Topic: Central Valley Project

Overview

Central Valley Project

Constructed long ago by federal effort to help create farmland, the Central Valley Project is one of the biggest water and transport systems in the entire world.

In years of normal precipitation, it stores and distributes about 20 percent of the state’s developed water through its massive system of reservoirs and canals.Water is transported 450 miles from Lake Shasta in Northern California to Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin Valley. 

Along the way, the CVP encompasses 18 dams and reservoirs with a combined storage capacity of 11 million acre-feet, 11 power plants and three fish hatcheries. As part of this, the Delta Mendota Canal and Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River deliver water to farms in the Central Valley.

Aquafornia news GV Wire (Fresno, Calif.)

Wednesday Top of the Scroll: Westlands leader calls slight water boost ‘disappointing’

Westlands Water District leader Allison Febbo characterized Tuesday’s announced 5% federal water allocation increase as “disappointing” in light of California’s full reservoirs while also calling for more investment in new water infrastructure. “While an increase is appropriate, given current reservoir levels and snowpack, a 5% increase is disappointing and highlights a critical reality: Even in average hydrological years, California’s outdated water system falls short of delivering the water our communities require,” said Febbo. … The Bureau of Reclamation’s increase means that the Central Valley Project’s South-of-Delta ag contractors such as Westlands will receive 55% allotments. All north-of-Delta CVP contractors are receiving 100% allotments. Municipal and industrial water service and repayment contractors will receive a 5% boost to 80% of their historical use, or public health and safety needs, whichever is greater, the Bureau said.

Other Central Valley Project news:

Aquafornia news Public Policy Institute of California

Blog: Uniting the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project would benefit all water users

An accident of history has left California with two massive, overlapping water projects: the federally operated Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) operated by the California Department of Water Resources. Maintaining and operating two projects that serve the same purpose is inefficient. Moreover, the projects are often beset by controversy and conflict when state and federal administrations change. … To cope with a changing climate and declining reliability of water supply, California and the federal government need to consider fully integrating the two projects. This would allow for more efficient water storage and distribution, improved water markets, increased groundwater banking and recharge, and better and more consistent environmental protection.

Other California dam and reservoir news:

Aquafornia news San Francisco Chronicle

California’s biggest reservoir reaches capacity for third straight year

California’s largest reservoir, Lake Shasta, reached capacity this week, marking the third straight year it has filled or nearly filled with water. The run of big water years at the reservoir reflects the unusual string of wet winters the state has experienced, and it bodes well for water supplies this year across California. The lake, which stretches across an extraordinary 35 miles in the southern Cascades north of Redding near Mount Shasta, is the cornerstone of the federally run Central Valley Project. Its supplies are sent to cities and farms hundreds of miles away, including the Bay Area. The San Joaquin Valley’s booming agricultural industry is the primary beneficiary.

Other California water supply news:

Aquafornia news The Sacramento Bee

Wednesday Top of the Scroll: Red alert sounding on California drought, as farmers get less water

A government agency that controls much of California’s water supply released its initial allocation for 2021, and the numbers reinforced fears that the state is falling into another drought. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday that most of the water agencies that rely on the Central Valley Project will get just 5% of their contract supply, a dismally low number. Although the figure could grow if California gets more rain and snow, the allocation comes amid fresh weather forecasts suggesting the dry winter is continuing. The National Weather Service says the Sacramento Valley will be warm and windy the next few days, with no rain in the forecast.

Related articles: