News Release Archive

Reclamation's Central Valley Project Carries Over 5.5 Million Acre-Feet Into Water Year 2008

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 10/01/2007 23:22

For Release: October 01, 2007

The Federal Central Valley Project (CVP) carried over approximately 5.5 million acre-feet of water into Water Year (WY) 2008, approximately 2,799,946 acre-feet less than last year.  The Bureau of Reclamation's water year runs from October 1 to September 30.  The 15-year carry-over average is 7.1 million acre-feet.  Carry-over storage is the combined amount of water remaining at the end of the WY in Shasta, Trinity, Whiskeytown, Folsom, and New Melones Reservoirs, and the Federal share of the joint Federal/State San Luis Reservoir.

End of Water Year 2007 Storage (Acre-feet)
(15-Year Average for 2007)

Reservoirs

Storage Comparisons

15 Year Averages

 

2007

2006

(1993 to 2007)

Shasta

1,879,000

3,205,000

2,781,000

Whiskeytown

237,000

238,000

235,000

New Melones

1,437,000

2,056,000

1,528,000

Trinity

1,461,000

1,795,000

1,708,000

Folsom

323,000

639,000

543,000

Federal San Luis

198,000

402,000

302,000

CVP Total

5,535,000

8,335,000

7,098,000

The total WY 2007 deliveries for the CVP are estimated at 6.6 million acre-feet.  Historically, the CVP supplies about 7 million acre-feet for agriculture, cities, and the environment.  Reservoir releases throughout the summer were made to meet downstream and fishery flow management objectives and project demands.

The Friant Division deliveries for WY 2007 were 520,000 acre-feet or 45 percent of the historic water supply of 1.15 million acre-feet.  The 520,000 acre-feet delivered in WY 2007, was Class 1 water supply.  The final allocation for Friant Division contractors was 65 percent of Class 1 and 0 percent of Class 2 water.  The precipitation total for the San Joaquin River watershed was 24.12 inches.

As WY 2008 gets under way, Reclamation will be monitoring and evaluating hydrologic conditions for the coming flood season.  All major reservoirs will meet the prescribed flood control objectives for the beginning of the 2007-2008 flood season.  Preliminary CVP water allocation will be made in mid-January 2008. 

CVP Comparison Table

Previous End-of-Year Storage
In Millions of Acre-feet

2007

5.5

2006

8.3

2005

8.2

2004

5.7

2003

7.5

2002

6.4

2001

6.0

1977
(First Recorded)

1.3

During WY 2007, CVP powerplants generated about 4.4 billion kilowatt-hours, enough power to run 440,000 homes for a year.  Project-use consumed about 25 percent of this energy.  The remaining energy was made available for marketing.  Mid-Pacific Region generators have a combined capacity of approximately 2.1 million kilowatts.

For information on end-of-year storage or specific reservoirs, or for general information about Reclamation programs, please call the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100, TDD 916-978-5608.

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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.