News Release Archive

80-Percent Water Supply Allocation Declared for CVP South-of-Delta Agricultural Water Service Contractors

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, 04/25/2011 16:27

For Release: April 25, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation today increased the water supply allocation for South-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors from 75 to 80 percent. Improved hydrology in the San Joaquin Valley and opportunities to exercise Central Valley Project (CVP) operational flexibility influenced water supply conditions, allowing the allocation of 80 percent of the South-of-Delta users' contract total of 1.965 million acre-feet. This represents an increase of 30 percentage points from the initial allocation made in February 2011 and 35 percentage points above their final allocation for last year. The allocation for all other CVP contractors remains at 100 percent of their contract totals as announced on April 8, 2011.

"The 2011 Water Year has developed into a significantly improved one for all water contractors that Reclamation serves through the CVP. Today's increase to South-of-Delta contractors is a result of increased precipitation and runoff potential, good reservoir levels and effective operational measures," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor. "We are fortunate for the relief from the drought of the past 3 years and realize that we can return to a drier cycle at any time. For that reason, the Department of the Interior and Reclamation remain committed to finding a long-term solution to CVP water supply challenges. We see the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and its goals of achieving water supply reliability and a sustainable Bay-Delta ecosystem as the best chance at finding this balance."

Given the improved precipitation, the CVP will likely enter the next water year with improved reservoir carryover storage, which is encouraging for the 2012 Water Year. Reclamation will continue to monitor precipitation, forecasted snow melt runoff, operations and water demands to determine if an additional increase in the allocation for South-of-Delta agricultural contractors is warranted. The current allocations and other background information are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.

Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and will be posted at the website listed above. For additional information, please contact the Mid-Pacific Region's Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

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