The state’s Water Resources Department has increased its allocation to 50% of what it was requested by its customers.
California will allow more water to flow to farms and residents as more snowpacks melt into the state’s basin, the state announced April 29th.
Last month, California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) met 40% of what local jurisdictions and farmers demanded. This month it was raised to 50%.
According to Nemeth, the state’s full reservoirs allow the state to help meet the needs of its local jurisdiction and its customers this year, and if dryness returns, the water will provide additional supply next year.
The state’s water project provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
According to DWR, California snow packs peaked at 100% season on April 4th.
Temperatures throughout the state were warming, snow began to melt, allowing it to flow into the state’s basin and fill the reservoirs.
According to DWR, Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir of the water project, reached an average of 120% on April 29th, reaching 95%.
The department expects Lake Oroville will be able to reach full capacity this spring.
San Luis Reservoir in Mercedo County, a vital storage space in Southern California, reached an average of 101% and was 83% full.
Earlier this month, the state water project reduced the pump to Sacramento’s Joaquin Delta to a minimum level to protect the endangered species.
“These reductions are necessary as part of a permit to operate the state’s water projects,” the department said on April 29.
Operators are likely to maintain their slow speeds until the end of May, unless the flow of the San Joaquin or Sacramento River increases, DWR reported.
According to DWR, California needs to invest in more water supply infrastructure.
DWR said the Delta Conveyance Project may have acquired more than 867,000 acre feet of additional water this winter, potentially increasing the state’s water project allocation by 20%, and could increase the state’s water project allocation by another 20%.