Water Supply . . .The News Is Good (?)

After over a year of cutbacks and water use restrictions, we are now telling you, “everything is improving, and we have a full water supply.” I am sure that if we water folks had any credibility left with you, it’s probably now vanished.

Yes, water supply wise, things are better. Much of California did receive near normal rainfall and snow pack, though the El Niño was pretty much a no show for southern California and San Diego County. Fortunately, the areas receiving increased precipitation were the critical watersheds in northern California, which supply the State Water Project (SWP). Lake Oroville, the main supply reservoir for the project is near full and the Department of Water Resources has announced that it will be able to meet 60% of the requests of its water contractors, one of which is the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).