News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Updated 2011 Water Supply Allocation for California's CVP

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, 03/22/2011 12:58

For Release: March 22, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an update to its Central Valley Project (CVP) Water Supply Allocation for the 2011 contract year. This updated allocation reflects improved precipitation and snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas to date.

"Thanks to a steady influx of rain and snowfall in February and March, the CVP water supply is above average for this date," Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor said today. "The initial allocation on February 18, 2011, for most CVP contractors was 100 percent of their contract supply. Today we announce an increase for South-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors from their initial allocation of 50 percent to 55 percent. The South-of-Delta Municipal and Industrial (M&I) water service contractors will also see an increase from 75 percent to 80 percent of historic use."

This updated allocation is based on the California Department of Water Resources' March 1, 2011, Runoff Forecast, current hydrological conditions and additional information. Reclamation will continue to monitor water supply data provided by the state and will make adjustments to the allocation as soon as they are indicated.

"In this type of water year, a 55-percent allocation for South-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors - which is below the 20-year average final allocation of 62 percent - reinforces the critical need for a long-term solution to improving California's water supply reliability. While there may be opportunities to increase the South-of-Delta allocation over the next several weeks, we remain committed to working with our partners to develop the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan," Commissioner Connor said.

For this updated CVP allocation under the terms of various CVP water contracts:

  • Increased to 55 percent:  Agricultural water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 55 percent of their contract supply of 1.965 million acre-feet, an increase of 5 percent from the initial allocation in February.
  • Increased to 80 percent:  South-of-Delta M&I contractors are allocated 80 percent of historic use, an increase of 5 percent from the initial allocation in February.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent:  Agricultural water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply of 443,000 acre-feet.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent:  M&I water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 100 percent of their contract use.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent:  Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, who receive their CVP water supply based on a pre-CVP water right, are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply of 2.2 million acre-feet and 800,000 acre-feet respectively.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent:  Wildlife refuges (Level 2) North- and South-of-Delta, whose allocations are based on a pre-established inflow trigger to Shasta Reservoir, are allocated 100 percent of their contract supply of 422,000 acre-feet.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent:  Eastside water service contractors (Central San Joaquin Water Conservancy District  and Stockton East Water District), whose water supplies are delivered from New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River, are allocated their full contract supply of 155,000 acre-feet.
  • Unchanged at 100 percent Class 1 and 20 percent Class 2:  Friant Division contractors' water supply is delivered from Millerton Reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River. The first 800,000 acre-feet of water supply is considered Class 1; any remaining water is considered Class 2. The Friant Division water supply allocation is 100 percent of Class 1 (800,000 acre-feet) and 20 percent of the contracted supply of 1.4 million acre-feet of Class 2 (280,000 acre-feet).

Changes to hydrology and opportunities to exercise operational flexibility of the CVP are factors and conditions that will influence the water supply and allocations as the water year progresses. Water supply updates will be made monthly or more often as appropriate and will be posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/.

For additional information, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water or contact the Mid-Pacific Region's Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

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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.

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