Drought and the Central Valley Project August 2014

1. Drought and the Central Valley Project August 2014

2. CVP Overview • Extends 400 miles from the Cascade Range to the Tehachapi Mountains • 20 dams and reservoirs that can hold 12 million acre-feet of water • 500 miles of canals • 11 hydroelectric plants • More than 250 contractors in 29 CA counties

3. CVP Authorized Purposes • Flood Control • River Regulation (Navigation) • Fish and Wildlife Needs • Municipal & Agricultural Water Supplies • Power Generation • Recreation

4. Water Supply • 2.5 million Californians • 3 million acres of agriculturePrincipal crops, 24 million tons • Field crops, 10 million tons Vegetable/melons, 9 million tons • Fruit/nut crops, 5 million tons • Hydropower • 11 powerplants produce about 4.5 million megawatt hours in an average water year • Environment • Provides water to restore and protect fish and wildlife and to enhance water quality • Major source of water for 19 National Wildlife Refuges • Flood Protection Importance of the CVP to California

5. Key Permits and Agreements Operating Agreements and Standards • Water Right Permits • Water Rights Decision 1641 • Biological Opinions • Flood Control Manuals • Central Valley Project Improvement Act • Coordinated Operations Agreement

6. State of California Drought Impact http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

7. CVPMajor StorageFacilities Trinity Shasta Folsom New Melones Friant San Luis

8. 2014 CVP Water Supply Updated Allocation Sacramento River Settlement Contractors – 75% San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors – 65-75% CVPIA refuges – 75% NOD/65% SOD Agricultural water service contractors – 0% M&I water service contractors – 50% of historic use Friant contractors – 0% Eastside contractors – 55% Releases from Friant Dam to meet Exchange Contractor’s water supply needs for the first time since the dam was constructed.

9. California Drought ImpactsCentral Valley Project Water Deliveries (Deliveries numbers are rounded in Million Acre-feet) http://www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/index.html

10. August 2014 CVP Reservoir Storage and End of Year Projections

11. Responding to Drought • Since December of 2013, state and federal agencies that supply water, protect fish and wildlife, and regulate water quality have worked together daily to cope with drought. Together, these agencies have maximized regulatory flexibility to adjust quickly to changes in the weather and environment and bolster water supplies when possible while minimizing impacts to fish and wildlife. • In coordination with the State, Reclamation is making it a priority to operate the CVP to first maintain salinity control in the Delta for 2014 and 2015, and provide for human health and safety as well as legal requirements while ensuring the best possible use of limited water supplies, also focusing on conservation actions and offering support and flexibility to customers in managing the drought. • A cornerstone for Reclamation actions this year is the 2014 CVP Water Plan that includes a suite of actions, working with the state and federal authorities, to facilitate water transfers, provide operational flexibility to store and convey water, expedite required environmental reviews or compliance actions, accelerate existing projects or pursue new projects to help make the best use of limited water supplies, and meet with stakeholders to discuss hydrology and operational flexibilities.

12. National Drought Resilience Partnership • As called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan, the National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) is coordinating Federal preparedness for drought and is working closely with the State of California, local government, agriculture, and other partners to improve community preparedness and resilience to drought. • The NDRP includes representatives of DOI, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce – NOAA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy. • Although the NDRP has a nationwide focus, its key focus now is on California because of the urgency of the state’s water situation. • The NDRP is dedicated to helping communities better prepare for droughts and reducing the impact of droughts on peoples’ livelihoods and the economy.

13. Drought Funding Announced by the President during his trip to CA in February: • $100 million in livestock disaster assistance for California producers. • $5 million in targeted conservation assistance for the most extreme and exceptional drought areas in California. • $5 million in targeted Emergency Watershed Protection Program assistance to the most drought impacted areas of California to protect vulnerable soils. • $60 million to food banks in the State of California to help families that may be economically impacted by the drought. • 600 summer meal sites in California's drought stricken areas. • $3 million in Emergency Water Assistance Grants for rural communities experiencing water shortages.

14. Drought ProgramWater Conservation Programs http://www.usbr.gov/waterconservation/

15. Drought ProgramBasin Studies http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/bsp/index.html

16. Drought Program Title XVI: Water Reclamation and Reuse Program http://www.usbr.gov/lc/socal/titlexvi.html

17. Federal Legislative Proposals • Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress • Proposals include: • Modifying ESA requirements on the CVP and SWP • Modifying the San Joaquin River Restoration Program • Authorizing construction of storage projects • Additional drought assistance • Reauthorizing the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 • Mandating water allocations based upon water year type • Predator removal program • One bill has passed the House but not the Senate. The other bills are still in committee.

18. Questions