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Updated 2018 water allocations for the Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors were recently released by the Bureau of Reclamation. Late March and early April rain and snow have allowed for water allocations increases throughout the CVP.
Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo acknowledged the improved situation saying, “Thanks to late March and April precipitation and the positive results of the California Department of Water Resources April snow survey, Reclamation is pleased to announce this increased allocation for CVP water contractors.”
Reclamation announced that contractors north of the Delta, in-Delta and on the American River are now scheduled to receive 100 percent of their allocation. This will include agricultural water service contractors and municipal and industrial service contractors; this contractors throughout the Trinity, Shasta, Sacramento River, American River and Delta divisions of the CVP.
South of the Delta contractors have also been included in the recent CVP water allocation increases. Municipal and industrial contractors south of Delta are allocated the greater of 75 percent of their historic use or public health and safety needs. However, south of the Delta agricultural water service contractors have only been increased to 40 percent of their contract total.
“Even with the recent gains in water supply, the year as a whole has still been relatively dry,” said Murillo. “We will continue to monitor our ability to manage temperature in the Sacramento River and meet other regulatory requirements throughout the system, and (we) may need to adjust our plans as the year evolves. We urge our contractors to continue to exercise conservative use of the resource.”
Earlier this month the Friant Division Class 1 water allocation was increased from 60 percent to 100 percent. Class 2 water is also currently being made available to assist in managing reservoir conditions and river releases. Reclamation has been able to increase this supply based on improved forecast hydrologic conditions due to recent precipitation, commercial power operations in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin, and current storage in Millerton Lake.
Reclamation defines Class 1 water as that which is generally considered to be the contracted supply that can be managed through storage regulation and scheduled for delivery at the contractor’s convenience. Class 2 water is made available under wetter conditions and is not necessarily schedulable at the contractor’s convenience.
Reclamation also announced that in order to promote effective use of supplies in San Luis Reservoir this year and efficiency for next year’s operations, they are planning to limit the overall amount of water in San Luis Reservoir that is rescheduled at the end of the contract year into the 2019 contract year to 150,000 acre-feet. Reclamation intends to work with south of Delta contractors and others this year on those plans and will continue to refine end-of-year rescheduling concepts and implementation.
As the water year progresses, changes in hydrology and opportunities to deliver additional water will influence future allocations. Weather and precipitation will be continually monitored and allocations will be adjusted and updated as appropriate.
If you need additional information regarding water supply update, go to: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html. For additional information, contact the Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Office at: 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email [email protected].
