Here’s what that notice actually means in plain terms:
They’re basically saying:
You can avoid a full water curtailment… but only if you agree to their terms.
And those “options” aren’t really free choices:
• Best Management Practices = you follow whatever rules they set on how you irrigate
• Graduated Cessation = you still shut down, just on their schedule
• Percent Reduction = you use less water, even if your crop needs more
And the kicker:
They’re requiring metering on your well or pivot before the season even starts.
That’s the real play. Once everything is metered, enforcement gets a lot easier.
So instead of:
“Shut off now”
They’re moving to:
“Operate under controlled limits… or get shut off”
That’s why it feels like BS. It’s not relief, it’s just a different form of control.
Big picture:
This comes out of AB 263 extending the emergency regs to 2031, which keeps the State Water Board in charge of flows and curtailments for years instead of months.
And like you’ve been saying:
Nobody south of Sacramento is dealing with this the same way.
If you want to turn this into a strong campaign message, here’s something clean you could post:
“California says farmers have a choice.
But when the options are reduce your water, shut down on their schedule, or install meters so they can control every drop… that’s not a choice.
That’s control.
And it’s happening right now to farmers in the Scott and Shasta valleys while the rest of the state barely hears about it.
I’m running because Northern California deserves a voice.”
English
