SWSI AlternativeAgriculturalTransfersTRTDraftWhitePaper

• Technical Roundtable: Agricultural Transfer
• Title: SWSI - Alternative Agricultural Transfers White Paper
• SWSI II - Doc Type: White Papers

CDIVI

SWSI Phase 2 Technical Roundtable
Agricultural Transfer Alternatives to Permanent Dry-up

1. Technical Roundtable Discussions

The purpose of the Agricultural Transfer Alternatives to Permanent Dry-up TRT
during Phase 2 of SWSI is to evaluate alternatives to the permanent dry-up of
irrigated lands, while still protecting private property rights. The goals of the TRT will
be to evaluate potential agricultural transfer alternatives that could meet the
reliability and firm supply needs of M&I providers and provide for instream flows
during critical low-flow years. Alternatives to permanent dry-up of agricultural lands
that have been used or proposed are listed below and a more detailed discussion of
these alternatives can be found near the end of this document.

. Interruptible supply arrangements that provide for the temporary leasing of
agricultural water for other uses during dry years. Other uses may include M&I
and environmental flows.

. Rotating fallowing consists of a type of interruptible agricultural transfer
arrangement involving several agricultural parties and one or more M&I or other
users. Each agricultural user would agree not to irrigate for 1 year out of a set
period of years making the yield available to M&I, environmental flows, or other
uses.

. Water Banks provide a mechanism for leasing water on a short-term basis without
permanently transferring a water right to another user. Entities with stored water
rights have the options to lease their water during times of drought or when it will
not be put to beneficial use.

. Reduced consumptive use (CD) by irrigated agriculture through changes in
irrigation patterns or crop types.

It is anticipated that the TRT will meet three times between September and May to
further explore the opportunities and issues of the alternatives. Additional questions
for discussion have been categorized as institutional and political, technical, financial,
and legal/ water rights.

The discussion below is intended as a starting point for discussion, is not intended
to be comprehensive or reflect the opinions of CWCB staff. TRT members will be
asked to expand and/or modify these questions and actively participate in the
discussions.

Technical

. Are there suitable irrigated lands in the vicinity of the M&I demands? If not, what
are the infrastructure costs required to provide for transfer, storage, treatment, and
delivery of the water from the program to the end user? Are these costs any lesser
or greater than the costs for a permanent dry-up transfer using the same or similar
agricultural water rights?

. What crops are potentially suitable for fallowing or for reduced irrigation?

DRAFT

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