News Release Archive

Reclamation Increases Friant Division 2016 Class 1 Water Supply Allocation to 75 Percent Along With an Exchange Agreement to Support South-of-Delta Operations

Media Contact: Shane Hunt, 916-978-5100, shunt@usbr.gov

For Release: July 18, 2016

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announces an additional increase in the water supply allocation to the Friant Division contractors of their Class 1 water from 65 to 75 percent. The initial Friant Division water supply allocation announced on April 1, 2016, was 30 percent Class 1 water supply; an additional 100,000 acre-feet of Uncontrolled Season supply was made available to avert flood control concerns and needed to be delivered by the end of April. The Class 1 water supply allocation was subsequently increased from 30 to 40 percent on April 11, 2016, from 40 to 50 percent on April 21, 2016, and from 50 to 65 percent on May 6, 2016.

The Class 1 allocation increase was made possible by an agreement Reclamation reached with Friant Division contractors and others to exchange water from the eastside of the San Joaquin Valley into San Luis Reservoir. The agreement helps to ensure that Reclamation can continue to meet existing contractual obligations and commitments from San Luis Reservoir storage and water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“I am pleased to be able to increase the Friant Class 1 allocation in conjunction with an agreement that helps shore up South-of-Delta operation. We understand the frustration many of our contractors on the west side San Joaquin Valley continue to experience,” said Reclamation Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo. “I appreciate our contractors’ willingness to continue to work together to develop creative solutions to the many challenges we collectively face in this difficult year.”

Friant Division Class 1 water supply is generally considered the supply which can be dependably managed through storage regulation over the season and delivered at the contractor’s convenience. The Class 1 supply will continue to be reassessed at weekly intervals until further notice.

For additional information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email 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.