Lake McClure in a high water year
March 30, 2016 - Water deliveries from Merced Irrigation District will begin in the coming days following action taken by the MID Board of Directors on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
The Board allocated 275,000 acre feet from Lake McClure to District growers while adopting an $87 million Fiscal Year 2017 budget. The water allocation represents an increase of more than 100,000 acre feet over preliminary budget projections made earlier in the year. The change is the result of improved runoff projections from the central Sierra Nevada and the Merced River watershed.
Class I Growers will receive a surface-water allocation of 4 acre-feet per acre.
Class II Growers will receive a surface-water allocation of 2 acre-feet per acre.
The water will be priced at $66 per acre-foot.
Orders can be placed beginning Monday, April 4. Water deliveries will begin as demand increases, ensuring the most efficient water-delivery possible.
The Board adopted the budget after reviewing new information related to the snowpack and the water levels of Lake McClure. In mid-March MID had expected to provide up to 175,000 acre feet of surface water from Lake McClure. With new storms bringing snow and inflow to Lake McClure, the water supply projections have improved.
The District will not offer its Supplemental Water Supply Pool Program this year, which provides Class I growers with groundwater MID has conjunctively managed and previously recharged.
Last year, MID had informed its growers that no surface water from Lake McClure would be available. However, faced with dire conditions, the MID Board later took the only action available and directed staff to divert the mere 10,000 acre feet of stored water it had available.
Lake McClure is typically about 50 percent full this time of year. Currently the reservoir is currently about 33 percent full. Last year Lake McClure reached a historic low in February of just 6.2 percent full.
MID’s office is located at 744 W. 20th Street, Merced, CA 95340. As in previous years, irrigation orders may be placed 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the irrigation season by calling (209) 722-2720 or tollfree at (800) 750-2720. Customers may also use MID’s automated water ordering system at (866) 825-2475 or place orders online at www.mercedid.org.
Source: MID
