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Updated allocations show severe water shortages will remain

Posted by: Maven on March 25, 2009 at 8:13 am

From the California Farm Bureau Federation:

Although the state’s water supply outlook has improved slightly, farmers in many parts of California learned last week that they still face severe water shortages, as both federal and state water projects issued updated supply allocation estimates for the 2009 crop year.

The state Department of Water Resources said recent winter storms increased the Sierra snowpack to near 90 percent of average.

But the precipitation was not enough to provide any water for Central Valley Project agricultural service contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The water allocation for those farmers in the western San Joaquin Valley remains at zero. The CVP said Friday it had increased the allocation for contractors north of the delta to 5 percent, up from zero.

The CVP also increased its allocation for the Friant Division contractors on the east side of the valley. Estimated deliveries for both agriculture and cities rose to 65 percent of Class 1 water, up from 25 percent. But estimates for Class 2 water remain at zero.

In a separate announcement, the State Water Project said it now expects to deliver 20 percent of requested water to its contractors, up from the earlier estimate of 15 percent. If the preliminary allocation of 20 percent is maintained, DWR said it would match the lowest water delivery allocation in state history.

Read more from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.

March 25, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack

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