California Gives Local Water Agencies 100% of Allocations; 1st Time Since 2006

The State of California has decided to provide local water agencies with 100% of the water supplies that they requested for the first time since 2006, up from 5% that was initially allocated before the rainy winter began.

In December, in a crippling drought and facing predictions of a third consecutive dry winter, the Department of Water Resources said only 5% of allocations would be provided, as the state prepared for water restrictions:

Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation of 5 percent of requested supplies for 2023. The SWP provides water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians.

As the state prepares for a fourth dry year and continued extreme drought conditions in California, DWR will also assess requests for additional water that may be necessary for health and safety including minimum domestic, sanitation, and fire suppression needs.

That percentage, however, steadily crept upwards, as an unexpected slew of “atmospheric rivers” began arriving in the state, brining moist air from the Central Pacific to fall as rain on the coast and snow on the mountains.

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday:

For the first time since 2006, California officials have increased allocations from the vital State Water Project to 100% of requested supplies, as reservoirs across the state are nearing capacity and an epic snowpack has yet to melt.

…

“With reservoirs nearing capacity and snowmelt runoff starting to occur, [the state Department of Water Resources] now expects to deliver 100% of requested water supplies, up from 75% announced in March,” state officials said Thursday.