TO: Water Users

FROM: Phil Nixon

SUBJECT: 2011 Water Supply Update

DATE: December 20, 2010

2011 SWP Allocation:

Late last week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) increased the 2011 State Water Project (SWP) allocation from 25% to 50% of SWP Contractors requests. Based on this, your 2011 allocation is increased to 50% of the annual entitlement described in Exhibit “A” of your water supply contract. This allocation is based on DWR’s 90% exceedence study (9 out of 10 years will be wetter) with the most restrictive Old and Middle River reverse flow requirements for smelt and salmon. DWR’s 50% exceedence studies (assumes average precipitation and runoff) show a potential allocation of 57% with the most restrictive actions, a 72% allocation with moderate restrictions, and a 73% allocation with the least restrictive actions. Precipitation and snow pack are both running well above normal so far this season. Precipitation for the Northern Sierra 8-Stations is 26.1 inches or 178% of seasonal average to date. Snow water equivalents in the northern part of the State are 14 inches or 154% of normal for this date. DWR staff indicated they plan to provide the 25% exceedence studies which will provide estimates for wetter conditions.

DWR will update the 2011 studies each month through the winter and spring. We will notify you as soon as we receive new information.

2010 Carryover:

We estimate the District’s 2010 carryover into 2011 to be around 17,000 acre feet. Currently DWR has about 670,000 acre feet stored in San Luis Reservoir. The state share of San Luis is 1,062,000 acre feet. DWR’s current 50% exceedence studies (average precipitation and runoff) indicate the State share of San Luis will fill sometime in early February 2011 in both the moderate and least restrictive Old and Middle River studies. For comparison, in the last 28 days DWR has added about 187,000 acre feet to San Luis or a little less than 7,000 acre feet per day. If DWR is able to continue at that rate San Luis would fill in about 57 days (mid February). Attached is my most recent estimate of the quantity of water each Water User will have at the end of the year. We will continue to provide updates regarding the status of San Luis.

2011 Dry Year Transfer Program:

SWP Contractors are working to develop a 2011 Dry Year Transfer Program, which we expect may operate similar to this year’s program. If wet weather continues it will be difficult to move non project water from northern California through the delta. We will notify you as soon as we receive specific information regarding participation in the program.

Please give me a call or send an email if you’d like to review your individual accounts.