News Release Archive

Central Valley Project Carries Over 5.7 Million Acre-Feet Into Next Water Year

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

For Release: October 05, 2004

The Federal Central Valley Project (CVP) carried over approximately 5.7 million acre-feet of water into the new water year, approximately 1.9 million acre-feet less than last year. Reclamation's water year runs from October 1 to September 30. The 15-year carry-over average is 6.3 million acre-feet. Carry-over storage is the combined amount of water remaining at the end of the water year 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 2004 Storage (acre-feet)

Facility Storage

Shasta - 2,183,000

Whiskeytown - 238,000

New Melones - 1,110,000

Trinity - 1,591,000

Folsom - 376,000

Federal San Luis - 157,000

Total - 5,655,000

The total Water Year 2004 deliveries for the CVP are estimated at 6.7 million acre-feet. Historically, the CVP supplies about 6 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 Water Year 2004 were 1,000,000 acre-feet or 67 percent of the historic water supply of 1.5 million acre-feet. The final allocation for Friant Division contractors was 100 percent of Class 1 and 8 percent of Class 2 water. The precipitation total for the San Joaquin River watershed was 29.56 inches.

As the new water year gets underway, 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 2004-2005 flood season. The first official projection of available CVP water supplies for the coming water year will be made in early 2005.

CVP Comparison Table

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

2004 - 5.7

2003 - 7.5

2002 - 6.4

2001 - 6.0

2000 - 7.9

1977 - 1.3 (First Recorded)

During Water Year 2004, CVP powerplants have generated about 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours, enough power to run 570,000 homes for a year. Project use consumes about 30 percent of this energy. The remaining energy was made available for marketing. Mid Pacific 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. You may also call Reclamation's Grapevine at 1-800-742-9474 and enter 1 for a menu of CVP daily storage information.

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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.