Water allocations for 2011

Water allocation increased for CVP South-of-Delta Contractors

On April 8, Bureau of Reclamation announced an increased water allocation of 75 percent to South-of-Delta water service contractors. This allocation is up 10 percent from the March 28 announcement and 25 percent from the initial February allocation.

With current hydrologic conditions, farmers on Fresno County’s west side are disappointed about the allocation. “During a year of record rainfall and snowpack at more than 160 percent, it is discouraging that west side farmers have only received a 75 percent federal water allocation,” said west side farmer and FCFB Board Member Dan Errotabere.

The Friant Division 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. The allocation is based upon the California Department of Water Resource’s March Runoff Forecast.

Seasonal precipitation averages continue to be above normal. As of April 11, snowpack at San Joaquin 5-station was reported at 163 percent of average, according to the California Department of Water Resources. The April 8 allocation reinforces the need for a long-term solution to improving California’s water supply reliability.

Reclamation expects San Joaquin River flows to be high. The allocations also assume that flood flows will continue to be available at Mendota Pool for use by CVP South-of-Delta water users through the end of May.

Water supply updates will continue to be made as appropriate and will be posted on the Reclamation’s Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/.

For additional information on the water supply outlook, contact the Mid-Pacific Region’s Office of Public Affairs at 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.

Originally printed in Ag Wire, April 14, 2011

Bureau of Reclamation releases federal water allocation forecast

Additional water available for CVP South-of-Delta Contractors

On Jan. 18, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a forecast of the federal water supply allocation of 45 percent for South of the Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contractors.

“This announcement is excellent news for the farmers and communities that rely on water from Reclamation to grow the crops that provide over 50 percent of the food supply for the United States,” said Westlands General Manager Tom Birmingham in a statement. “It reflects the continuing efforts by the Department of the Interior to minimize water supply impacts from the federal government's biological opinions while complying with its obligation to protect listed species. Compared to the initial allocations in 2009 and 2010 – zero and 5 percent respectively – this forecast will enable farmers to make better informed planting decisions, help to free up the funding they need for bank loans, and put people back to work.”

More good news came on Feb. 7 when Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Conner announced that Reclamation determined the current hydrologic conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, export and operational capability at the C.W. “Bill” Jones Pumping Plant and storage conditions at the San Luis Reservoir provided an opportunity to make available otherwise non-storable Section 215 water for CVP South-of-Delta contractors.

The federal share of San Luis Reservoir, which totals about 965,000 acre-feet, filled on Feb. 6, and current CVP water demands in the South-of-Delta service area are less than the operational and export capability at the Jones Pumping Plant; therefore, additional water may be made available in the CVP service area to meet other water demands. This announcement means that Reclamation can deliver water to those contractors that enter into a “Temporary Water Service Contract for Surplus Water” with Reclamation.

Section 215 refers to a section in the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (Public Law 97-293) which defines temporary water supplies that are unusually large and not storable for project purposes and, among other measures, allows non-storable water to be applied to lands otherwise ineligible to receive federal water. These conditions are anticipated to last through the month of March. However, beginning March 1, contractors must use all water that was approved for rescheduling from Water Year 2010 prior to taking delivery of any remaining Section 215 water. In addition, the actual amount of Section 215 water made available will depend on actual conditions in the Delta.

The availability of this Section 215 is a separate action unrelated to the water supply outlook announced in mid-January. An official water allocation announcement of Water Year 2011 for the CVP, is planned for mid-February, as required by contract terms. Water supply updates will then be made monthly or more often as appropriate and will be posted on the Reclamation’s Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/.

For additional information on the water supply outlook, contact the Mid-Pacific Region’s Office of Public Affairs at 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.

Originally printed in Ag Today, Feb 11