In a pair of press releases from the California Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation, California growers were given some good news. Both agencies said they expect to be able to deliver 100 percent of the water allocations to growers.
Here are the press releases from each agency.
California Department of Water Resources
State Water Project to Further Increase Water Supply Allocation
Sacramento, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced another increase in the forecasted State Water Project (SWP) deliveries this year. With reservoirs nearing capacity and snowmelt runoff starting to occur, DWR now expects to deliver 100 percent of requested water supplies, up from 75 percent announced in March.
This water will be delivered throughout the year to the SWP’s 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. The last time the SWP allocated 100 percent was in 2006.
San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, which holds water supply for both the SWP and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP), is now full. Additionally, Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, and SWP reservoirs in Southern California are expected to be full by the end of May. Statewide, reservoir storage is at 105 percent of average for this date.
“Water supply conditions and careful management of reservoir operations during this extreme winter allows DWR to maximize water deliveries while enhancing protections for the environment,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “DWR is moving and storing as much water as possible to the benefit of communities, agriculture, and the environment.”
This wet winter and strong runoff conditions has allowed the SWP to make additional water available to any contractor that has the ability to store the water in its own system, including through groundwater recharge. DWR is maximizing the capture and storage of this abundance of snowpack across the state. Formally known as Article 21 water, this additional water does not count toward SWP allocation amounts. Since March 22, the SWP has delivered 228,000 acre-feet of Article 21 water to local water agencies with 37,000 acre-feet planned for next week.
The SWP typically evaluates the allocation forecasts monthly using the latest snow survey data, reservoir storage and spring runoff forecasts. The 100 percent forecasted allocation announced today takes into account that data from April. Runoff analysis will continue, and an additional snow survey will be conducted in May.
While California’s surface water conditions have greatly improved this year following three years of historic drought, several water supply challenges remain in the northern part of the state and in over-drafted groundwater basins that are slow to recover. Millions of Californians rely on groundwater supplies as a sole source of water.
The Colorado River Basin, which is a critical water supply source for Southern California, is still in the midst of a 23-year drought. Californians should continue to use water wisely to help the state adapt to a hotter, drier future.
Additional Resources:
Track Statewide Water Conditions on California Water Watch
Current Statewide Reservoir Conditions
Bulletin 120 Seasonal Runoff Forecasts
Bureau of Reclamation
Reclamation Bolsters Central Valley Project 2023 Water Supply Allocations
Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Bureau of Reclamation is increasing Central Valley Project 2023 water supply allocations for irrigation water service and repayment contractors. Both north- and south-of-Delta contractors are increased to 100 percent from 80 percent. All other CVP water supply allocations remain the same as noted in the March 28 announcement.
Initial allocations were announced in February and an update was made on March 28. Current status of all CVP allocations are:
North-of-Delta Contractors
Sacramento River
- Irrigation water service and repayment contractors north-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
- Municipal and industrial water service and repayment contractors north-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
- Sacramento River Settlement Contractors’ water supply is based upon settlement of claimed senior water rights. The 2023 water year is determined as non-critical, as defined in their Settlement Contracts, which allows for 100 percent of their contract supply.
American River
- M&I water service and repayment contractors north-of-Delta who are serviced by Folsom Reservoir on the American River are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
In-Delta Contractors
- M&I water service and repayment contractors who are serviced directly from the Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
South-of-Delta Contractors
- Irrigation water service and repayment contractors south-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract total.
- M&I water service and repayment contractors south-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
- San Joaquin River Settlement Contractors and San Joaquin Exchange Contractors’ water supply is based upon settlement/exchange of claimed senior water rights. The 2023 water year is determined as non-critical, as defined in their contracts, which allows for 100 percent of their contract supply.
Eastside Water Contractors
- Eastside water service contractors (Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District and Stockton East Water District) are allocated 100 percent of their contract total.
Wildlife Refuges
- The 2023 water year is currently determined as non-critical, as defined in their contracts, which allows for 100 percent of contract supply for wildlife refuges (Level 2), both north- and south-of-Delta.
Friant Division Contractors
- Friant Division contractors’ water supply is delivered from Millerton Reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River via the Madera and Friant-Kern canals. 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. Given the current hydrologic conditions, the Friant Division water supply allocation is 100 percent of Class 1 and 70 percent of Class 2 (from the initial 20 percent allocation).
Friant Dam is currently being operated for flood control purposes. As long as these conditions exist contractors may take delivery of all available water from Friant Dam to the maximum extent of their respective contracts.
As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology, actions that impact operations, and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Water supply updates and past year’s allocations are posted on Reclamation California-Great Basin Region’s website.