, I think a lot of those growers will go out of business," Drake said. "Those cutbacks and the rate increases will affect all of Riverside and San Diego counties, because we all receive water from Metropolitan."
One-way road
If the trees are left to die, they're not likely to be replaced.
Unlike annual crops, trees take years to bring into production, so the up-front expense is much greater, Arant said. With the cost of water going up and the supply going down, growers aren't going to replant areas they've had to abandon.
"If Metropolitan calls for a 20 percent reduction (in water use), we think our region will experience a 10 to 12 percent reduction" in water, Arant said.
The reduction would be even worse, he said, except for additional water supplies from the Imperial Irrigation District, which make up some of the shortfall.
Arant and Keith Lewinger, general manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District, agreed that growers will be disproportionately affected, because agricultural water use is a low priority.
About half the avocado growers in Valley Center and Fallbrook buy discounted water, which is first to be reduced in a shortage. Most water in those communities goes to agriculture. Last year, growers in the program were given 30 percent less water than in 2007.
And if Metropolitan imposes reductions of 15 percent or more, growers in the "interruptible" water program will get additional cuts on top of the 30 percent.
Those percentage cuts translate into dead trees, since avocado trees can't survive without irrigation, Arant said.
"Let's say they go to 15 percent. Growers in the interruptible program will go to 40 percent," Arant said. "If Met goes to 20 percent for (municipal and industrial customers), these guys will go to 50 percent. And it gets worse from there."#
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/03/01/business/z7e2407af8d51592f8825756600656fe0.txt
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