Farmers and ranchers already faced a limit on this year’s federal water allocation, but will face an additional reduction as well.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation initially had set the allocation for imported blue valve water at 25 percent for agriculture use and 75 percent for municipal and industrial uses. Recently, the federal agency reduced those respective numbers an additional 5 percent. That led to the San Benito County Water District last week officially announcing those new figures.
“Basically, they’re going to get reduced from 100 percent of what they requested to 90 percent,” said Jeff Cattaneo, manager of the San Benito County Water District.
Board members also implemented a “regulatory use fee” for users who exceed their allocations.
For those who exceed the limit, it would cost $450 more for an acre-foot of water than the standard $230 fee.
“If you use more than your allocation, you have to go out on the open market and try to find a replacement,” Cattaneo said, going on, “We wouldn’t want to tell them after they used the water that wasn’t the $230 an acre-foot (price).”
He said the agency was in the process of trying to find extra water.
“We’re making everybody aware up front it’s a very short water year,” he said.
As for the users, the “M&I” users include municipal and industrial uses such as golf courses, cities, Sunnyslope Water District, five-acre parcels and “anybody who uses who does not use for ag products.”
Users can start taking the water March 1, with most use for farmers in May through September.
