|
Become a friend of the Klamath Bucket Brigade All donations are tax deductible |
|
This Website is Dedicated to Alvin Alexander Cheyne January 10, 1921 - June 17, 2005 |
GovTrack.us is an independent tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology.
April 2, 2009
How much of a difference will a few more trickles of water from state and federal projects make for Central Valley farmers? It depends on who you ask. For growers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, it's getting a little late to change planting plans for the season, said Tim Larson, a Hanford-area farmer and local Farm Bureau president. "If we did get a little more water ... it would just give us a little more on top of what we already have," said Larson, who grows nuts, winegrapes, alfalfa, processing tomatoes and wheat. "We're operating on a shoestring as it is," he said. "It might make it a just a little bit easier. Maybe an alfalfa grower might have a little more water to get another cutting of hay, and an almond grower might have a little water just to keep the trees alive. ... It might just ease the pain a bit, but as far as making crop changes, I don't see it having an impact." But for Cottonwood hay and livestock farmer Ivar Amen, the increased allocations from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will make a big difference. Amen's property is served by the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District, which holds a water right and thus expects to get its full allocation. Amen was holding off on planting another alfalfa field but will go ahead and plant it, he said. The Bureau of Reclamation on March 20 predicted that as much as 15 percent of normal deliveries could be available for agriculture in the Central Valley, although there could still be no water for farms south of the Delta unless runoff levels reach 61 percent of average. Allocations also increased for some Friant Division contractors on the east side of the valley, as deliveries of Class 1 water rose to 65 percent from 25 percent while Class 2 allocations remained at zero. Class 1 water users are generally in the foothills, where there is little or no access to groundwater or other supplies, while Class 2 water goes to the valley floor, according to a published report. Bureau spokesman Pete Lucero has said the allocations might improve again when the agency issues its next updated allocation forecast on or about April 20. The bureau's March 20 update followed the state Department of Water Resources' announcement that it will increase water from state reservoirs from 15 percent of what was requested to 20 percent. The department was set to conduct its fourth of five monthly snow measurements on Thursday, April 2, in the Lake Tahoe area. The surveys help planners estimate the amount of spring runoff into reservoirs, which in turn helps agencies determine water allocations. In the Bella Vista Water District near Redding, customers have been told they'll receive 80 percent of municipal water and no agricultural water based on the Bureau of Reclamation's earlier forecasts. Now that allocations appear to be increasing, the district's board may hold a special meeting or wait until its next meeting on April 27 to discuss how to handle customers' requests for variances, district manager David Coxey said. With settlement contractors' water increased to 100 percent, that makes additional supplies available for transfer to districts that are still receiving only a small portion of what they normally would, Coxey said. "It really takes the pressure off, but now it becomes much more of a financial issue," he said. "It's less of an emergency, when you can't find water at any price, and now it's a financial consideration." One option the district is considering is allowing customers to subscribe for additional supplies, for which they'd pay more, Coxey said. In many parts of the Central Valley, however, water shortages have prompted farmers to fallow ground and pull out orchards and vineyards. Many are taking emergency measures to help permanent crops survive until the water supply improves, according to the California Farm Bureau Federation. Larson was growing cotton, but the cost has been steadily increasing and the price hasn't, he said. Looking at available water and the best return per acre, Larson decided to put in processing tomatoes on a drip system, he said. "I guess we're the ultimate optimists - we think we can make it work," he said. With contingency plans in place or with ground being left fallow, there's less of a need for farm workers, Larson said. In turn, business is slow for equipment shops, fertilizer dealers and other companies that rely on agriculture, affecting the economies of valley communities, he said. In addition, groundwater supplies - a source of hope for farmers whose irrigation water has been cut off - are shrinking. "We lost a well two days ago, and we have plans to have another one drilled," Larson said. "It sure adds to the stress level. We're taxed right now. Every drop of water is precious. "We've always been pretty judicious with our water supply, and this just makes you be very cautious of every move you make. "Some of the things we're going to do without," he said. "We're going to operate as thin and tight as we can. That's the only way we're going to get through this. ... If you can call it the perfect storm, this is it." Staff writer Tim Hearden is based in Shasta Lake. E-mail: thearden@capitalpress.com. |
||||
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml