Metropolitan Water District General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh issues the following statement on the California Department of Water Resources’ increase of the State Water Project allocation to 45%:

“Despite low snowpack in the Northern Sierra, the Department of Water Resources has been able to take advantage of good runoff conditions and additional precipitation last month to capture more water in Lake Oroville. Metropolitan will continue to strategically manage this year's water supply, including this increased allocation, to deliver reliable water to Southern California and maximize our water storage, preparing us for the challenges ahead.

“These increased supplies from the State Water Project are made available at a particularly critical time given the dry conditions on the Colorado River – Southern California’s other source of imported water. Together, the Colorado River and the State Water Project deliver about half of all the water used in our region. After a record dry winter in the Colorado River Basin, runoff there is forecast to be just 40% of average – the second worst in history. Everyone who relies on the river must manage with less water.

“While the conditions on the Colorado River are alarming, Metropolitan’s investments in diverse imported supplies, as well as storage, increased water efficiency and new local supplies, has prepared us to manage these immediate reductions. We must continue these investments to adapt to the long-term challenges ahead.”

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