In an effort to generate water for the Quantification Settlement Agreement, environmental mitigation of the Salton Sea and to pay back previous overuse or inadvertent overruns of the Imperial Irrigation District’s annual Colorado River water entitlement, the district is seeking participants for two on-farm fallowing programs.
One of the programs would span October to June, while the other is set for the 2013 calendar year, according to a press release from IID.
For the first fallowing program starting in October, it is the final call for the program with a delayed start of Oct. 1, through June 30. This nine-month program is offered at $125 per acre-foot. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 19.
For the second program, it is the first call for the 2013 calendar year running Jan. 1, through Dec. 31, 2013. With an early start option (up to six months), this 12- to 18-month program is offered at $125 per acre-foot. The deadline for submissions is Sept.19.
Applications for both programs are being accepted by the IID water manager’s office with priority given to those turned in on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is fully subscribed.
Fields selected to participate will be paid to lie fallow throughout the duration of the contract period.
“The district will take steps to prevent any water from being delivered throughout the contract period,” said program manager David Bradshaw.
Information and applications have been mailed to all landowners and tenants and is available for download at www.iid.com/fallowingprograms. For more information, call the fallowing hotline at 1-760-339-9898.
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