News Release Archive

Reclamation updates 2020 Central Valley Project water allocations

Media Contact: Mary Lee Knecht, 916-978-5100, mknecht@usbr.gov

For Release: May 19, 2020

Central Valley ProjectSACRAMENTO, Calif. – Following spring storms, the Bureau of Reclamation today issued updated allocations for Central Valley Project contractors for the 2020 contract year.

"Thanks to April precipitation showing a sizeable water supply improvement for the American River watershed, Reclamation is pleased to announce this increased allocation for CVP water contractors south-of-the Delta," said California-Great Basin Regional Director Ernest Conant. "Friant Division Class 1 contractors are also benefitting from improved hydrologic conditions. Even with the recent gains in water supply, the year as a whole has still been relatively dry. Reclamation will continue to monitor conditions and adjust accordingly. We urge our contractors to continue to exercise conservative use of the resource."

The allocation for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors is increased from 15% to 20% of their contract total. Municipal and Industrial water service contractors south-of-Delta are now allocated 70% of their historic use, up from 65%, or health and safety needs, whichever is greater. These allocation adjustments address releases from Folsom Dam during the summer and have no effect on Reclamation's ability to comply with the court order dated May 11, 2020 in PCFFA v. Ross and CNRA v. Ross.

Friant Division water supply is divided into two classifications: Class 1 and Class 2. The first 800,000 acre-feet of available water supply is considered Class 1. Class 2 is considered the next amount of available water supply up to 1.4 million acre-feet. Based on improved hydrologic conditions and the forecasted snowmelt runoff in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin, Class 1 allocation is increased from 55% to 60%; Class 2 remains at 0%.

As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Water supply updates are posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html.

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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.