Due to the drought, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are requesting permission to exchange water within areas served by the State Water Project and the federally managed Central Valley Project. DWR and Reclamation have filed a “temporary change petition” with the State Water Resources Control Board. The one-year waiver would cover exchanges not exceeding 277,863 acre-feet.
According to DWR, the requested change would provide “operational flexibility” for the federal and state water projects and would not result in a net increase in the amount of water diverted from the Delta or a net loss of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river flows.
The petition would authorize water exchanges for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Kern County Water Agency, Westlands Water District, Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, Kern Tulare Water District, Oak Flat Water District, Del Puerto Water District, Musco Olive Products, and the Veterans National Cemetery. According to DWR, the petition would allow the Santa Clara Valley Water District to change the delivery point for up 130,000 acre-feet of supplies.
The State Water Board is expected to act on the petition by March 28.
For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.