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The Council is continuing to focus our efforts to develop and expand the selection of tools and services available to our members. Water Management Planning and Facilitiation Services will be driving the Council's future goals as we work to advance California's agricultural water management and promote water use efficiency in the state. Council staff is working to ensure that the needs of the Membership are well met by remaining engaged in evolving state efforts to redefine agricultural water management planning, and seeking to bring cost effective and time efficient tools to our members.
The Council provides more than just technical assistance to water suppliers looking to comply with state and fedral water management planning and updates. (CVPIA, RRA, SBx7-7, AB3616) Contact us to learn more about how we might be able to help you meet your specific needs.
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The Council is working with DWR and the Agricultural Stakeholder Committee to help DWR develop measurement regulations pursuant to the SBx7-7 legislation. The Council encourages Water Suppliers to get engaged and help ensure that a wide range of varying perspectives and experience are available to help guide the DWR Regulatiion writing process. For more information about current progress, please visit the Department of Water Resources Water Conservation Act of 2009 website here.
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Council staff will be present at the 2010 Fall ACWA show in Indian Wells this November 30th- January 2nd. Council staff will focus on helping to answer member questions regarding SBx7-7 and demonstrating a new online water management planning tool that, when complete, will help districts to meet the water management planning components of the SBx7-7 legislation. Council staff will also be present to help Bureau of Reclamation CVPIA districts to register to use the online Annual Updates application, a tool designed to aid districts in simplifying their CVPIA Water Conservation Plan Update process. Please stop by at the California Farm Water Coalition Booth in the Exhibitor Hall to learn more. |
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Survey does not assess drought impacts on SJ Valley growers
A recent media story incorrectly linked a recent farmer survey of irrigation practices to drought, claiming that 48.6% of San Joaquin Valley farmers “were not heavily affected by drought in the last five years.”
The survey of 414 San Joaquin Valley farmers conducted by the Agricultural Water Management Council and the California Farm Water Coalition provided valuable insights to the management decisions governing the use of water on farms. Questions in the survey focused on water use efficiency practices conducted on the farm and how farmers determine when to irrigate.
The survey revealed that 28 percent of the farmers reported an increase in crop production with the same amount of water. Thirty-five percent reported the same production but used less water. Forty-eight percent of the farmers reported no change in production or water usage. These statistics are the result of farmers responding to questions about applied water in their fields and not in relation to their supply of water, whether from surface or groundwater sources.
The complete survey report is available by clicking here .
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Districts looking to provide public comments and recommendations to the Department of Water Resources and the Agricultural Stakeholders Committee (ASC) are encouraged to submit their comments by email at
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. The Council encourages all districts to engage with the ASC to ensure that the recommendations made by the Committee best reflect the incredible diversity of district operations in California. DWR has committed to making these emails available to the ASC and will treat them as they would other public comments, and we encourage you to make your voice heard.
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Communicate 