News Release Archive

The Central Valley Project Carries Over 3.9 Million Acre-Feet of Water (35 Percent of Capacity) Into the 2009 Water Year

Media Contact: Michelle H. Light, 916-978-5100, 10/01/2008 23:35

For Release: October 01, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Project (CVP) is carrying over approximately 3.9 million acre-feet of water, 35 percent of capacity, into Water Year (WY) 2009.  The Bureau of Reclamation's water year runs from October 1 to September 30.  The 15-year carry-over average is 6.7 million acre-feet.  Carry-over storage is the combined amount of water remaining at the end of the WY in Shasta, Trinity, Folsom, and New Melones Reservoirs and the Federal share of the joint Federal/State San Luis Reservoir.  Precipitation in California this year was only about 80 percent of average.  In the Northern Sierra Nevada, the 8 Station index of precipitation in WY 2008 was 35 inches.  The seasonal average 8 Station Index is 50 inches. 



End of Water Year 2008 Storage (In Millions of Acre-feet)

Reservoirs

Annual Storage Comparisons

15-Year Averages

CVP Reservoir Capacities

2008

% of 
Capacity

2007

% of
Capacity

1994
to
2008

%  of
Capacity

Shasta  4.5

1.4

30

1.9

41

2.7

59

New Melones  2.4

1.1

45

1.4

59

1.6

64

Trinity  2.4

1.2

46

1.5

60

1.7

68

Folsom  0.977

0.274

28

0.323

33

0.524

54

Federal San Luis  0.966

0.035

0.04

0.194

20

0.281

29

Total CVP  11.4

3.9

35

5.3

47

6.7

59


CVP Comparison Table

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

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

1977
(Driest Year)

3.9

5.3

8.1

7.9

5.4

1.3

The total WY 2008 deliveries for the CVP are estimated at 5.7 million acre-feet.  Historically, the CVP supplies annually about 7 million acre-feet of water for agriculture, cities, and the environment.  Reservoir releases throughout the summer were made to meet downstream and fishery flow management objectives, Delta water quality requirements, and CVP water supply demands.

The Friant Division deliveries for WY 2008 were 75 percent (870,000 acre-feet) of the historic water supply of 1.15 million acre-feet.  The 870,000 acre-feet delivered in WY 2008 was Class 1 & Class 2 water supply.  The final allocation for Friant Division contractors was 100 percent of Class 1 and 5 percent of Class 2 water.  The precipitation total for the San Joaquin River watershed was 28.24 inches.

As WY 2009 gets under way, Reclamation will be monitoring and evaluating hydrologic conditions.  All major reservoirs will meet the prescribed flood-control objectives for the beginning of the 2008-2009 flood season.  Preliminary CVP water allocation for WY 2009 will be made in mid-January 2009. 

For information on end-of-year storage for specific reservoirs or for general information about Reclamation programs, please call Mr. Louis Moore in the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5106 or 916-335-9755, 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.