Central Valley Project Begins Water Year 2014 with 5.1 Million Acre-Feet of Storage

Released On: November 04, 2013

Central Valley Project Begins Water Year 2014 with 5.1 Million Acre-Feet of Storage (75 Percent of the 15-Year Average)

Reclamation and Stakeholders Have Developed Strategies to Address Potential Water Supply Challenges

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project began water year 2014 (Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014) with 5.1 million acre-feet of water in six key CVP reservoirs (Shasta, Trinity, Folsom, New Melones and Millerton reservoirs and the federal share of the joint federal/state San Luis Reservoir). One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot, enough water to sustain a typical California household of four for one year.

The following tables show reservoir capacities and end-of-year storage comparisons for WYs 2012 and WY 2013 for key CVP reservoirs and compare end-of-year storage from WY 2009 to WY 2013. (This announcement was delayed due the Federal government shutdown.)

 

Comparison of Previous End-of-Year Storage
Million Acre-feet
2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	1977 (Driest Year)	1983 (Wettest Year)
5.1	6.9	9.3	7.4	4.8	1.5	9.8

Thanks to a near-average carryover from WY 2012 into WY 2013 and a wet November and December 2012, the beginning of WY 2013 looked promising; however, January through May 2013 were California’s driest in about 90 years of recordkeeping, resulting in WY 2013 being a challenging year hydrologically. The historically low precipitation from January through May resulted in minimal reservoir inflows when needed most, low water allocations for CVP contractors, challenges managing Delta salinity and early increases in reservoir releases.

The CVP provides irrigation water critical to about 3 million acres of agricultural land in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and along California’s central coast. The CVP also provides urban water for millions of people and industrial water essential to the San Francisco Bay Area’s economy. Water from the CVP is also crucial for the environment, wildlife and fishery restoration and hydroelectric power production.

During WY 2013, CVP powerplants generated about 4.3 billion kilowatt-hours. Project use consumed about 25 percent of this energy; the remaining energy was made available for marketing. The Mid-Pacific Region’s hydroelectric generators have a combined capacity of approximately 2.1 million kilowatts.

2014 Water Actions and Strategies
In an effort to proactively address potentially dry conditions in WY 2014, the Mid-Pacific Region held a series of meetings with CVP water contractors, power customers, tribes, non-governmental organizations, other federal agencies and state of California agencies to facilitate open communication on the status of WY 2013 and to brainstorm additional water management strategies for WY 2014. Stakeholders were asked to provide ideas and suggestions for Reclamation’s consideration in developing strategies in support of a potentially dry WY 2014.

“We began to examine operational flexibilities with our partner agencies and look at new water management strategies with stakeholders throughout California,” stated Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo. “I was encouraged by the collaboration and cooperation displayed by our customers and stakeholders during the meetings and impressed with their creative and wide-ranging ideas. I am pleased to announce that the resultant “Draft
WY 2014 Water Plan” is now available on our region’s website.”

To view the “Draft WY 2014 Water Plan,” which contains a complete listing of the actions and strategies, please visit www.usbr.gov/mp/Water_Supply_Meetings/index.html.

As WY 2014 gets under way, Reclamation will monitor and evaluate hydrologic conditions. Reclamation will announce preliminary WY 2014 CVP water supply conditions in late January and will release the initial CVP water supply allocations a few days prior to the start of the contract year, which begins on March 1.

As WY 2014 progresses, Reclamation will adjust the allocations, as warranted, to reflect updated snowpack and runoff. Current allocations and background information are available at www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.

For additional storage information, please visit www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo or contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov.

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/Water_Supply_Meetings/index.html

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo