Westlands Water District

Yesterday, the Bureau of Reclamation increased the south-of-Delta Central Valley Project allocation from 20% to 25%. While the update represents an increase, it remains insufficient for Westlands’ growers and highlights the need for improved storage, conveyance, and operational flexibility.
Read the full statement: https://wwd.ca.gov/wwd-media/press-release-5-19-2026/

Thank you to the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) for highlighting Westlands’ Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan and the ongoing work to address the challenges facing agriculture in California. With water supply challenges and SGMA implementation continuing to impact the region, VCIP is an opportunity to support long-term economic resilience and California’s clean energy future.

Read the blog post here:

The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan: From Fallowed Land to an Energy Powerhouse One of the nation’s largest agricultural water districts, Westlands Water District spans roughly 1,000 square miles — about 614,000 acres — primarily in western Fresno County with a small portion in Kings County. Formed in 1952, its core mission is to deliver reliable and affordable agricultur...

It's ! 🌰 California grows over 99% of the nation's walnuts, and Westlands growers are proud to be part of that harvest. Reliable water makes permanent crops like walnuts possible and every acre is a long-term bet on the next generation. Keep calm and crack on! Read more about walnuts and other crops in our 2025 Crop report here:https://wwd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/by-the-numbers-2025-crop-report.pdf

California agriculture contributes roughly $59 billion to the state economy and supports more than 400,000 jobs. Westlands Water District is one of the most productive farming regions in the country and a quiet driver of those numbers. Reliable water is a California economic strategy. Read more about Westlands in our 2025 Crop Report Fact Sheet here:https://wwd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/by-the-numbers-2025-crop-report.pdf

Among our growers, the women growing food and the women feeding families are often the same. Today, we honor every mom who packs a lunch, runs the books, and stewards the water that feeds her family and ours. As we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we extend an extra special Happy Mother's Day weekend from Westlands.

In case you missed it: Westlands Water District’s plans to power California is making national headlines.

USA Today (via Canary Media) published a significant story last week on Westlands' plan to repurpose fallowed farmland, investing in solutions that sustain agriculture and local communities.

This isn't just a solar project. It's an economic adaptation strategy, a transmission investment, and a new chapter for farmers and communities. As Board Member Jeremy Hughes put it: "We're harvesting the sun and producing electricity." A new crop for land that water scarcity has made increasingly difficult to farm and a reflection of the creative, large-scale thinking that keeps farming communities viable and California's grid cleaner.

California’s water crisis could turn farmland into massive solar field A massive plan would turn 136,000 acres of California farmland into giant solar farms as new groundwater rules push fields out of production.

This morning, Westlands welcomed a group of Fresno State senior engineering students as part of their capstone project exploring the breadth of civil engineering. Assistant General Manager Jose Gutierrez created opportunities for students to meet with and learn directly with our general engineering staff for hands-on learning about what a career in water infrastructure can look like. Lyles College of Engineering

🎓 Westlands has invested in the future of our local communities. Applications for the 2026 High School Senior Scholarship are now open! Up to twenty $1,000 scholarships are available. Apply by April 20, 2026. Please share with high school seniors who qualify. Details and application are here: https://wwd.ca.gov/news-and-reports/media-center/education-outreach/