News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Updated 2012 Water Supplies for California’s Friant Division, Central Valley Project

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: April 27, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Due to current hydrologic conditions in the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada, the Bureau of Reclamation has announced an increase in the allocation for Friant Division, Central Valley Project agricultural, and municipal and industrial water service contractors.

The Friant Division water allocation has been increased from 45 percent of Class 1 water, announced April 13, to 50 percent of Class 1 water. The Class 2 allocation remains unchanged at zero percent of the contracted supply. The updated allocations for the Friant Division are based upon the 90-percent exceedence (dry future conditions) forecast. Friant Division contractors’ water supply is delivered from Millerton Reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River. The first 800,000 acre-feet of contracted water supply is considered Class 1. Any remaining water up to 1.4 million acre-feet is considered Class 2.

Precipitation in the San Joaquin River Basin is 59 percent of the seasonal average to date, and the snow water content is about 40 percent of the April 1 average in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Changes to hydrology and opportunities to exercise operational flexibility of the CVP will influence allocations during the remainder of the water year. Reclamation is monitoring the hydrologic and operating conditions and working closely with local, state and federal partners to take immediate advantage of any opportunities to increase CVP allocations. Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.

For additional information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

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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.