2017 water supply allocations for remaining Central Valley Project contractors announced

The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced the remaining water supply allocations for the Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors in the Friant Division (Millerton Reservoir), Eastside Division (New Melones Reservoir), and the American River Division (Folsom Reservoir). Other CVP contractors were notified of their water allocations in February.

Reclamation determines the water allocation based upon many factors, including hydrologic conditions, reservoir storage levels, water quality requirements, water rights, contractual obligations and endangered species protection measures. To date, for the water year that began Oct. 1, 2016, precipitation now stands at 199 percent of the seasonal average for the Sierra Nevada for this point in the water year. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) reports that as of March 20, the statewide average snow water equivalent in the Sierra Nevada was 44 inches, as compared to 25 inches at this point last year.

“As previously announced, Reclamation is taking a unique approach to announcing CVP water allocations,” said acting Mid-Pacific regional director Pablo Arroyave. “In February, we notified the Refuge Contractors, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, and Sacramento River Settlement Contractors that, since this is not a Shasta Critical Year, they will receive 100 percent of their contract supply. We then provided additional allocations on February 28. Now, following DWR’s March 1 snow survey and completion of runoff forecasts, we are able to announce the remainder of the CVP contractors’ allocations. While this allocation approach was warranted for this water year, in future years Reclamation will continue to strive to release initial allocations for all water users in February.”

After an evaluation of all presenting current factors, Reclamation’s recent allocations includes the following:

North-of-Delta Contractors

• Municipal and Industrial (M&I) water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.
• Agricultural water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply.

In-Delta

• The Contra Costa Water District, which receives water directly from the Delta, is allocated 100 percent of its contract supply.

South-of-Delta Contractors

• Municipal and Industrial (M&I) water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 90 percent of their contract supply.
• Agricultural water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 65 percent of their contract supply.

Reclamation has strongly recommended the use of surface supplies versus groundwater throughout the remainder of the 2017 water year, whenever possible, given the magnitude of this allocation, the overall availability of surface water and the amount of water carried over from last year. To aid in the efficiency of next year’s operations and to promote effective use of supplies in San Luis Reservoir this year, Reclamation will be limiting the total to be carried over to the 2018 contract year to 150,000 acre-feet or approximately 10 percent of this year’s allocation. Contractors will have the opportunity to work with Reclamation to develop a strategy for water carried over from the 2016 water year and plans to effectively carry over water for the 2018 contract year.

Reclamation has also indicated that as the water year progresses, changes in hydrology and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Check http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html for water supply updates as appropriate.