On April 1, 2015 California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued executive order B-29-15 directing the State Water Resources Control Board to implement a mandatory 25 percent water reduction across California, due to the State’s severe and ongoing drought conditions. On April 23, 2015, given the low reservoir shortages, existing water supply and the 25 percent water reduction mandate, the State Water Board curtailed post-1914 appropriative water right holders throughout the San Joaquin River watershed and anticipates additional curtailment of pre-1914 appropriative water right holders. The additional curtailments of riparian water rights would occur during the crop growing season (July through September), causing significant uncertainty and disruption for growers and likely reducing the effectiveness of the curtailments.
 
On May 22, 2015, the State Water Board approved a voluntary water cutback program for Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Riparian Water Rights to voluntarily cut back 25 percent of their water use in exchange for no further curtailments. To be included in the program, growers would have to submit their water conservation plan to the Water Board by June 1, 2015. Reduction can be a result of fallowing 25 percent of the property, reducing diversions of surface water by 25 percent, or a combination of the two. In return, the growers are guaranteed that no additional cuts will be made during the critical growing months of July through September.  Growers participating in this program will not receive any financial benefit or gain.
 
Questions have been asked as to whether or not an insured would be eligible for prevented planting coverage if they reduced their acreage to comply with the Governor’s water reduction mandate by participating in the water cut back program.