The California Department of Water Resources has boosted its early-season estimate of next year’s State Water Project supply from 20 to 45 percent.

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The department characterized recent precipitation as a “dent,” but not an end to the drought.

“This winter’s wet start gives us hope we’ll be able to keep increasing the State Water Project allocation,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin.  “But the faucet can shut off suddenly and leave us dry for a sixth year in a row.  Drought always looms over California, so we must use water wisely and sparingly.”
 
Under the initial 20 percent water allocation, 29 public agencies served by the State Water Project would only receive 839,276 acre-feet of water. That allocation goes to 1.89 million acre-feet with the recent boost.

The initial allocation for this calendar year (2016) was 10 percent of the requested 4.1 million acre-feet, but was increased to 60 percent as storms developed and reservoir storage increased.

San Luis Reservoir, a critical south-of-Delta storage facility for both the SWP and federal Central Valley Project, is holding 1,15 million acre-feet, 57 percent of its 2 million acre-foot capacity and 87 percent of its average for the date.