SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 27, 2015) - Timothy Quinn, executive director of the statewide Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), issued the following statement regarding the water supply forecast for the Central Valley Project issued today by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Many agricultural customers of the CVP stand to receive a 0% allocation, while urban contractors will receive just 25% of their historic use. Agricultural contractors whose water supply is based on very senior water rights will receive reduced supplies.
"Today's announcement is the latest sign of the debilitating effects of this drought. These allocations will be bad for the urban economy, and even worse for the state's agricultural economy.
"Many agricultural water users face a second year of little or no federal water deliveries for some 2 million acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley, which is truly unprecedented. Even the most senior water rights holders will see cutbacks in deliveries in this year.
"In California today, there is an urgent need to manage every drop of water with the utmost care, whether for use for the environment or for the economy. We will need the state and federal governments to do their part, as well as local water agencies."
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 430 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com. ACWA partners with the California Department of Water Resources to help consumers reduce water use through Save Our Water, the state's largest water conservation education program. Visit www.saveourwater.com for details.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Lisa Lien-Mager
Director of Communications
916/441-4545
530/902-3815 (cell)