Most farmers in Northern California who receive water from the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) are expected to receive zero water this year, which includes property along the Sacramento and American rivers.
Cities will receive 50 percent, and refuges 40 percent.
The announcement is not unexpected with the state experiencing a drought.
The news was similar for water users in the Delta and San Joaquin.
The news comes two weeks after California Department of Water Resources announced a prediction of zero allocation for farmers along the State Water Project, which links to Lake Oroville.
In the announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation today, it was repeated that Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, including Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, would receive 40 percent of the water allotment. These contractors have water rights that date back before Shasta Reservoir was built.
00020000056F000003B5 569,Rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada has been historically low, and the statewide snow-water content is at 29 percent of average, the Bureau reported in a press release. The forecast for February continues to indicate a critical water year for the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
“We will monitor the hydrology as the water year progresses and continue to look for opportunities to exercise operational flexibility in future allocations,” said Michael L. Connor, Reclamation Commissioner.
In October, Reclamation measured 5.1 million acre-feet of carryover storage in six key Central Valley Project reservoirs, which was 43 percent of capacity and 75 percent of the 15-year average for October 1. Since that time, the state has continued to experience record dry conditions. On Jan, 17, Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed a Drought State of Emergency.
Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service announced earlier this month that $14 million will be available for water districts and associated growers to conserve water and improve water management.
Also, the Bureau of Reclamation released the 2014 CVP Water Plan, with actions to better manage water supplies during drought conditions, such as expanding operational flexibility and streamlining the water transfer process.
Water supply updates will be posted on Reclamation’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.
