Drought and the Central Valley Project

August 2014

CVP Overview

• Extends 400 miles from the Cascade Range to the Tehachapi Mountains

• 20 dams and reservoirs that can hold 12 million acre-feet of water

• 500 miles of canals• 11 hydroelectric plants• More than 250 contractors in 29 CA counties

CVP Authorized Purposes

• Flood Control• River Regulation (Navigation)• Fish and Wildlife Needs• Municipal & Agricultural Water Supplies• Power Generation• Recreation

Water Supply• 2.5 million Californians • 3 million acres of agriculture

Principal crops, 24 million tons Field crops, 10 million tons Vegetable/melons, 9 million tons Fruit/nut crops, 5 million tons

Hydropower• 11 powerplants produce about 4.5 million megawatt

hours in an average water yearEnvironment

• Provides water to restore and protect fish and wildlife and to enhance water quality

• Major source of water for 19 National Wildlife RefugesFlood Protection

Importance of the CVP to California

Key Permits and Agreements

Operating Agreements and Standards• Water Right Permits• Water Rights Decision 1641• Biological Opinions• Flood Control Manuals • Central Valley Project Improvement Act• Coordinated Operations Agreement

State of California Drought Impact

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

CVPMajor Storage

Facilities

Trinity

New Melones

Friant

Shasta

Folsom

San Luis

2014 CVP Water Supply

Updated Allocation• Sacramento River Settlement Contractors – 75%• San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors – 65-75%• CVPIA refuges – 75% NOD/65% SOD• Agricultural water service contractors – 0% • M&I water service contractors – 50% of historic use• Friant contractors – 0%• Eastside contractors – 55%

Releases from Friant Dam to meet Exchange Contractor’s water supply needs for the first time since the dam was constructed.

California Drought ImpactsCentral Valley Project Water Deliveries

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/index.html

(Deliveries numbers are rounded in Million Acre-feet)

Current Sep 90 Dec 90 Sep 50 Dec 50 Trinity 805 650 570 660 640 Shasta 1480 1030 1080 1100 1400 Folsom 394 275 260 280 310 New Mel. 595 425 415 440 480 Friant 256

90 – is 90% exceedence projection

50 – is 50% exceedence projection

All values are TAF

Current is August 11

August 2014 CVP Reservoir Storage and End of Year Projections

Responding to Drought• Since December of 2013, state and federal agencies that supply water,

protect fish and wildlife, and regulate water quality have worked together daily to cope with drought. Together, these agencies have maximized regulatory flexibility to adjust quickly to changes in the weather and environment and bolster water supplies when possible while minimizing impacts to fish and wildlife.

• In coordination with the State, Reclamation is making it a priority to operate the CVP to first maintain salinity control in the Delta for 2014 and 2015, and provide for human health and safety as well as legal requirements while ensuring the best possible use of limited water supplies, also focusing on conservation actions and offering support and flexibility to customers in managing the drought.

 • A cornerstone for Reclamation actions this year is the 2014 CVP Water

Plan that includes a suite of actions, working with the state and federal authorities, to facilitate water transfers, provide operational flexibility to store and convey water, expedite required environmental reviews or compliance actions, accelerate existing projects or pursue new projects to help make the best use of limited water supplies, and meet with stakeholders to discuss hydrology and operational flexibilities.

National Drought Resilience Partnership• As called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan, the National Drought

Resilience Partnership (NDRP) is coordinating Federal preparedness for drought and is working closely with the State of California, local government, agriculture, and other partners to improve community preparedness and resilience to drought.

• The NDRP includes representatives of DOI, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce – NOAA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy.

• Although the NDRP has a nationwide focus, its key focus now is on California because of the urgency of the state’s water situation.

• The NDRP is dedicated to helping communities better prepare for droughts and reducing the impact of droughts on peoples’ livelihoods and the economy.

Drought FundingAnnounced by the President during his trip to CA in February:• $100 million in livestock disaster assistance for California

producers. • $5 million in targeted conservation assistance for the most extreme

and exceptional drought areas in California. • $5 million in targeted Emergency Watershed Protection Program

assistance to the most drought impacted areas of California to protect vulnerable soils.

• $60 million to food banks in the State of California to help families that may be economically impacted by the drought.

• 600 summer meal sites in California's drought stricken areas.• $3 million in Emergency Water Assistance Grants for rural

communities experiencing water shortages.

Drought ProgramWater Conservation Programs

http://www.usbr.gov/waterconservation/

Drought ProgramBasin Studies

http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/bsp/index.html

Drought Program Title XVI: Water Reclamation and Reuse

Program

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/socal/titlexvi.html

Federal Legislative Proposals• Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress• Proposals include:

• Modifying ESA requirements on the CVP and SWP• Modifying the San Joaquin River Restoration Program• Authorizing construction of storage projects• Additional drought assistance• Reauthorizing the Reclamation States Emergency Drought

Relief Act of 1991• Mandating water allocations based upon water year type• Predator removal program

• One bill has passed the House but not the Senate. The other bills are still in committee.

Questions