Some California farmers to go without federal water

SACRAMENTO — A federal agency said Friday it will not release water for most Central Valley farms this year, forcing California farmers to continue to scramble for other sources or leave fields unplanted.

It will be the second year of no federal water for farmers in the region that grows much of the nation's produce, although some farms hold senior water rights and are exempt from complete cuts.

Many farmers had been bracing for the news as California's drought enters its fourth year. They are running out of short-term options for dealing with water shortages, such as uprooting orchards and tapping groundwater wells.

"They were able to Band-Aid things together last year just to keep their trees alive," said Ryan Jacobsen, executive director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. "The first aid kit we had last year is really not available this year."

David Murillo, mid-Pacific regional director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said federal officials are doing everything possible to increase water deliveries during the dire dry conditions.

"Our economy and our environment depend on it," he said.

The Central Valley Project conveys water through a system of dams and reservoirs and 500 miles of canals. The agency says it can irrigate up to a third of California's agricultural land when water is flowing.

Even before supplies were cut off, federal water had become a less dependable source for farmers. Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley only received 10 percent of demand in 2009 and 20 percent in 2013. Two consecutive years of no allocations is unprecedented.

Farmers are instead turning to storage supplies and pumping from largely unregulated groundwater wells that are quickly being depleted.

California has a separate state-operated system of reservoirs and canal which increased distribution this year. The State Water Project announced last month that it could provide local agencies and farmers 15 percent of the water they requested, a slight increase from 5 percent last year.

Ron Milligan, a Central Valley Project operations manager, said the federal system has more mandatory obligations for water than the state, including for farms with senior water rights and wildlife refuges that federal law mandates received water to restore fish habitats.

Paul Wegner, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, said the federal government's announcement is another sign California needs to speed up construction of water storage projects and reform laws requiring the government to prioritize water to preserve fish species and the environment.

"It's maddening because California still struggles to manage water wisely and flexibly, especially in dry years," he said in a news release.

Some communities and endangered wildlife that rely on the federal water source will receive some water but still suffer cuts. Urban areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento area, will receive a quarter of typical water allotments but could receive more if public health is threatened.

The water in the snowpack, California's primary water source, is at a fifth of its normal level, according to state officials. Federal officials said they don't expect a snow survey next week to show improved conditions.

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Associated Press writer Scott Smith in Fresno, California. also contributed to this report.