FRESNO, CA - Thanks to snowpack gains in the Sierra mountains, California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced a modest increase in forecasted State Water Project (SWP) deliveries this year. The organization now expects to deliver 35 percent of requested water supplies, up from 30 percent forecasted in January, which is on par with the Central Valley Project (CVP) initial allocations revealed on Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. With the announcement, the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) has issued a statement in response.
“After two years of receiving an initial 0 percent allocation, the California Fresh Fruit Association and our members are grateful for the 35 percent that will go to the Central Valley Project contract holders. Having a reliable water supply is critical for our members to continue to be able to grow fresh fruit for our nation,” stated Ian LeMay, CFFA President.
The DWR stated in a release that the SWP will continue to optimize water storage in Lake Oroville to support environmental needs in the summer and allow for carryover storage for next year if the spring becomes extremely dry. Additionally, the forecasted allocation could be adjusted back down if extreme dry conditions warrant.
DWR will deliver water supplies to the 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. The increase in allocations translates to an additional 210,000 acre-feet of water.
Although allocations have increased, CFFA continues to advocate for changes to water regulations and additional conveyance and infrastructure solutions at the federal and state levels to ensure that its members are able to provide fresh produce.
“However, after experiencing significant rainfall in December and January, it has been made even more apparent California’s need for improvements to our storage and conveyance infrastructure, as well as changes to the regulations that manage our water systems,” continued LeMay. “I cannot help but wonder how much higher this allocation could have been with the ability to capture more water during the wet periods.”
For more updates on California’s water supply and allocations, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
