Oakdale Irrigation District could ease water limit

Despite the dire drought, Oakdale-area farmers could get a bit more water than feared two weeks ago.

Thanks to lower than expected “seasonal water use to date,” the Oakdale Irrigation District might stretch this season’s allotment from 30 inches to 36 inches per parcel for most customers, says a report prepared for Tuesday’s board meeting.

“We believe the trend is showing more beneficial than originally thought,” said OID General Manager Steve Knell. “We’ll talk to the board about upping the allocations.”

Because of the drought, the board two weeks ago agreed to cap water shares for the first time in 105 years, and imposed a $6.10-per-acre surcharge to cover drought-related costs for pumping groundwater to augment supplies. The board also asked for a monthly review of the district’s water status, with the idea of adjusting the cap.

In talks with state and federal water agencies concerned with Stanislaus River levels affecting fish, the district committed to cutting at least 10,000 acre-feet of water from this year’s negotiated entitlement of 225,000 acre-feet, down from the usual 300,000 in normal weather. Even after subtracting the 10,000 acre-feet, plus 5,000 for a buffer, OID now believes it could safely deliver 36 inches to tier 1 customers and 12 inches to tier 2.

Tier 1 is OID’s established customer base, representing 52,000 acres, while newer tier 2 customers on 10,000 acres joined the district in the past couple of years. Public hearings on further proposed annexations and “fringe parcel” annexations, initially scheduled for Tuesday, will be postponed for unspecified reasons to May 19, a notice says.

Some established customers object to tier 2 getting any water, noting that OID had promised tier 2 would be turned away in dry years unless tier 1 got a full allotment; they are circulating a protest petition. The largest tier 2 customer, with 7,300 acres of almond orchards near Knights Ferry, is Trinitas Partners.

Denying tier 2 customers 10 inches would provide tier 1 customers with an extra inch of water. That amount would edge up to 1.4 inches if Trinitas and other tier 2 customers don’t get 12 inches under the proposed adjustment.

The report, released late Thursday, notes that OID was forced to use $7 million in savings to cover last year’s expenses because wholesale electricity sales were down, and the district anticipates a $10 million shortfall this year.

“That money will eventually need to be recouped from water sales (to buyers elsewhere) or assessments (charged to OID customers) or both, after the drought is over,” the report says. “The more OID draws down its reserves, the greater that payback cost will grow.”

The district had planned to sell water this year to Fresno-area buyers but backed out because of the drought and a lawsuit threat.

The OID board will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the chamber at 1205 E. F St., Oakdale.

This story was originally published May 3, 2015 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Oakdale Irrigation District could ease water limit."