News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces March Update to the Central Valley Project Water Supply Allocation

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

For Release: March 20, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the March update to the water supply allocation to Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural contractors, municipal and industrial contractors, and Federal refuges.  While the water supply allocation to the CVP contractors in the Friant Division and Eastside Division has improved since February, the water supply allocated to the remaining CVP contractors remains the same as the initial February allocation. 

Reclamation developed two forecasts based on the March 1, 2008, Water Year Runoff Forecast prepared by the Department of Water Resources.  Reclamation’s CVP water supply allocation is based on the 90 percent forecast associated with dry hydrological conditions that have a 90-percent chance of exceeding the projection.

The forecasted conditions did not significantly change from the February 1, 2008, water year runoff forecast and the CVP water supply allocation to most CVP contractors remains unchanged from Reclamation’s February 27 announcement.  For informational purposes, Reclamation also prepared a second forecast using median hydrological conditions that have a  50-percent chance of exceeding the projection.  Current allocations are listed below:

Mid-Pacific Region
Update to Water Year 2008 Supply Forecast
March 20, 2008

Probability of
Exceedence Forecasts

Percent of Historical Average
Sacramento Valley
Index & Year Type

North of Delta
Allocation **

South of Delta
Allocation **

Ag

M&I*

R

WR

Ag

M&I*

R

WR

50 Percent

76 Percent - Dry

100%

100%

100%

100%

50%

75%

100%

100%

90 Percent

64 Percent - Critical

45%

75%

100%

100%

45%

75%

100%

100%

Recent Historic Average 
(5-Year Average Allocation)

100%

100%

100%

100%

76%

94%

100%

100%

Ag = Agriculture 
M&I = Municipal and Industrial 
R = the Refuge allocation is based upon the total CVP water required to be provided from a reallocation of CVP Project yields.  This water includes Level 2 Refuge water supplies identified in Reclamation’s Refuge Water Supply Report and two-thirds of the water supply identified in Reclamation’s San Joaquin Basin Action Plan/Kesterson Mitigation Action Plan Report.
WR = Water Rights  

*M&I supply is based on historical deliveries.  
**Reclamation is implementing interim court-ordered measures this year to provide additional protection for Delta smelt.  The actual actions will vary depending on a real-time assessment of Delta conditions and the location and maturity of Delta smelt.  The extent that these actions will impact the water supply available for allocation can vary, and this project water supply allocation will be updated as more specific actions are identified.

The water supply available for the CVP Eastside Division contractors (Stanislaus River) for the 90 percent and 50 percent exceedence forecasts is projected to be 35,000 acre-feet (23 percent) and 50,000 acre-feet (32 percent), respectively.

The Friant Division deliveries for Water Year 2008 are projected to be 870,000 acre-feet or 70 percent of 1.25 million acre-feet, which is the Recent 5-Year Average Allocation.  The allocation for the Friant Division Contractors will be 100 percent Class 1 water and 5 percent Class 2 water.  The projected Friant Division delivery of 870,000 acre-feet is based on DWR’s 90-percent probability of exceedence forecast dated February 26, 2008.  As of March 18, 2008, precipitation in the San Joaquin River Basin was 24.59 inches for the Water Year compared to 17.66 inches this time last year. 

Reclamation will continue to monitor hydrologic conditions and anticipates updating the CVP-wide allocation in mid-April 2008.

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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.