Farmers on both west and east sides of the San Joaquin Valley are dealing with an unprecedented low allocation of water.
Terra Bella Irrigation District on the east side also lacks groundwater.
General Manager Sean Gievet says if they don’t get enough rain by summer, thousands of acres of citrus crops are at risk.
“We can make sure people have water," says Gievet. "Beyond that though, there’s no more water. So all of my irrigation demand, all the citrus and nuts and the guys growing the crops I don’t have any water for them right now.”
Terra Bella is part of the larger Friant Water Authority which irrigates one million acres and serves 15,000 farmers.
"We're in bad shape," says Ron Jacobsma General Manager of the Friant Water Authority.
Jacobsma says because of historic water rights of some contractors, Friant will be short of water.
"So instead of starting at zero our Friant contractors are in essence starting at about a negative 300,000 acre feet, " says Jacobsma.
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
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