The Bureau of Reclamation again followed in the state’s footsteps on Tuesday, updating water allocations for the Central Valley Project to leapfrog past the State Water Project.
Contractors both north and south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will get 80% of their allocations, up from just 35% in February. Earlier this month, the bureau increased Class 2 Friant contractors from 20% to 70%.
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Jose Gutierrez, interim general manager of the Westlands Water District, said this will help farmers “recuperate, hire and retain staff, and bolster their ability to continue feeding the world.” While many farmers have already made planting decisions, this could reduce the strain on groundwater aquifers with irrigation, he added.
Federico Barajas, executive director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, said investments in water storage and conveyance would enable the state to implement SGMA without harming San Joaquin Valley communities.
