A water shortage on the Colorado River has put tremendous strain on the states that rely on it as a main water source. The fate of California’s Salton Sea is tied to the future of the river, and a catastrophic drought has only worsened conditions.
In a world of worsening heatwaves, flooding, drought, glacial melting, megafires and other calamities of a changing climate, Gary Gragg is an optimist.
As California warms, Gragg — a nurseryman, micro-scale farmer and tropical fruit enthusiast — looks forward to the day that he can grow and sell mangoes in Northern California.
The California Department of Water Resources announced Thursday that the State Water Project will be able to deliver 100% of requested water supplies this year thanks to full reservoirs following record winter rain and snow.
A few hundred people attended the annual Graze at the Fields in Carlsbad on April 13 to experience the variety of San Diego agriculture while interacting with local farmers and purveyors.
Hosted by the San Diego County Farm Bureau representatives from a wide variety of agricultural industries shared with attendees information about the diversity and role agriculture plays in the county.
The San Diego County Water Authority and 13 of its member agencies offer growers a special agricultural water rate program: providing lower-cost water in return for lower reliability.
The Water Authority’s Board of Directors approved the Permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate Program (PSAWR) in 2020. It helps support commercial farms driving the economic engine of rural San Diego County. PSAWR gives farmers a choice of what level of water service works best for their operations.
The San Diego County Water Authority and 13 of its member agencies offer growers a special agricultural water rate program: providing lower-cost water in return for lower reliability.
The Water Authority’s Board of Directors approved the Permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate Program (PSAWR) in 2020. It helps support commercial farms driving the economic engine of rural San Diego County. PSAWR gives farmers a choice of what level of water service works best for their operations.
Although San Diego County’s economy is best known for tourism and biotechnology, agriculture accounts for $2 billion yearly in regional economic activity, according to the most recent county assessment.
Vallecitos Water District is among the PSAWR participating agencies, working with growers like Hamid Pezeshkian of Flametree Farms in Vista. Pezeschkian is among 2,000 growers enrolled.
San Diego County production is largely the combined result of more than 5,000 family farms like Pezeshkian’s operation – the most of any county in the United States. In fact, 69% of all San Diego County farms are smaller than nine acres. Innovative practices – including water-use efficiency measures – allow local farms to be productive by focusing on high-value crops.
When he learned about the PSAWR program through the Vallecitos Water District, Hamid Pezeshkian discovered additional options plus a support system to help guide him through the process. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Originally from Iran, Pezeshkian grows citrus, avocados, and various fruits including passion fruit, dragon fruit, and pomegranates, at his small permaculture farm with 500 trees.
“Planting a diverse range of fruit trees, plants, and cover crops as well as a variety of animals and species that coexist together allowing for a prosperous and healthy ecosystem and healthy soil,” explains Pezeshkian.
Water conservation is integral to his operation and an ongoing learning process. Flametree Farms has upgraded its irrigation systems, is implementing rainwater collection systems, and aggressively uses organic compost to keep soil soft and help it retain water. When he learned about the PSAWR program through the Vallecitos Water District, Pezeshkian discovered additional options, plus a support system to help guide him through the process.
“The Vallecitos Water District has been incredible to work with,” said Pezeshkian. “They’re encouraging, they’re positive, and they’ve got an amazing smile when you meet them. They are always there to provide you with guidance and information when you need it.”
Pezeshkian found his best fit by qualifying as an organic producer.
“The Organic Program definitely appealed to me,” he said. “It was the taste of these oranges that made me realize that there’s something really special here in the soil. We put not a single drop of any sprays. These trees are just doing amazing, they’re producing, and I can’t wait to continue to go this path and bring healthy nutritious organic food to the community here and share it with my friends and family.”
Flametree Farms has upgraded its irrigation systems, is implementing rainwater collection systems, and aggressively uses organic compost to keep soil soft and help it retain water. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Agriculture directly employs 56,000 people in San Diego County, including the second-largest number of farms operated by women and the largest number of part-time farmers in the U.S. Along with avocados, San Diego County farmers rank first in the nation in the production of nursery crops, and in the top five producers nationwide of lemons, limes, guavas, pomegranates, and macadamias.
In exchange for lower priced water, participants agree to have reduced water service when the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California cuts supplies to San Diego County. In turn, the Water Authority can reallocate those supplies as needed to commercial and residential customers who pay for full reliability benefits.
(Editor’s note: The Vallecitos Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego region.)
The Bureau of Reclamation March 28, announced an increase in Central Valley Project 2023 water supply allocations. After below average precipitation in February, Reclamation announced a conservative initial water supply allocation for the CVP on Feb. 22. Additional atmospheric river systems have since boosted hydrological conditions and storage volumes, allowing for a more robust water supply allocation.
Since making initial allocations last month, Shasta Reservoir, the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project, has increased from 59% to 81%, and San Luis Reservoir, the largest reservoir south-of-Delta, from 64% to 97%. Record-breaking snowpack conditions currently exist in the Southern Sierra coupled with significant snowpack in the Central Sierra and Northern Sierra/Trinity.
The Bureau of Reclamation March 28, announced an increase in Central Valley Project 2023 water supply allocations. After below average precipitation in February, Reclamation announced a conservative initial water supply allocation for the CVP on Feb. 22. Additional atmospheric river systems have since boosted hydrological conditions and storage volumes, allowing for a more robust water supply allocation.
Since making initial allocations last month, Shasta Reservoir, the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project, has increased from 59% to 81%, and San Luis Reservoir, the largest reservoir south-of-Delta, from 64% to 97%. Record-breaking snowpack conditions currently exist in the Southern Sierra coupled with significant snowpack in the Central Sierra and Northern Sierra/Trinity.
Based on current hydrology and forecasting, Reclamation is announcing the following increases to CVP water supply allocations:
North-of-Delta Contractors
South-of-Delta Contractors
Friant Division Contractors
Friant Dam is currently being operated for flood control purposes; as long as these conditions exist contractors are able to take delivery of all available water from Friant Dam to the maximum extent of their respective contracts.
All other CVP water supply allocations remain the same as noted in the Feb. 22 announcement.
As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology, actions that impact operations, and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Reclamation will continue to monitor hydrology and may adjust basin-specific allocations if conditions warrant an update. Water supply updates and past year’s allocations are posted on Reclamation California-Great Basin Region’s website.
“It’s snowing!” is how Imperial Irrigation District Water Manager Tina Shields began her hydrology report at the March 21 regular meeting. The water manager’s monthly reports have taken a turn to the positive after years of dire Lake Mead elevation readings.
Although Central California irrigates with water from different sources other than the Colorado River, the Valley’s sole source of water, Shields reported the continuous atmospheric rivers have been devastating to the Central Valley farmland with reports of flooding and washing out of ground.
“Every drought is followed by a flood,” she said. “They have had 250% above average of rain, the photos of two-story houses buried in snow and ski lifts unusable because they are covered in snow are crazy. They are actually talking about Fourth of July skiing and that fields will stay flooded for months. It is all time record breaking.”
A modest proposal for western water: Turn off the spigot to the Imperial Valley and let the farms go fallow. In return, provide a water future for Arizona, Nevada and Southern California.
Sure, there would be a price to pay. California’s Imperial Valley, which sits in the southeastern corner of the state, bordered by Arizona and Mexico, produces alfalfa, lettuce, corn and sugar beets, among other crops. It’s home to more than 300,000 head of cattle. Cutting off the water would end all of that, along with the livelihoods of the farmers and ranchers who produce it and the communities that depend on it.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
