Metropolitan issues statement on increased State Water Project allocation

Metropolitan Water District General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh issues the following statement on the California Department of Water Resources' increase of the State Water Project allocation to 30%:

"This increased allocation reflects the wet December enjoyed across much of our state, coupled with smart water management by the Department of Water Resources. And thanks to Metropolitan's investment in the State Water Project, it means we will be able to meet more Southern California demands with state supplies this year.

"The state's ability to capture that December rainfall and store it in Lake Oroville is all the more valuable given what has happened since those storms: a very dry January and limited snowpack in the northern Sierra. At the same time, snowpack conditions in Metropolitan's other source of imported water, the Colorado River Basin, remain at historically low levels, underscoring the importance of capturing and managing available supplies when and where we can.

"Together, the State Water Project and Colorado River supply half of all the water used in Southern California. Metropolitan's investment in these diverse imported supplies, as well as in new local supplies, expanded storage and increased water efficiency, help ensure we can reliably meet Southern California water demands, regardless of the allocation. That is our mission - to deliver the water our communities need, no matter the weather."