By WES SANDER

Capital Press

Irrigators and farm groups this week praised the federal Bureau of Reclamation for increasing its forecast of water deliveries to Central Valley farms this year, saying the new estimate could improve farmers' situations this year as well as next year.

Citing a near-average precipitation year and healthy storage, the Bureau of Reclamation said on March 16 that irrigators north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta can now expect 50 percent of contracted allocations, while those south of the Delta can expect 25 percent. Both regions were raised from a forecast of 5 percent in February.

The U.S. Interior Department, which manages the Bureau, has said it would further boost deliveries by up to 10 percentage points through a list of actions to boost efficiency.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had earlier threatened legislation to increase Delta pumping if deliveries were not expanded, praised the announcement.

"This is good news, and this updated allocation provides more certainty and should help farmers secure the loans they need," Feinstein said in a statement.

Sarah Woolf, spokeswoman for the agricultural Westlands Water District on the San Joaquin Valley's west side, said the new number is significant for farmers' survival, although it may not boost hiring or changing this year's cropping decisions by much.

"Twenty-five percent, although it is still small, is a significant number," Woolf said. "(It's) a good base that growers can go into the bank with to get financing. That is the most important thing that we need at this point in time."

California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger said the new estimate would provide late-season benefits while easing pumping from valley wells. Many south-of-Delta farmers are relying on aquifers to augment their water portfolios this year, thus helping secure loans.

"The additional water from the CVP will reduce the pressure on underground water supplies," Wenger said. "It will also help farmers with permanent crops to provide critically needed water after the harvest to their trees and vines.