News and Information from the Central California Irrigation District • www.ccidwater.org • Issue One • 2013
Water Supply udate
Bureau Announces Initial Allocation
C
CID and other member
Districts of the San Joaquin
River Exchange Contractors in
late February received a 100-percent
initial allocation from the Bureau of
Reclamation based on projected inflows
into Shasta for 2013 of more than 4
million acre-feet, well above the 3.2
million required for a full allocation
under the Exchange Contract. Still, the
District remains concerned that, even
following a wet December contractors
south of the Delta received only a
25-percent allocation when initial
forecasts were released in February. As
of March 22, the federal allocation was
further reduced to 20-percent.
The surprising allocation is a direct result
of state and federal actions taken since
December to protect fishery populations.
“In a situation where neighboring districts
are left with a mere 20-percent allocation
we continue to be astonished how the
state and federal government run the Delta
in a water year when carryover storage is
as good as it’s been in recent years,” said
General Manager Chris White.
“The serious nature of the water supply
situation in California reaffirms that our
direction and concentration on water
conservation in the District is the right
thing to do.”
The Bureau reassesses the allocation
each month through June. However,
the 100-percent allocation is not likely
to change for CCID landowners and
consumers. Based on this allocation, the
CCID Board adopted the same tiered
water rate schedule for 2013 as last year.
2013 Water Rates Based on 100-Percent Allocation
In-District Water Sales
Jan.-March:
$7 per acre-foot, no allocation limit
April-Oct.:
Four-tiered water rate schedule:
Tier 1 = 0.0 - 3.0 a.f./acre @ $7/a.f.
Tier 2 = 3.0 – 3.5 a.f./acre @ $16/a.f.
Tier 3 = 3.5 – 4.0 a.f./acre @ $31/a.f.
Tier 4 = 4.0 a.f./acre and up @ $61/a.f.
Nov. – Dec.:
Limited supplies, first-come/first-served @ $7/a.f.
Developed Water, Class II Lands
Developed water for Class II lands is subject to tiered pricing when available from April through October at a rate of
$31/a.f. up to 3.0 a.f./acre and $61/a.f. above 3.0 a.f./acre. All developed water in January through March, and November/
December will cost $31/a.f.
2
Conservation Program
2
Annual Meetings
Annual Meetings April 2-4 Cover
Important Topics for CCID Landowners
C
CID will hold its annual dinner
meetings in early April to share
important information with
consumers and landowners. Chief among
the topics will be an outline of this year’s
water supply, allocations and pricing with
a general overview of water supply issues
in California.
Joe McGahan of the Westside San
Joaquin River Watershed Coalition will
provide an update on changes related to
drainage and the Long-Term Irrigated
Lands Programs. Increased costs to
comply with upcoming changes to the
Waste Discharge Requirements for the
Irrigated Lands Program has resulted in
increased fees for growers in the Westside
Coalition. McGahan will explain some
of the issues that resulted in these
increased operating expenses and what
expected changes to the Program are
likely to mean for irrigated farmland in
the area.
Conservation issues will also be covered
at this year’s annual meetings. CCID is
embarking on a number of District-level
conservation and efficiency programs,
and details of those projects will be
shared with landowners. In addition,
Conservation Coordinator Tracey
Rosin will share information on the
latest programs to facilitate on-farm
conservation projects. Growers continue
to embrace cost-share grant and lowinterest loan opportunities through the
CCID Water Conservation Program as a
means of enhancing water use efficiencies
on the farm.
CCID General Manager Chris White
will explain how the District is extending
technical assistance to help neighboring
growers find positive solutions to help
address subsidence and minimize impacts
of subsidence on shared groundwater
basins. White will also discuss major
projects underway within the District,
including the multi-agency Los Banos
Creek Detention Dam project, which
is expected to provide mutual benefits
from an existing Bureau of Reclamation
facility. A community ditch group
has also come together on a largescale improvement on the Silo Ditch,
with joint funding from the Water
Conservation Program and the NRCS.
Recent developments in the San Joaquin
River Restoration Program to support
spring-run salmon will also be discussed.
Annual meetings offer an the
opportunity for landowners to meet
face-to-face with CCID staffers who
serve them in the District on everything
related to water deliveries, billing,
conservation and setting up water
accounts online. We hope you will make
the time to come to one of the following
three meetings:
• Tuesday, April 2—Veterans Hall,
Firebaugh
• Wednesday, April 3—Germino
Building, Los Banos Fairgrounds
• Thursday, April 4—Al Goman
Center, Gustine
All meetings will be held from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. and feature a meal catered
by Wolfsen’s Westside Locker.
Water Conservation Program Saves Water
in District for Nearly Quarter Century
S
ince 1990, CCID’s self-funded
Water Conservation Program has
funded 480 loans for $12.5 million
and 380 grants for $7.2 million in waterconservation related enhancements.
