The Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) recently released updated allocations for Central Valley Project (CVP) South-of-Delta contractors. The new CVP allocation for South-of-Delta agricultural contractors has been increased to 70 percent of their contract total. The update comes as much of California has experienced unseasonable weather patterns, bringing significant rainfall to many parts of the state.
“The storms experienced in the Central Valley during the past week are unusual this late in the year, bringing the month’s precipitation to over twice its average,” Ernest Conant, Mid-Pacific Regional Director for the Bureau, said in a news release. “The late storms provided an added boost to the already above average precipitation for 2019. Snowpack throughout the state is still about 150% of average for this time of year.”
Municipal and industrial contractors South-of-Delta also saw their allocations increased to 95 percent of their historic use. The Bureau previously announced allocations for all other CVP contractors would be 100 percent. While the allocation for the CVP Friant Division Class 1 contractors remains unchanged at 100 percent, the period for uncontrolled season deliveries to Class 2 contractors
As of May 22, the California Department of Water Resources shows that the state’s snowpack sits at 159 percent of the historical average. The average snow water equivalent is just under 20 inches. Just one week prior, the snowpack was measured at 120 percent of the average. California’s 12 most significant reservoirs are all well-above the historical average aside from San Luis Reservoir, which is 88 percent of the average. Half of the reservoirs are also at least 90 percent of their overall capacity.
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