The Merced Irrigation District said the much anticipated irrigation season will begin in about two weeks. Water is set to start flowing into the canals on March 2, and customers will be able to place orders starting March 5.
The price for in-district water is $18.25 per acre-foot.
"There's enough of a demand that we can start the water season and feel comfortable that we'll have enough water for the whole season," said Suzy Hultgren, vice president and secretary for the MID board. "I feel comfortable with that. We've vetted this for quite some time."
Growers have been split over when they want irrigation season to start. Despite available groundwater, some farmers, especially those with orchards, would like the board to have started the season already. Others have expressed concerns the season could be cut short if started too early.
The MID board has struck a balance between these needs, said Hultgren. "No one should have priority over someone else just trying to get a full season in," she said. "So with the availability and the option to be able to pump (water), you provide yourself a little bit of extension at each end."
Local almond farmer Joe Scoto said that while the board has the growers' best interests at heart, he thinks fears around an early start to the irrigation seasons are exaggerated: "We can extend the season ourselves. If we all work together with the district and get our irrigation intervals staggered, we can make the water work."
Farmers are in a tough spot because of this year's drought conditions. Cumulative rainfall is just over three inches, similar to the dry conditions in 2007. Snowpack is at about 20 percent of the average for April.
And while MID has enough storage and groundwater to support farmers this season, groundwater is in a downward trend and officials have expressed concern about the fate of next year's reserves.
"Our region could be facing one of the driest years on record if conditions don't change," said Mike Jensen, spokesman for MID. "We fully expect to supplement our surface water supplied from the Sierra with water pumped from MID wells. However, dependence on groundwater is not a long-term solution."
The regional national weather service forecasts that through March and May, the La Niña storm front is expected to transition to neutral conditions.
"There's no strong trend one way or the other," said Gary Sanger, meteorologist with NOAA. "There's equal probability of above and below average precipitation. There is no long-term signature one way or the other."
As in previous years, irrigation orders can be placed 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the irrigation season by calling (209) 722-2720 or toll-free at (800) 750-2720. Customers can also use MID's automated water ordering system at (866) 825-2475 or place orders at www.mercedid.org.
Reporter Joshua Emerson Smith can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or jsmith@mercedsunstar.com.
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