News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Preliminary 2008 Central Valley Project Water Supply Outlook

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 01/25/2008 17:08

For Release: January 25, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the preliminary Water Year 2008 outlook for available supplies from the Federal Central Valley Project (CVP).  Reclamation prepared two forecasts: a conservative forecast with a 90-percent chance of having runoff greater than forecasted (90-percent probability of exceedence) and a median forecast with a 50-percent chance of having runoff greater than forecasted (50-percent probability of exceedence).  In the 90-percent exceedence forecast, the water year inflow into Shasta Reservoir is about 3.4 million acre-feet.  The Shasta Reservoir inflow is a criteria for imposing shortages to settlement contractors and refuges.  This preliminary announcement of the available water supply outlook is based on January 1, 2008, water runoff information prepared by the California Department of Water Resources and does not take into account the strong winter storms experienced earlier this month.

Reclamation traditionally expresses the monthly outlook as a percentage (see summary table) of the contract total for each of the contract categories.  Allocations are also compared to the recent historic 5-year average of the final forecasts.

Mid-Pacific Region
Preliminary Water Year 2008 Supply Forecast
 January 25, 2008

Probability of Exceedence Forecasts
and Extent of Fishery Actions **

Percent of Historical Average
Sacramento Valley Index & Year Type

North of Delta Allocation

South of Delta Allocation

Ag

M&I*

R

WR

Ag

M&I*

R

WR

50% and/or few Delta smelt protective actions

73%
Dry

100%

100%

100%

100%

55%
to
65%

80%
to
90%

100%

100%

90% and/or numerous Delta smelt protective actions

54%
Critical

25%

75%

100%

100%

25%

75%

100%

100%

Recent Historic Average
(5-Year Average Allocation)

100%

100%

100%

100%

80%

98%

100%

100%

Ag = Agriculture  M&I = Municipal and Industrial  R = Refuges  WR = Water Rights    *M&I supply is based on historical deliveries.  
** Reclamation is implementing interim court-ordered measures this year to provide additional protection for Delta smelt.  The actual actions will vary depending on a real-time assessment of Delta conditions and the location and maturity of the Delta smelt.  The extent that these actions will impact water supply available for allocation can vary, and this preliminary project water supply outlook reflects the uncertainty associated with operations to implement the new protective measures

The Friant Division deliveries for Water Year 2008 are projected to be 400,000 acre-feet, or 32 percent of 1.25 million acre-feet, which is the Recent Historic Average (5-Year Average Allocation).  The preliminary allocation for the Friant Division Contractors will be 50 percent Class 1 water and 0 percent Class 2 water.  The projected Friant Division delivery of 400,000 acre-feet is based on the California Department of Water Resources 90 percent, January 1, 2008, forecast.    As of January 22, 2008, precipitation in the San Joaquin River Basin was 11.27 inches for the water year compared to 9.42 inches this time last year.

In the 90-percent and 50-percent exceedence forecasts, the current Interim Plan of Operations for New Melones Reservoir, which is used as a guide, suggests that little or no project water would be available for the CVP Eastside Division contractors (Stanislaus River).  However, Reclamation believes some project water is available for delivery, and Reclamation is reviewing various operational scenarios to evaluate project storage, projected inflows, and degrees of risk management to protect all project use.

The official 2008 CVP water allocation will be made on or about Friday, February 15, 2008.  Throughout the precipitation season, updated information will be provided as conditions warrant.  To receive the latest forecast on CVP operations, please contact Mr. Paul Fujitani at 916-979-2197.  In the coming months, additional information will be posted on the Mid-Pacific Region's Website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/.

# # #

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.