SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - February 26, 2010) - Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement today on the 2010 water supply allocations announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources. The Bureau announced that agricultural contractors on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley can anticipate a 30% supply if 2010 turns out to be an average water year, but at little as 5% if dry conditions return. DWR said urban and agricultural customers of the State Water Project stand to receive 15% of requested supplies, up from the 5% initial forecast announced in December. The allocations may be updated based on conditions in the coming weeks.
"Water agencies are facing drought-like allocations despite normal or even above-normal rain and snowfall so far this year. We need long-term solutions, but we also need a better way of managing our system in the immediate term.
"We are encouraged that the Department of Interior is working with California's congressional delegation and water agencies to improve supplies for the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and elsewhere this year, but there are no guarantees those efforts will yield enough to make a difference.
"ACWA members are working harder than ever to advance effective solutions through the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and other efforts. We are also among a growing list of organizations supporting the $11.14 billion water bond measure targeted for the November 2010 ballot.
"But we are looking at a decade-plus before long-term solutions will be in place to begin reducing conflicts in the system. We must find ways to better manage the system in the near term, including more real-time operations so we can move water when there is less impact on fish and aggressively pursuing 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
916/296-3981 (cell)