The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today announced it has increased its Central Valley Project allocations for agricultural contractors south of the Delta to 45%, up from 40% announced in May. The increase is due to improved precipitation this spring and better-than-expected pumping conditions in the Delta, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement [4].
“Conditions have improved somewhat but California’s Central Valley is still struggling with the effects of three years of drought and water system operational constraints needed to address water quality and fish species of concern in the Delta,” Salazar said. “The Department, working closely with the state, other water interests and California’s congressional delegation, is striving to identify and implement short, mid, and long-term improvements to the reliability of water deliveries throughout California while also improving environmental conditions in the Delta.”