With surface water allocations down and costs up, Merced County’s new irrigation season is reflecting the impacts of statewide drought. Merced County isn’t alone. The nearby Fresno Irrigation District (FID) announced Tuesday that the ongoing parched weather, including a record-dry January and February, led the Board of Directors to postpone its planned start of water deliveries.
Area canals in the Fresno Irrigation District have run dry but at some point during a wet year, a new recharge basin south of Fresno will be full of water.
“Most of the signs are pointing to another dry year, unfortunately, this year,” says Fresno Irrigation District General Manager Bill Stretch. “It could turn wet and if it does, we’ve got the infrastructure in place to capture those flood flows.”
A water war is under way in Sacramento right now that could have far-reaching impacts on families in the Central Valley. “We totally believe this is a water grab,” says Ryan Jacobsen, Board President for the Fresno Irrigation District.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
