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News Release Archive
Reclamation Updates the Central Valley Project Water Supply Allocation
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, 06/03/2008 00:34
For Release: June 03, 2008
The Bureau of Reclamation announces the update to the water supply allocation to Central Valley Project (CVP) agricultural contractors, municipal and industrial contractors, and Federal refuges. Dry hydrologic conditions have continued, and Northern California experienced the driest spring on record. This extremely dry condition has limited Reclamation's available water supply, and the water supply for the agricultural water users both north and south of the Delta is being reduced. In addition, deliveries to CVP agricultural contractors south of the Delta may be restricted between now and the end of August due to limited supplies in San Luis Reservoir. Reclamation will be working with contractors over the next few weeks to refine delivery schedules.
The water supply allocation is based on Reclamation's May forecast of CVP operations. Reclamation developed two forecasts using the May 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. 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 June 2, 2008 | |||||||||
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| Ag | M&l* | R | WR | Ag | M&I* | R | WR |
50 Percent | 65 Percent - Critical | 40% | 75% | 100% | 100% | 40% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
90 Percent | 60 Percent- Critical | 40% | 75% | 100% | 100% | 40% | 75% | 100% | 100% |
Recent Historic Average | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 76% | 94% | 100% | 100% | |
Ag = Agriculture, M&I = Municipal and Industrial, WR = Water Rights
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 Reclamations San Joaquin Basin Action Plan, Kesterson Mitigation Action Plan Report.
*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 both the 90 percent and 50 percent exceedence forecasts is projected to be 35,000 acre-feet (23 percent).
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 I water and 5 percent Class 2 water. The projected Friant Division delivery of 870,000 acre-feet is based on DWR's 50-percent probability of exceedence forecast dated May 27, 2008.
Reclamation will continue to monitor hydrologic conditions and will update the water supply allocation as conditions warrant.
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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.
