California farmers have been given a stark warning that there will be shortages of water supplies this summer. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) forecast a 50% cut of contracted supply.
Several statistics warn drought is near. DWRs California Data Exchange Center shows that the statewide snow water equivalent is 28% below normal. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows the 96.54 of the state is experience drought conditions. However, the DWR estimates that a drought declaration, which can only be issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, is at least a year away.
Making the situation worse, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which supplies water through the Central Valley Project, has told farmers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that delivery is not available until further notice. The DWR has filed a new drought contingency plan with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide direction to manage water supply and the impact on endangered species.
The State Water Resources Control Board has mailed notices to 40,000 farmers and municipal officials warning to be prepared for water shortages this year, stating:
“Start planning now for potential water supply shortages later this year and identify practical actions you can take to increase drought resilience, such as increasing water conservation measures, reducing irrigated acreage, managing herd size, using innovative irrigation and monitoring technologies, or diversifying your water supply portfolio.”
State Water Resources Control Board
California is suffering the second consecutive dry winter, with the Sierra Nevada snowpack being 37% below normal. The spring melt from this snowpack is essential to fill state reservoirs and major rivers. These scant water projections are flashing red lights for the states $50 billion-a-year agricultural system, which produces 100% of the nation’s processing tomatoes, 88% of its strawberries and 57% of its peaches.
In a letter to Gov. Newsom, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack declared “50 California counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought.” Natural disaster areas include counties contiguous to those designated, thus including all of California.
This drought designation makes farm operators eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency. This assistance includes emergency loans.
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