http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

The State Water Project allocation in California was trimmed to 5% of requested supplies from 15% due to a historically dry start to 2022 with no significant weather on the horizon for March to increase the snowpack. Statewide reservoir levels are about 70 percent of average. The statewide Sierra snowpack has dipped to 55% of average for this date with most of that snow deposited by December snowstorms. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento, Calif.), March 18, 2022 December’s winter storms deepened the snowpack, allowing California’s State Water Project allocation to be increased from 0% to 15% of requested amounts for 2022. Since January has been dry, water conservation is still requested as most state reservoirs were still below historic averages. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 20, 2022 California cities and farms should not expect to receive water from the State Water Project (SWP) in 2022, announced the state officials. This is the earliest date that the Department of Water Resources has announced a 0% water allocation, indicative of just how serious drought conditions are as reservoirs plunge to record low levels. Mandatory restrictions will be put in place if the winter dryness persists. Twenty-nine water districts in California typically request water from the SWP. Partial allocations are delivered, depending on snowfall and reservoir storage. The initial allocation in December 2020 was 10% and was reduced to 5% in March 2021. Seven districts that requested water will get some of the roughly 340,000 acre-feet to be divvied this year among the districts for critical health and safety needs, like fire suppression. The Metropolitan Water District in Southern California, providing water for about 19 million people, will receive some water. The system was intended to deliver more than 4.2 million acre-feet. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency in October and urged water conservation. Associated Press News (New York), Dec 1, 2021