SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement today on the updated 2010 water supply allocations by the federal Bureau of Reclamation for the Central Valley Project. The Bureau announced that agricultural contractors on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley can expect a 25% supply, up from 5% forecasted in February. In a separate statement, the California Department of Water Resources announced it is unable to increase its 15% water supply allocation to its contractors at this time due to below-average storage in Lake Oroville, the State Water Project's principal reservoir.
"While we are glad to see this increase in allocations for 2010, we have a long way to go. This year will continue to be a struggle for many, especially those on the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley. The reality is that our water system can't reliably meet our needs -- even in an average rainfall year.
"We need long-term solutions, but we also desperately need short-term actions, including more real-time operations so we can move water when there is less impact on fish and aggressive pursuit of all stressors in the system."
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Jennifer Persike, ACWA Director of Strategic Coordination and Public Affairs
916/441-4545 or 916/296-3981 (cell)
FAX 916/441-7893
http://www.acwa.com