These funds have supported the
installation of on-farm projects intended
to help save water within the District.
Drip irrigation and microsprinkler systems
are among the on - farm project installations
funded with help from cost-share grants
through CCID’s Water Conservation Program.
The self-funded program started in 1990
with revenues generated through the
newly initiated tiered pricing system.
The program not only encourages water
savings within the District, but then
invests that savings back into projects
that would further assist growers with
their conservation efforts. Those funds
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Water
Conservation
Program
Deadline
Water Conservation
Program Saves Water
Continued from previous page
have been augmented with proceeds
from in-basin water transfers and, as
loans are repaid over the years, the
program is completely self-supported.
The On-Farm Water Conservation
Program provides cost-share grants to
cover 50 percent of project construction
for concrete lining or pipelining and 25
percent cost-share grants for irrigation
enhancements, up to $400 per acre
benefited. Low-interest loans are also
available to cover up to $1,000 per acre of
the farmer’s remaining portion of the cost.
Installation of pipelining and concrete
linings improves the efficiency of water
conveyance systems. In addition, the
program funds on-farm irrigation system
improvements including drip irrigation
and micro-sprinkler installations,
tailwater return systems, dairy related
improvements and other projects.
“The goal of the program is to fund
projects that result in water conserved. We
consider any project that achieves that
goal even if it might not seem to be the
classic scenario. We encourage landowners
to bring us their ideas,” said CCID
Conservation Coordinator Tracey Rosin.
Growers interested in participating in
the CCID Water Conservation Program
should expect the following steps for
project funding, approval and construction:
1.Fill out application online or in the
CCID office and submit by Aug. 9, along
with project design and cost estimates.
2.Await preliminary approval by the
T
he deadline for funding requests
for CCID’s 2013 On-Farm Water
Conservation Program is Aug. 9.
Growers must submit a project design
and cost estimate prior to the deadline to
be considered for preliminary approval.
Applications will be processed and
reviewed collectively by the Water
Conservation Committee in time for
October construction. Funding levels
may be prorated based on the number of
applications received.
Tailwater return pump systems are
another enhancement supported by
CCID’s Water Conservation Program.
Water Conservation Committee
following review.
3.Submit construction schedule to CCID
once notice of approval is received.
4.Provide CCID with any changes to
submitted design prior to construction.
5.Upon completion of engineering
evaluation, notice to construct will be
issued.
6.Expect periodic inspections by CCID
staff throughout construction.
7.Submit bills following final inspection.
8.Completed projects are presented to
the Board of Directors and funds are
disbursed to landowner.
Details on program guidelines can
be found at the CCID website at
www.ccidwater.org. Or contact CCID
Conservation Coordinator Tracey Rosin
at (209) 826-1421.
Growers say these easy to follow steps
and clear guidelines make the CCID
Water Conservation Program particularly
easy to work with. For more information
contact Rosin at the CCID Main Office
at (209) 826-1421.
The program provides 50-percent cost share
grants up to $400 per acre benefited for
concrete lining and pipelining.
CCID Supports Water Awareness Scholarships
T
his year marks two decades that
CCID Board members have
sponsored Water Awareness
Scholarships to deserving high school
seniors from the five school districts
within the CCID service area.
Scholarships are open to all students who
attend school within the CCID service
area or whose parents or grandparents
farm or own land in CCID or other
Exchange Contractors member agencies.
The CCID Board of Directors is
calling on the CCID community
to help provide support for this
year’s scholarships. In 2012, eight
scholarships were awarded for a total
of $6,050. Minimum scholarships are
$500.
300-word essay as part of the application
packet. Applications are due by April
16. Winners will be selected by a
Scholarship Committee designated by
the CCID Board and announced in time
for CCID’s Water Awareness Month
celebration in May. For details call the
CCID Main Office at (209) 826-1421.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0
grade point average and submit a
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ge Three
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Prsrt Std
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PAID
Fresno, CA
Permit #1242
Post Office Box 1231
Los Banos, CA 93635
209 / 826-1421
A look back...
50 Years Ago – Spring 1963
After receiving sealed bids from six vendors for the annual
contract for bulk delivery of fuel for 1963, the Board of
Directors accepted the low bid from Standard Oil of California
for 19.7 cents per gallon for regular gasoline, and 22 cents
per gallon for supreme grade gasoline.
25 Years Ago – Spring 1988
At the end of May, the District issued its first computergenerated water bills. Also, The Board of Directors
approved a comprehensive written Water Rights Transfer
Policy, prohibiting creation of “holes” and “islands” within
the District, and setting rules for ownership of the parcels
involved in proposed transfers.
10 Years Ago – Spring 2003
It was reported that bills had been introduced in the State
legislature to eliminate the ag discharge waiver and institute a
schedule of penalties for discharges to the San Joaquin River.
Plans were made to form a watershed coalition to meet the
anticipated new monitoring and reporting requirements.
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