A South County water emergency could be declared by month’s end.
That’s because the South San Joaquin Irrigation District board did the math. Based on current storage numbers, snowpack, projected run-off and storm outlook combined with the current volume of water in New Melones and subtracting minimal river flow needs and the SSJID’s basic allocation they got a minus number.
The Sept. 30 projections call for New Melones to essentially be dry. That’s based on federal and state water storage and snowpack data available Wednesday. SSJID General Manager Jeff Shields said the actual projection calls for a “minus 11,000 acre feet of water” after SSJID and Oakdale Irrigation District get their water and the federal government using what water is left over to meet minimum Stanislaus River operating flows. No federal water contractor will receive a drop from New Melones including Stockton East Water District that serves a large chunk of the City of Stockton plus farmers or the Central San Joaquin that’s serves the farming area immediately north of SSJID territory.
The situation means SSJID farmers will be capped at how much water they can receive and make do with that. It means cities will need to cutback surface water use to 2013 levels. It means SSJID personnel will police canals even more carefully for theft and waste. It means recreation activities will be curtailed at Woodward Reservoir.
Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum said the situation requires everyone in the SSJID territory — including the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy — to double down on efforts to find ways to cut water use.
“We can’t afford to waste this precious commodity,” DeBrum said.
The mayor noted that the South County is better off than much of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. He cited the fact King and Tulare counties have a backlog of 900 wells waiting to be drilled so farmers can have water this growing season to replace non-existent surface water.
• • •
SSJID move reflects new California reality
While SSJID anticipates being able to deliver roughly the same amount of water they did last year, the pending water emergency declaration reflects the reality that they will have to dip significantly into their conservation account at New Melones meaning even if a fifth year of drought in 2016 isn’t as severe they might not have enough water to go around.
It is the stark new reality dawning in California where the SSJID — one if the best situated water districts in terms of water availability — is looking out more than a year forecasting water supplies and implementing strategies in a bid to sustain farming and keeping water flowing through urban faucets.
California made it through the first three years of severe drought by drawing down on reservoir storage. Those reservoirs are now at historic lows with California six weeks into 2015 that has all the signs of shaping up as a fourth severe drought year.
• • •
Water emergency resolution before board on Feb. 24
The SSJID board on Tuesday directed Shields to prepare a drought emergency resolution for the Feb. 24 board meeting.
One of the cornerstones of that declaration will be enforcing a 36 inches per acre cap starting this year for water use by farmers. It effectively puts the ball in the court of farmers to eliminate waste to make sure they have enough water to bring a crop to market.
Shields had suggested a 42 inch per acre cap starting in 2016. Board members, though, are leery that existing conditions and the potential for a fifth year of drought in 2015 would severely impact SSJID farmers if strong steps aren’t taken immediately to further tighten water use.
Other parts of that resolution include:
• Confirming 10-day irrigation rotations.
• Assigning a team to focus on the largest irrigators that have exceeded the 42 inches per acre level in order to identify the cause and develop a plan to remedy the inefficiency.
• Purchase portable flow meters to verify where questions arise.
• Monitor drought conditions and set the irrigation season start date.
• Start the Section 375 process for establishing tiered allocations.
The need to save as much water as possible in the district’s conservation account for 2016 can’t be emphasis enough.
SSJID diverted 215,884 acre feet for use by farmers and the three cities in 2014. To do that, they had to use 538 acre feet from their conservation account at New Melones Reservoir.
The district is starting this irrigation season with 77,107 acre feet in their conservation account. They will have to dip significantly into that account to meet the same water deliveries they did in 2014.
Any additional rain and snow or gains from drought management efforts between now and Sept. 30 will go toward reducing the amount of water they will need from the conservation account. SSJID diverted 215,884 acre feet for use by farmers and the three cities in 2014. To do that, they had to use 538 acre feet from their conservation account at New Melones Reservoir.
The district is starting this irrigation season with 77,107 acre feet in their conservation account. They will have to dip significantly into that account to meet the same water deliveries they did in 2014.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
