Water agencies with senior rights in California may receive more water in 2023 from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
2/20/2023 11:53:57 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Shasta County, CA
Start Date: 2/15/2023
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The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation sent out a letter to water agencies, saying that 2023 was not a critically dry year at present, meaning that agencies with senior water rights could have their water allotments increased compared to 2022. The bureau's determination that 2023 is not a "critical water year," is based on a forecast that at least 4 million acre-feet of water will flow into Lake Shasta from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. The letter from the Bureau does note, "For the first half of February, precipitation has been well below average which may result in reduced full natural inflows to Shasta Lake on which this declaration is based. Therefore, please take all necessary preparatory actions should conditions change such that the 2023 Year is declared to be a Critical Year."
Redding Record Searchlight (Calif.), Feb 20, 2023
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