SACRAMENTO — To help mid-sized farm water districts comply with Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s directive to prepare water management plans, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has updated its guidebook on preparation of such plans.
On Monday, DWR released its final 2015 Agricultural Water Management Plan Guidebook, which farm water districts can use in preparing and submitting their required plans to DWR. First required by 2009 legislation, such plans include a detailed account of water supplies, demands and deliveries to farm customers, as well as a report on the efficient water management practices that have been adopted by the irrigation or water district.
Under the 2009 legislation, agricultural water suppliers that served more than 25,000 acres were required to submit such plans to DWR. Fifty-four districts met that threshold. The first agricultural water management plan was due at the end of 2012, and the next plan is due at the end of 2015. (The plans are available here: http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/.)
On April 15, Governor Brown broadened the reporting requirement by directing agricultural water suppliers that provide water to 10,000 acres to 25,000 acres to also submit an agricultural water management plan to DWR. The submission deadline for these suppliers is July 1, 2016. An estimated 56 agricultural water agencies fall within this category.
DWR Director Mark Cowin said use of the Guidebook is optional, but it may help agricultural suppliers address existing requirements, as well as new requirements imposed under the Governor’s April 15 Executive Order B-29-15.
Agricultural water suppliers that fail to submit water management plans to DWR are not eligible for state loans or grants.
California has been dealing with the effects of drought for four years. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit Drought.CA.Gov. Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at SaveOurWater.com.
