Storm payoff: California increases water allocations

 

Abundant runoff from storms has enabled the state to boost its water allocations from 45 to 60 percent for 2017. The photo above was taken at Sempervirens Falls at Big Basin Redwood State near Boulder Creek on Jan. 13, 2017. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group)
By | dcuff@bayareanewsgroup.com
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

SACRAMENTO — Water suppliers that get water from the state — including ones in the Santa Clara and Livermore valleys — are getting larger allocations this year after recent big storms.

The state Department of Water Resources announced Wednesday it has increased its predicted water allocations for 2017 to 60 percent of requested supplies. A month ago, the allocation was 45 percent, but rain and snowfall and rainfall since then has boosted supplies.

The allocations may increase again if more rain and snow falls through April, when the state announces its final allocations for 2017.

Local water districts say the news makes them optimistic about having enough water this year, but they won’t forecast their supplies until April.

State water allocations were 5 percent in 2014, one of the driest on record, 20 percent in 2015, and 60 percent in 2016.

The state operates a series of reservoirs, canals and pumps that deliver water to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Alameda County Zone 7 Water Agency in the Livermore Valley, and Alameda County Water District in Fremont, Newark and Union City.

“Our water supply outlook is definitely brighter, but we still haven’t shaken off the effects of our historic drought,” said William Croyle, the acting director of the state Department of Water Resources.

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/01/19/storm-payoff-state-increases-water-allocations/