Two years of water over-consumption as well as water transfer obligations will finally, directly impact the Imperial Valley group that relies on water the most, the agricultural community.
And while a committee of farmers hammers out a water-apportionment plan to bring before the Imperial Irrigation District’s Board of Directors, some farmers are considering the impact that the proposed cap of 5.24 acre-feet of water per eligible acre will have on their business.
“This is going to be a high-level management analysis and decision,” said Steve Scaroni, a Heber-based farmer and vegetable packer. He said his businesses might alter their cropping patterns in order to stay within their annual allotment of water.
An apportionment program is essentially a fallowing program, Scaroni said, in that farmers may have to take fields out of production to stay within their allotment of water.
Tom Brundy, a Southend alfalfa farmer, said the most immediate impact of a water apportionment plan would be increased costs, loss of production and a loss of jobs.
Alfalfa is a water-intensive crop, typically irrigated by flooding the field. Brundy said he installed a drip irrigation system on 40 acres of land about one year ago at the cost of some $2,300 per acre.
“We’re utilizing our water better but it’s coming at a big expense,” he said.
Ultimately, he said, the Valley farmers cannot switch en masse to crops that require less water to grow.
“We all cannot grow lettuce,” he said. “It would overwhelm the market.”
Brawley farmer Alex Jack sounded relatively optimistic.
“Everyone knew this day was coming,” he said, referring to water apportionment. To that end, he has invested in extensive water conservation measures, like sprinkle-irrigation and pump-back systems.
“The main reason we did it is because we grow a better crop,” he said.
Conserving water, while desirable, was a secondary consideration, he added.
Jack said his operation’s efficiency may benefit from an apportionment plan.
“I may be able to pick up some nice growing opportunities for crops that others can’t,” he said. “Maybe a lettuce-growing deal or maybe a second crop of wheat where lots of people lay land fallow to stay under the cap.”
Staff Writer Antoine Abou-Diwan can be reached at 760-337-3454 or aabou-diwan@ivpressonline.com
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
