From the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an update to the February 2014 Central Valley Project water supply for the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, the San Joaquin River Settlement Contractors and south-of-Delta Level 2 refuge water supply contracts. The update reflects further refinements to project operations and slightly improved precipitation and runoff in California since February 2014. Reclamation is working within its legal and operational ability to make water available to the Exchange, Settlement and Level 2 refuge water supply contractors in this unique year, including the unprecedented action of using San Joaquin River water to supplement the amount of substitute supply water it is able to deliver from the Sacramento River for the Exchange Contractors.
Based on the California Department of Water Resources’ May 1 Runoff Forecast, current hydrological conditions and actions taken to date to manage scarce supplies, the available Level 2 refuge water supply has increased from 40 percent to 65 percent. Specific to contractual supply for Exchange Contractors and San Joaquin River Settlement Contractors, Reclamation will meet the critical year demands for the months of April through October and will work throughout the summer to explore the ability to provide additional water as called for under these contracts. For the Exchange Contractors, these demands will be satisfied by both Delta and San Joaquin River sources for a total of 529,000 acre-feet. Water supply for all other water contractors serviced by the CVP remains unchanged.
“Reclamation and its federal, state and local partners are committed to effectively manage our limited water resources in a way that will maximize supplies for the 2014 and 2015 water year,” Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo said today. “As reflected in the initial water supply announced February, all CVP contractors received low water supply due to persistent drought impact felt across the region. This is a difficult water year and requires our full attention in managing our available water resources. We continue to work toward stretching the available water supplies as far as possible for all of our water contractors.”
Reclamation will continue to monitor water supply data provided by the state and will make adjustments to the water availability, based on changes to hydrology and any opportunities to exercise operational flexibility of the CVP as the water year progresses. Water supply updates will be posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water.
For additional information, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water or contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.”
