Mar. 15--Water deliveries are on the rise again.
The State Water Project has upped its delivery from 90 percent to 100 percent and the federal Central Valley Project deliveries to the Friant Water Users Authority has increased from 25 percent to 35 percent for Class II water. The announcements were made last week.
The federal Central Valley Project will deliver 100 percent of its Class I water to Friant users on the east side of the valley, 800,000 acre-feet, plus the 35 percent of Class II -- 490,000 acre-feet.
In a normal year, contractors get all their Class I water and some of their Class II water. There is no difference in the quality of the water. Class I simply refers to the water that is a firm entitlement, while Class II is the extra water available in wetter years.
The Friant Water Users serve 15,000 growers on the east side of the valley who farm 1 million acres from Madera to Arvin-Edison.
The State Water Project -- the major source of water for Kern County -- will provide 1.1 million acre-feet requested by the Kern County Water Agency.
The Central Valley Project -- the second-biggest source -- will provide 1.3 million acre-feet to Friant users, most of whom are in Kern County.
Kern's third big source of water is the Kern River and it is at 100 percent of normal, according to snow surveys. The Kern will send about another 675,000 acre-feet of water down the canyon, according to Steve Lafond, hydrographic supervisor for the city water department.
And the Central Valley Project projections do not take into account the most recent storm Tuesday, added Randy McFarland, the public information consultant for Friant Water Users Authority.
"This appears to be an unprecedented water year," McFarland said. "It was totally dry in October and November and then turned around and had an above-average supply. It's turning out to be a great year."
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