Most water right holders may apply for a multi-year flex account (MYFA) by which they obtain a 5-year term permit that temporarily replaces an existing (or base) water right. This term permit allows the water right holder to exceed their annual authorized quantity in any year but restricts total pumping over the 5-year period.
The 2015 Legislature changed the MYFA statute to allow a water right holder to carry over one year’s worth of their total MYFA quantity into a subsequent MYFA if the water right is enrolled in a new MYFA during the year that their existing MYFA expires. This provision encourages conservation by at least partially removing the “use it or lose it” incentive to pump any unused quantity during the last year of the MYFA. This notion of “pushing wet water down the road” promotes saving water for an un-rainy day.
This program is voluntary and does not change the underlying base water right. At the end of the 5-year period, if not extended by a new MYFA application, the operation of the water right returns back to the original water right conditions.
Below are some basics about the program. Please contact your local DWR field office to schedule an appointment if you need assistance in evaluating your options or completing the application form.
An application for a multi-year flex account must be filed on or before December 31 of the first year of the multi-year flex account term for which the application is being made.
Important things to note:
- The deadline above is in statute and cannot be waived
- Separate applications must be received for each point of diversions under the base water right before the deadline
Key documents:
MYFA quantities - generally, the total amount of the 5-year flex account will be the larger of:
- 5 times the average use of the water right from 2000-2009, or
- 5 times the county’s net irrigation requirement for corn times the acres irrigated times 110 percent