State Water Project Allocation Increased to 60 Percent
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 21, 2016
STATE WATER PROJECT ALLOCATION INCREASED TO 60 PERCENT
Outdated Infrastructure, Environmental Restrictions Continue to Limit Water Deliveries
Los Angeles, CA - The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an increased allocation for agencies who receive water from the State Water Project, which supplies about 30 percent of Southern California’s water. The agencies are now projected to receive 60 percent of contracted supplies, up from the state’s previous 45 percent allocation estimate.
Recent storms have boosted supplies, however this winter represented missed opportunities for water agencies across California working to recover from impacts of the multi-year drought. Had California WaterFix been in place, agencies could have gained nearly half a million acre-feet of water from January to March alone. This water and more has been lost due to outdated infrastructure and environmental restrictions. These critical supplies could have been utilized to replenish reservoirs throughout California, many of which still remain below average.
“California needs to act swiftly in response to the state’s unreliable water delivery system. The drought is far from over and the consequences of crumbling infrastructure on our state are too great to ignore. California WaterFix is the investment we need to prepare for our water future by stabilizing our statewide water system.”
Charley Wilson
Executive Director
Southern California Water Committee
Established in 1984, the Southern California Water Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources. Spanning Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Ventura and Kern counties, the SCWC’s members include representatives from business, government, agriculture, water agencies, labor and the general public. Visit us at www.socalwater.org and find us on Facebook.
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