With drought growing more severe by the day, and meaningful rains months away, state officials enacted water restrictions against senior water rights holders for the first time since the 1977 drought.
The move, by the state Water Resources Control Board, affects 114 holders of highly coveted senior water rights, including irrigation districts. California, which allocates seniority based on when a water claim was first made, has already shut down deliveries to nearly 9,000 so-called junior rights holders—basically entities with claims staked since 1914.
Today’s action impacts farmers, irrigation districts and others with claims dating back as far as 1903. Officials said they will likely reach even further back in coming weeks as water levels in state reservoirs dwindle.
Caren Trgovcich is the chief deputy director of the State Water Board.
“We’re now at the point however, that demand in our three river systems is outstripping supply, for even the most senior water rights holders,” Trgovcich said.
Among the local entities affected are the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, Lundberg Family Farms, the cities of Chico and Nevada City, Los Molinos Mutual Water Company, Paradise Irrigation District, the Placer County Water Agency, Sierra Pacific Industries, Caltrans, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific Gas & Electric and South Feather Water and Power.
The move isn’t entirely unexpected. Officials said warning letters were sent in January stating that a curtailment order could be issued and urging entities to store water or line up an alternate supply if possible.
Officials said many reacted to the warning by storing water themselves or having water stored on their behalf.
The move, if kept in place for an entire calendar year, would reduce water usage by about 1.2 million acre feet, officials said. The actual amount saved will be considerably less. Senior rights holders have had months to make other arrangements. Many junior rights holders have reacted to curtailment orders by pumping more water from deep underground wells. Many senior holders will likely follow suit, putting more pressure on aquifers.