Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
May 21, 2009
1. Top Item–
Calif. raises water allocation for farmers, cities
The Associated Press
State to boost water deliveries to wholesalers
The
State water deliveries up
The
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Calif. raises water allocation for farmers, cities
The Associated Press – 5/20/09
The Department of Water Resources is increasing water allocations through the State Water Project from 30 percent to 40 percent. Even with the increase, state water contractors will get little more than a third of what they had requested from state-operated reservoirs.
Since 1968, only three years have had lower allocations: 35 percent in 2008, 39 percent in 2001 and 30 percent in 1991.
Water Resources Director Lester Snow says they'll have to make up the rest with groundwater, conservation or cutting water use. #
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1879272.html
State to boost water deliveries to wholesalers
The
By Robert Krier
Online: For Robert Krier's Weather Watch blog, go to weatherwatch.uniontrib.com.
State water officials yesterday said they will increase deliveries to wholesalers, but the leading wholesaler for Southern California said it won't send additional supplies to member agencies – including the one in
The California Department of Water Resources will increase its allotments from 30 percent to 40 percent to wholesalers in the State Water Project. Those distributors include the Metropolitan Water District, which serves
“Early May snow and rain improved the water-supply situation enough to allow this modest expansion,” said Lester A. Snow, director of the state water department. “However, this small increase in deliveries does not mean
Snow said 2007 to 2009 will probably rank in the top 10 driest three-year periods during the past century.
The Metropolitan Water District will probably receive about 200,000 more acre-feet of water from the state because of the increased allocation, said Bob Muir, a spokesman for the agency. An acre-foot is enough water to meet the needs of two typical households for a year.
Metropolitan distributes to member agencies across
Muir said the additional water will be stored in reservoirs for future needs.
“I think we're going to stick to our guns. We still plan on reducing allocations to member agencies beginning July 1,” he said. “While certainly welcomed, (the increase) is not enough. But it does help us with our planning for next year.”
The San Diego Water Authority will not ask Metropolitan to boost shipments to
“We support Met's decision to try to get more water into storage for future needs,” Liarakos said.
The water authority will continue its Level 2 drought alert, which it declared last month. Level 2 restrictions call for higher prices and some mandatory conservation.
For tips on how to save water, go to Web sites such as 20gallonchallenge.com, bewaterwise.com and savewatersavedollars.com. #
State water deliveries up
The
By Bettina Boxall
State water deliveries are going up again.
The Department of Water Resources announced today that it will give State Water Project contractors 40% of what they requested this year. While that figure remains low, it is far more than earlier delivery forecasts, which started at 15% and then rose to 20% and 30%.
“Early May snow and rain improved the water supply situation enough to allow this modest expansion,” said department director Lester A. Snow. But he cautioned that the state's three-year drought was not over. "Gov. Schwarzenegger’s statewide drought declaration remains in effect and all Californians must heed his call to reduce their water use.”
As of May 1, statewide precipitation and reservoir storage were 80% of average for the date. Runoff was 60% of the norm.
Urban Southern California gets about a third of its water from the state system, which pipes supplies south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta east of
Agencies rarely get their full contract amounts from the state. But below average precipitation and environmental restrictions on delta pumping have sharply cut this year's deliveries, prompting Southland water agencies to adopt conservation measures and price hikes.#
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/05/water-deliveries.html
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DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of
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