News Release Archive

Reclamation to Resume Limited Exports at the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant on Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: June 12, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation will resume operating two additional pumps on Wednesday morning, June 13, 2007, at the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant to begin meeting higher water demands due to increasing temperatures and to continue meeting the health and safety needs of Central Valley Project urban customers.

Pumping at the Jones Pumping Plant, located near Byron, California, has been at a reduced level for the past 7 weeks, with only one of the six pumps in operation, delivering 850 cubic feet per second (cfs).  Resuming pumping at the two additional pumps will increase exports to 2,700 cfs, which is still only 60 percent of  the export maximum of 4,600 cfs.

Pumping has remained low in an effort to protect the federally threatened Delta smelt.  Reclamation's pumps have not entrained any smelt for the last 2 weeks, since May 30, 2007.  Reclamation will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as this limited pumping resumes.  Reclamation will continue to closely monitor for the presence of Delta smelt during this period.

Supplies to both urban and farming customers south of the Delta have already been reduced due to dry-year conditions.  Cities are receiving only 75 percent of their historical demand while farmers have been allocated only 50 percent. 

San Luis Reservoir has been drawn down during the past several weeks; however, those draw downs have been limited to less than 2 feet per day in order to avoid damaging the dam.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.