CALIFORNIA - The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced that South-of-Delta agricultural contractors will be receiving a 10 percent bump to their contracted water supplies. This increases their water supply from 40 percent to 50 percent.

“With the current and forecasted conditions that factor into Central Valley Project allocations, in particular, a greater than expected rate of exports during the month of June, we are pleased to be able to provide an additional increase to south-of-Delta agricultural contractors,” commented California-Great Basin Regional Director Karl Stock.

Although this news was a welcome update to farmers in the Valley, many still do not see it as enough.

For example, Federico Barajas, the Executive Director of the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, reflected on the meaning of this announcement for our industry.

“This year is a perfect example of the disconnect between available rainfall and snowpack and the ability to operate the Central Valley Project in a way that takes advantage of the water provided by nature in any given year,” Barajas said. “For critical periods this year, exports were reduced due to inflexible operational criteria that failed to fully account for conditions for steelhead and salmonid species, resulting in reduced surface water supply for Water Authority members.”

He also added that there needs to be a better balance in scientifically supported decision-making to adaptively manage California’s water system, reported The Sun.

Representative David Valadao (R–Hanford) also praised the increase but urged the Bureau of Reclamation to make critical changes.

“While I am grateful for this welcomed increase from Reclamation, it’s frustrating that we could have had this allocation back in February to give farmers proper time to plan their operations for the year,” Valadao said. “Reclamation must improve the pace and transparency of their decision-making process moving forward to ensure our farmers are not being held in the dark or gambling about the future of their water supply. I will continue urging transparency in Reclamation’s decision-making and a significant increase in water allocations for South-of-Delta agriculture.”

ANUK will continue to bring you the latest in news affecting ag.