California water regulators unanimously voted on Aug. 3 to restrict water access for thousands of Central Valley farmers as the state endures a severe drought. Although California water authorities have occasionally controlled water use during previous droughts, they have never implemented limitations that affect such senior water-right holders, according to the Aug. 11 Daily Dairy Report.
Under the new limitations, 5,700 water-right holders, including farmers and landowners, would no longer be able to divert water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds for agricultural use. Those who want to divert 55 gallons or more per day from water sources in this region must send in a petition to the deputy director of the board to get approval.
All water use also has to be reported by those who have water rights in the region, reported the California Globe on Aug. 14. “While the new diversion ban still needs approval by the Office of Administrative Law, it is widely expected to be accepted by them, with the new regulations likely to begin by Aug. 16.”
The Globe noted that in addition to the steadfast opposition from farmers, many lawmakers decried the latest diversions, with both Republicans and Democrats largely siding with the farmers. Many were worried about the conditions the farmers now faced, as well as food supply issues.
More than 600 miles south of the San Joaquin Valley, in the southeast corner of California, lies the Imperial Valley where Roy Motter, of Brawley, CA, farms. Motter is a member of the California Wheat Commission and is past chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates.
“I grow 500 acres of lettuce, 100 acres of onions and 400 acres of sugar beets,” said Motter. “These crops, with the exception of onions, are harvested all winter starting in mid-November through March. The onions are harvested in the spring around mid-April. Non-vegetarian crops like sugar beets are planted in the fall and also are harvested in the spring. Our sugar beets go to the last existing sugar factory in our county.”
He said he did not grow desert durum this past season because the price didn’t justify planting it. “We can grow multiple classes of wheat, but for the most part it will be durum, as this class has the highest yields and the greatest potential for a higher price,” said Motter.
“The acreage of wheat has been quite low (20 percent of our historical average) for a number of years due to the low price, our high cost of production and the availability of other more profitable crops.”
Brawley is located in the Colorado Desert and Lower Colorado River Valley regions. The city’s elevation, like other Imperial Valley towns, is below sea level, hence the “gravity” irrigation farmers there rely on.
The Imperial Valley depends solely on the Colorado River for its surface water supply. The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) imports raw water from the Colorado River and distributes it primarily for agricultural use. According to the University of California Ag and Natural Resources, the 80-mile-long All-American Canal delivers water to the southeast corner of the Imperial Valley.
Roughly 2.8-3 million acre-feet of water is used per year to grow the crops and livestock to help feed the nation. Irrigation water is delivered via 16,000 miles of canals managed by the local water company, the IID. Most of the water is delivered by gravity flow as the valley is tilted slightly to the north. “Since our annual rainfall here is just under 3 inches, farmers rely on this water to grow our crops,” said Motter.
“The drought is not directly affecting us this year,” said Motter. “For the short term, we do not have water issues as to the amount that we have to farm with. For the long term, we fear that we will potentially have big issues if the drought continues and if the urban population flexes its political power and takes some of our water.” — Mary Kennedy, DTN basis analyst
