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Joaquin River basins is promised in state public have realized the importance of and federal contracts, according to the protecting species and resources threatCalifornia Water Impact Network report. ened by dams new and old, while being “Most streams are over-allocated,” said able to provide water to human users Berkeley Water Center Executive Director where it’s needed. Carolyn Remick. “Every river system I’ve Lucero was matter-of-fact about the worked on it’s been a over-allocation of problem.” water. “We’re talking Over-allocation is about a project that’s widespread, Reclama60 years old now,” tion spokesman Pete he said. “Things have Lucero agreed. While changed now. There’s Reclamation is always more people. There’s working to make its more development. water delivery more And there’s a finite efficient and meet resource.” every claim for water, Changing water coneach contract was tracts would require written with condistate legislation, Lucero tions for dry years. said, and Reclamation That means shortages doesn’t think adjusting — Berkeley Water Center for many water claimcontracts is necesExecutive Director ants — usually those sary. Contracts already Carolyn Remick with junior, or secondaccount for low water ary claims to the years — it is allowed water. Reclamation has to deliver less water to varying rates dependcustomers if it’s a dry ing on the size of the contract (2,000 difseason. “The contract amount of water ferent rates for 250 contracts), but Lucero is what it is,” Lucero said. “But we deliver said no west San Joaquin Valley users have based on the water available.” a preferred contract. But Stokely said Reclamation isn’t Each year Reclamation predicts how interested in adjusting its water contracts much water it will be able to deliver to its because it would mean an admission that claimants, notifying them by March 1. That the bureau doesn’t have as much water calculation is based on how much water as it says. “If they revise their allocations, is left in reservoirs from the previous year, they’re in for a big fight,” he said, adding wintertime rainfall, snowpack in the Sierra that water users, not taxpayers, come Nevada and other mountain ranges, and first. “The Bureau’s essentially controlled a forecast of the rest of the year’s rainfall by the water users — they’re the quoteand weather patterns. unquote clients.” “This year was particularly challenging,” Lucero said he didn’t know how to Lucero said. Rainfall in November and Deaddress the criticism. “I can’t qualify or cember 2012 was great, but come January verify that those claims are correct at “it flat dried out.” all. I really can’t comment on what other In fact, the five-month period from people claim to be their truth.” January to March was the driest on record Stokely spent 10 years with the for runoff into the Sacramento and San California Water Impact Network trying Joaquin watersheds, according to the state to convince the federal government to Department of Water Resources. That make Reclamation’s Trinity water rights record goes back 90 years. reflect the increased flows granted in Still, Reclamation will meet its commit2000 by the Department of the Interior. ments made this year, Lucero said. But it’s But currently, there’s a 474,000 acre-foot getting harder and harder. “It’s been quite discrepancy between what’s in Reclamaa while since certain contractors have tion’s water permit and what it is actually had 100 percent allocation,” Lucero said. allowed to pull out of the river because “When allocations and contracts were first of added environmental requirements, he developed, the population of the state said. “After millions of dollars and 10 years, was lower. We’ve got this issue of climate the federal consultant never produced a change as well. We’re not seeing as much viable solution.” rain and snow as we’ve had in the past.” Hampering the efforts to adjust alAnd new obligations exist, in the form locations to numbers based on reality are of changing public values in the decades the powerful Southern California Water since the Central Valley Project was coninterests, Stokely said. The five-person ceived and completed. Dams used to be California Water Board, which could symbols of prosperity, jobs and popularevisit water claims, is appointed by Gov. tion. Now, Lucero said, the state and continued on next page
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