Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement on the California Department of Water Resource’s announcement to increase the State Water Project allocation to 35 percent.

“We appreciate and support the state’s cautious approach to ensure the snowmelt reaches our reservoirs before providing a more substantial increase in supplies. With the exception of the upcoming storms, January’s precipitation was followed by a mostly dry February, and we don’t know what March will bring. Extremely variable weather — including drier, hotter periods followed by periods of intense storms — have become an increasingly challenging reality in managing Southern California’s water resources. We must ensure we are protecting the state’s storage reserves while balancing the need to address the impacts of the severe drought over the last three years.

“We are hopeful that our snowpack continues to grow as the winter season progresses, and that it translates into the runoff we need to have a healthier water supply this year. It will provide some welcome relief to the drought that has plagued our state and the cities and communities we serve throughout Southern California.

“Metropolitan remains committed to finding solutions to our water supply challenges through investments in development of local supplies such as water recycling and stormwater capture. We also will continue to explore ways to use water more efficiently and remove nonfunctional turf. We must all work together because we all share the need to adapt to our changing climate.”

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