Bureau of Reclamation

Reclamation Announces 60-Day Comment Period for Draft Contracts for Central Valley Project South-of-Delta Contractors

The following news release was originally posted here on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation website:

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today ongoing congressionally mandated contract conversions pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act).

Today’s release includes draft repayment contracts from the Central Valley Project south-of-delta contractors for a 60-day public comment period. These are 15 of over 80 repayment contract conversions requested by federal Central Valley Project contractors.

The contractors include Banta-Carbona Irrigation District, Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, Contra Costa Water District, Del Puerto Water District, Eagle Field Water District, Mercy Springs Water District, The West Side Irrigation District, West Stanislaus Irrigation District, Westlands Water District – Assignment from Oro Loma Water District, Fresno Slough Water District, James Irrigation District, Patterson Irrigation District, Reclamation District No. 1606, Tranquility Irrigation District, and Tranquility Public Utility District.

Reclamation plans to release additional draft repayment contracts with south-of-delta contractors, as applicable for public review in 2020. Reclamation will continue to release more draft repayment contracts throughout the year. Section 4011 of the WIIN Act directs Reclamation to convert water service contracts to repayment contracts upon a contractor’s request and authorizes prepayment of outstanding CVP construction costs.

Under Section 4011, full repayment is due within three years of the contract conversion. Both the prepayment and accelerated repayment of the contracts will result in the federal government being repaid well in advance of the original repayment deadline. These dollars will be placed in an account to fund much-needed storage projects. Increasing storage capacity will allow Reclamation’s projects to capture additional water in wet years to help meet the water needs for project purposes in dry years.

Written comments on this contract must be received by close of business on August 31, 2020 and sent to Erma Leal, South Central California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno CA 93721 or faxed to 559-262-0371 or emailed to eleal@usbr.gov.

Check the following links to learn more about WIIN Act CVP contract conversions: All negotiated contracts are available at: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/negotiated-conversion-contracts.html.

The entire list of contract conversion requests can be viewed here: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/docs/the-wiin-act-9d-conversion-tracker.xlsx. View contract and WIIN Act information at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/. Contact Erma Leal for more information at 559-262-0350 or eleal@usbr.gov or (TTY 800-877-8339).

July 7, 2020 in District News

Farmers Face Water Shortfall Despite Dense Snowpack, Full Reservoirs

Byron, CA (April 17, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced a slight increase in the allocation for South-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors, to 65%. This comes at a time the state’s snowpack is so dense it’s been referred to as a “water supply dream,” and every reservoir used to supply South-of-Delta operations is above 100% of normal.

“Despite an overly abundant water supply,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore, “this incremental increase is essentially a drop in the bucket. If we can’t even get close to a full, 100% supply this year – then when, if ever?”

“The snowpack surpassed 160% of normal in the northern and central Sierra Nevada,” Gilmore continued. “Meanwhile, reservoirs are in flood control operations. And yet, our growers and ranchers are still being forced to make do with less than their fair share.”

At the outset of the 2019 growing season, the uncertainty created by continually delayed allocation announcements makes it extremely difficult for farmers to plan their operations.

“Reclamation staff understands the challenges and difficulties these decisions create,” Gilmore said. “However, they are boxed in by the biological opinions in the overly-protective Endangered Species Act, which imposes significant restrictions on available water at a time there is more than enough to go around. To add insult to injury, the restrictions that have crippled CVP operations for so long have provided none of the intended benefits to fish species, which continue to decline despite the severe impacts the biological opinions are having on people. We also are concerned that SB1, newly-proposed legislation, may make this problem worse, not better.”

“Never has the problem – and solution – been clearer,” Gilmore said. “It is beyond argument that these runaway regulations must be reigned in. Until then, the CVP can’t fulfill its primary purpose: supplying water to those who supply much of the nation’s food.”

April 17, 2019 in District News

BBID: Water Allocation Announcement “Far Too Cautious”

Byron, CA (February 20, 2018) – Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) General Manager Rick Gilmore released the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) announced an initial 20% water supply allocation for South-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors, including BBID:

“Just one year removed from the wettest winter on record – with reservoirs still above 100% of historical average across the state – growers in BBID’s CVP service area will yet again face a water shortage. We recognize the winter has been dry thus far. However, given how much water is in Shasta Lake and San Luis Reservoir, the Bureau took a far too cautious approach that penalizes our farmers and ranchers.”

“This allocation announcement strongly underscores the need to build more water storage capacity. It’s time to put voter-approved Proposition 1 dollars to work to build the storage projects we so desperately need. Capturing storm runoff in above-average or record-setting years is a critical piece of the puzzle to fix the state’s broken water system.”

– Rick Gilmore, GM

The full announcement from the USBR is below.

Reclamation announces initial water supply allocation for the Central Valley Project

 

February 20, 2018 in District News