News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Additional Water Available for California's Central Valley Project South-of-Delta Contractors

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov
Michael Jackson, SCCAO Area Manager, 559-487-5116 TTY 559-487-5933, mjackson@usbr.gov

For Release: February 07, 2011

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor announced today that Reclamation has determined that current hydrologic conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, export and operational capability at the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant (Jones Pumping Plant), and storage conditions at San Luis Reservoir have provided an opportunity to make available otherwise non-storable Section 215 water for Central Valley Project (CVP) South-of-Delta contractors.

"We attribute the availability of this water to improved conditions in 2010 and 2011 that have allowed Reclamation to operate the Jones Pumping Plant at near capacity since July 1, 2010," stated Connor. "This action will allow the CVP to better meet South-of-Delta water needs while we continue to work with all interests to find a balanced long-term solution to the Delta."

The federal share of San Luis Reservoir, which totals about 965,000 acre-feet, filled on February 6, 2011, and current CVP water demands in the South-of-Delta service area are less than the operational and export capability at the Jones Pumping Plant; therefore, additional water may be made available in the CVP service area to meet other water demands. This announcement means that Reclamation can deliver water to those contractors that enter into a "Temporary Water Service Contract for Surplus Water" with Reclamation.

Section 215 refers to a section in the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-293) which defines temporary water supplies that are unusually large and not storable for project purposes and, among other measures, allows non-storable water to be applied to lands otherwise ineligible to receive federal water. These conditions are anticipated to last through the month of March; however, beginning March 1, 2011, contractors must use all water that was approved for rescheduling from Water Year 2010 prior to taking delivery of any remaining Section 215 water. In addition, the actual amount of Section 215 water made available will depend on actual conditions in the Delta.

The availability of this Section 215 is a separate action unrelated to the water supply outlook announced on January 18, 2011, or the initial water allocation announcement to be made later this month as required by contract terms. The CVP water allocation will be adjusted as appropriate through June 2011.

San Luis Reservoir, located 12 miles west of the city of Los Banos, is part of the San Luis Joint-Use Complex, which serves the CVP and the State Water Project. Completed in 1967, San Luis Reservoir is one of the nation's largest offstream reservoirs, meaning it has no watershed. Instead, the reservoir stores water diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

For additional information, please contact Michael Jackson, Area Manager, South-Central California Area Office, at 559-487-5116 (TTY 559-487-5933) or e-mail mjackson@usbr.gov.

# # #

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.