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Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Coverage wrap-up: State’s initial allocation hits historic low; “We have to assume we’re heading into a fourth year of drought and we have to respond accordingly,” says DWR’s Snow

Posted by: Maven on December 2, 2009 at 7:58 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Operators of the sprawling state system that supplies water to 25 million Californians from Butte County to San Diego issued their lowest-ever estimate on the amount of water they will be able to deliver.

Officials predicted Tuesday they will be able to offer only 5 percent of the total volume of water requested by California cities and farms next year. That’s the smallest water allocation the agency has released since its creation in 1967.

The estimate, based on current water conditions, is only preliminary and is almost certain to rise as the rainy season wears on. Still, officials expect a multiyear drought, low reservoirs and environmental restrictions on water pumping to keep supplies well below average in 2010.

“We have to assume we’re heading into a fourth year of drought and we have to respond accordingly,” said Lester Snow, director of the California Department of Water Resources, the state agency that operates the network of reservoirs, pumps and pipelines known as the State Water Project. … “

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

” … The state Department of Water Resources routinely issues a cautious allocation in early December and then increases deliveries as winter storms roll in.

Five percent is a record low, illustrating the state’s plight of half-empty reservoirs and increasing demands to divert more water to restore the vital Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its dwindling populations of salmon, smelt and steelhead.

“California is not likely to emerge from this statewide water crisis until the delta is fixed,” said Dennis Cushman, assistant general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.

The last time the state’s initial release approached single digits was in 1993, at 10 percent.

The equally squeezed U.S. Bureau of Reclamation isn’t expected to release its preliminary delivery schedule until Feb. 15. Deep cuts in federal and state allocations this year have forced many farmers to idle crops and farmhands. … “

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.

From the Fresno Bee:

“While water deliveries could increase if more rain and snow falls over the winter months – a likely possibility if El Nino weather patterns hit California – Snow said the state had to assume it would be faced with a fourth year of drought.

“We’re putting people on notice to get on with conservation,” Snow said. “We’ll need to take measures because what if there is not only a fourth year of drought, but a fifth and sixth year?”

Last year, the state predicted it would deliver 15 percent of requested water but boosted that number to 40 percent by May.

State Water Project supplies feed most Southern California cities and help irrigate 750,000 farm acres scattered throughout the southern San Joaquin Valley, San Diego and Orange counties. … “

Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.

From the Contra Costa Times:

” … In addition, new regulations imposed to halt the sharp decline of Delta smelt and other fish could take another slice out of the supply of agencies that depend on water pumped out of the Delta, including parts of the East Bay, Kern County, Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California.

A spokeswoman for Zone 7, the water agency for Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, said that in a worst-case scenario it could draw on groundwater and possible rationing to weather the lack of storms.

“We can’t sustain this forever,” said Zone 7 spokeswoman Boni Brewer, whose customers get 80 percent of their water from the Delta. “Long-term, we can’t sustain this. Short-term, were saying that we would be OK.”

If 2010 brings average rain and snow, Zone 7 and other users can expect just 20 percent to 40 percent of their contracted amounts, depending on how new Delta water rules are applied. … “


Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.

From Stockton’s Record:

” … San Joaquin County residents mostly do not rely on water pumped from the Delta. Stockton gets water from underground and from streams feeding the estuary.

So while Tuesday’s announcement doesn’t directly affect the county, a fourth year of drought would. New Hogan Lake on the Calaveras River was 49 percent of average Tuesday; New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River was 85 percent of average.

Another year of drought could also intensify the struggle over how much water is exported from the Delta.

Those on the receiving end of that water said the 5 percent allocation is further evidence of the need for longer-term solutions in the Delta.

“We can hope for a wet winter, but we also need to expedite fixing the Delta so that when it does rain, we can actually use the water that is available,” Laura King Moon, with the State Water Contractors, said in a prepared statement. … “

Read more from the Record by clicking here.

Also from the Contra Costa Times:

“The DWR is one of two major suppliers to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides about 53 percent of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s water.

The DWP also gets about 35 percent of its water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, pumped from the Owens Valley, and about 11 percent from local groundwater. About 1 percent is recycled.

Los Angeles used about 199 billion gallons of water during the last fiscal year, according to DWP, with an average use of 144 gallons per person per day.

DWP officials said they do not expect any further changes beyond the Phase Three requirements implemented in the past year.

“LADWP will be monitoring the allocations carefully,” spokesman Joe Ramallo said. “Today’s announcement is an initial forecast and, typically, increases as the winter snowpack develops. However, continued conservation is vitally important.” “

Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.

KQED’s Climate Watch blog shares some thoughts:

” … The announcement may have caught some by surprise, since Department of Water Resources (DWR) data would seem to show reservoirs at higher levels than last year at this time, with major reservoirs at 69% of storage capacity, compared to 57% last year.

When I asked DWR Deputy Director Susan Simms about it, even she was stumped at first. But then she called me back to say that the data includes both federal and state reservoirs, and the state’s storage levels at both Lake Oroville and San Luis Reservoir (shared with the feds) is actually lower than last year (52% and 48% of “normal,” respectively). And, she says, the state has to contend with pumping restrictions to protect both salmon and delta smelt this time around. … “

Read more from KQED’s Climate Watch blog by clicking here.

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December 2, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack, State Water Project (DWR)

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