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1 [1] (October 22, 2014)

handle is hein.crs/crsuntaahre0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Ser'viceS h Iformarng the Iegislative debate sne 1914 October 22, 2014 California Drought: Water Supply and Conveyance Issues Overview Nearly 60% of the state of California is experiencing exceptional drought-the most severe drought classification (see Figure 1, below). The 2014 water year ended September 30 as the third-driest year on record in terms of precipitation. Additionally, precipitation during the winter and spring months in 2013 was the lowest on record, leaving water storage reservoirs unusually low going into 2014. Water deliveries to water districts receiving water from federal and state facilities throughout the state were cut due to hydrological and regulatory factors. Some areas relying on groundwater saw wells go dry. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts below- normal precipitation again for this winter. A drought declaration made by California Governor Jerry Brown on January 17, 2014, remains in effect (see http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id= 18368). Figure I. California Drought Conditions (Oct. 14, 2014) U.S. DroughtMonitor October 21, 2014 California ... .... Source: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced disaster declarations for most California counties (see Figure 1) and other areas in the Southwest. Such declarations trigger the availability of emergency loans designed to partially compensate for losses for producers who cannot obtain commercial credit. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) announced cutbacks to Central Valley Project (CVP) water users-including unprecedented cutbacks to senior water rights contractors and zero deliveries to many other contractors. The CVP supplies water to hundreds of thousands of acres throughout the state, as well as to some municipal and industrial (M&I) water users and wildlife refuges. The State Water Project (SWP) announced cutbacks to 2014 water deliveries-no new water was delivered to most contractors except in cases of public health and safety. The SWP primarily provides water to M&I users and some agricultural users. Major CVP and SWP pumps that supply water for central and southern California are located at the southern portion of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers Delta confluence with San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta). Approximately 22 million people receive water from the Bay-Delta annually. What's at Stake? The widespread nature of drought conditions, coupled with low water supplies in the state's major reservoirs and regulatory restrictions on CVP and SWP operations to protect water quality, fish, and wildlife, mean that many sectors and areas have been affected. Many cities and counties have instituted water rationing, and the governor called for consumers to cut water use by 20%. Congress funds and oversees the Central Valley Project, which in a normal water year delivers, on average, approximately 7 million acre-feet of water annually. CVP 2014 water deliveries have been severely curtailed due to drought and other factors. California is the country's largest agricultural producer in terms of cash farm receipts-accounting for 11% (nearly $45 billion) of the U.S. total in 2012, the last year for which data are available (see http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/). The drought has affected crop and rangeland conditions on non-irrigated land and required livestock producers to use supplemental hay and grain. Hundreds of thousands of acres have gone fallow because sufficient water was not available. However, fruit and nut orchards continue to need irrigation during drought. The effects of drought on California agriculture could have ramifications beyond the state, with reduced supplies and higher product prices for some commodities-particularly those for which California is the primary producer (e.g., almonds). For example, California produces 65% of the nation's non-citrus fruit and nuts. On the other hand, where substitutions exist for some crops and are readily available, prices may not be immediately affected. Availability of groundwater or purchase of water from others may help some weather the dry conditions; however, with every corner of the state categorized as a primary drought disaster area, it is not clear how much water will be available. Some areas are already experiencing low groundwater levels and subsidence due to increased groundwater pumping in 2014 and preceding dry years. Further, this could be the beginning of a longer-term wwwcrs.gov 1 7-5700

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