Water Flowing Again
Water Flowing Again. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
The Roza Irrigation District is back online after a 20-day shut down. Water began filling the canals on Monday. Scott Revell, district manager of the Roza Irrigation Board said that back in mid-April the Bureau of Reclamation projected a 54% water supply which they revised down to 47% in early May. The board then voted to shut off the system down for that period. Of course there were a number of ag producers that voiced concerns. Revell says they fully sympathize.
REVELL: When the board votes to shut things off, I mean, it always comes at someones expense. There's no one that's left unharmed in a situation like this and all five of our board members either grow cherries or have grown them so they certainly understand the big picture and the long term effects. All the board members are diversified so it's not a simple decision to turn the water off.
The decision to shut the water off was made so that the normal water season could be extended when more of the tree fruit and grape producers in the district would need additional water through the hot months. Water may now be available through the end of September. Revell explains how the Roza District differs from the nearby Sunnyside Irrigation District.
REVELL: We are different in that 2/3's of their water right is senior meaning it doesn't get reduced in this kind of drought.
Most irrigators should have water by the time of this report although it does take several days to refill the system.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
