Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority in northern Californiaspent $30 million to acquire water when the Central Valley Project had none to deliver
8/29/2014 2:31:15 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Butte County, CA
Colusa County, CA
Glenn County, CA
Tehama County, CA
Start Date: 3/1/2014
- End Date: 8/28/2014
The Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority spent $30 million to acquire water from the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Reclamation District 108, Conaway Ranch, Sycamore Water District and others at a price of $400 to $450 per acre-foot after receiving zero percent of its allocation from the federal Central Valley Project. Of the district’s 150,000 acres in four counties, just 70,000 acres received irrigation water to keep trees and vineyards alive, while the remaining acres were left idle.
Almond growers in Tehama County have drilled deep new wells costing $150,000 to $200,000 apiece in some instances to compensate for the lack of federal water. One almond grower runs his pumps around the clock to get as much as he can because his wells are not producing much water.
Farmers in Butte County have found economical ways to get water. Electricity is roughly half price on weekends, so farmers choose to irrigate when it’s cheaper. Diesel pumps are also used instead of electric ones to keep costs down.
Chico Enterprise Record (Calif.), Aug. 28, 2014
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