News Release Archive

Reclamation Makes Available "Recovered Water Account" Water to Friant Division Contractors

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: April 06, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of 460,000 acre-feet of Recovered Water Account (RWA) water credits for Friant Division long-term water service and repayment contractors. This water is available as part of the water management goal of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program consistent with the Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC, et al., v. Rodgers, et al., and Public Law 111-11.

Recovered Water Account water is to be made available to the Friant Division long-term water contractors during wet hydrologic conditions, when water is not otherwise required to meet other obligations of the Secretary of the Interior. Under this condition, the water is available at a cost of $10 per acre-foot to all Friant Division long-term contractors who experience a reduction in water deliveries due to the flows called for in the Settlement to restore the San Joaquin River. Reclamation will reflect the credit in the contractors' RWAs, and monitor and record reductions in water deliveries to these water contractors through RWAs. All proceeds from the sale of this water will be deposited into the San Joaquin River Restoration Fund and will be used to implement the Settlement. This water is in addition to the 220,000 acre-feet of RWA water allocated to date.

These advanced RWA water credits are being made available to take advantage of this year's unusually wet hydrologic conditions for the purpose of reducing or avoiding future water supply impacts. The additional 460,000 acre-feet of RWA water credits is based on projections of anticipated future water supply impacts as a direct result of the flows called for in the Settlement.

Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office (SCCAO) will coordinate the availability and delivery of this water. The distribution of this amount is based on hydrologic analysis and proration based on contract type and quantities. For additional information, please contact Alicia Forsythe, San Joaquin River Restoration Program Office at 916-978-5464 (TTY 916-978-5608) or Michael Jackson, SCCAO at 559-487-5116.

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