From the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation:
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP) began water year 2017, which runs from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017, with 4.9 million acre-feet of water in six key CVP reservoirs (Shasta, Trinity, Folsom, New Melones and Millerton reservoirs and the federal share of the joint federal/state San Luis Reservoir). This is 82 percent of the 15-year average annual carryover of 6.0 million acre-feet and 2 million acre-feet more than the amount with which the Mid-Pacific Region began WY 2016 on Oct. 1, 2015.
“Although overall CVP water supply conditions improved in WY 2016 compared to WY 2015 and WY 2014, we continue to face difficult circumstances as we deal with the ongoing effects of the drought,” said Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo. “We got through WY 2016 by working closely with our water users and their willingness to work together to develop creative solutions to a multitude of challenges. We hope that water supply conditions improve as we move into WY 2017 but know we could be facing a sixth consecutive year of drought. Regardless of conditions, we will continue to collaborate with our water users, stakeholders and agency partners to best manage our critical water resources.”
The below table shows capacities and end-of-year storages in WY 2015 and WY 2016 for key CVP reservoirs; the next table compares end-of-year storages from WY 2012 to WY 2016. The amount of stored water at the end of the water year reflects the amount carried over into the new water year. One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot, enough water to sustain a typical California household of four for one year. In spring 2017, Reclamation anticipates making a preliminary assessment of WY 2017 CVP water supply conditions.
CVP Reservoir Capacities and End of WY 2015 & 2016 Storage in Million Acre-feet
Reservoirs
Annual Storage Comparisons
15-Year
Average StorageCVP Reservoirs
and Capacities2016
% of
Capacity% of 15 Year Avg
2015 % of
Capacity% of 15 Year Avg
2000-2016
Shasta 4.552 2.8
62
117
1.6
35
68
2.39
New Melones 2.420 .53
22
43
.27
11
21
1.23
Trinity 2.448 .97
40
69
.55
22
38
1.41
Folsom .977 .31
31
67
.17
18
38
.46
Millerton .520 .23
44
94
.19
37
79
.25
Federal San Luis .966 .071
7
28
.074
8
27
.2576
Total 11.8 4.9
41
82
2.9
24
46
6.00
Comparison of Previous End-of-Year Storage in Key CVP Reservoirs
Million Acre-feet
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
1977
(Driest Year)1983
(Wettest Year)4.9
2.9
3.1
5.1
6.9
1.5
9.8
The CVP is the largest single source of irrigation water in the state, typically supplying water to about 3 million acres of agricultural land in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and along California’s central coast. The CVP also provides urban water for millions of people and industrial water essential to the San Francisco Bay Area’s economy. Water from the CVP is also crucial for the environment, wildlife and fishery restoration, and hydroelectric power production.
During WY 2016, CVP powerplants generated about 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours. Project use consumed about 25 percent of this energy; the remaining energy was made available for marketing. The Mid-Pacific Region’s hydroelectric generators have a combined capacity of approximately 2.1 million kilowatts.
During the course of 2017, Reclamation will continually monitor and evaluate hydrologic conditions and will adjust water supply allocations, as warranted, to reflect updated snowpack and runoff. Current allocations and background information are available at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/.
For additional storage information, please visit www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo
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