MWA Expects Near Record Low Deliveries from State in 2009—Agency
told to expect only 15% of annual entitlement

Falling interest rates, gasoline and home prices are a good thing—but not everything that’s falling is good. Water levels in reservoirs throughout the state continue to drop prompting the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to notify State Water Contractors, including Mojave Water Agency (MWA), that deliveries from Northern California starting in January 2009 will initially be only 15% of demand. With the exception of a 10% allocation in 1993, this marks the second lowest initial allocation in the history of the State Water Project. Ongoing drought conditions and court ordered restrictions on water deliveries from the Delta also influenced DWR’s decision. If, however, hydrologic conditions improve later in the year, DWR could increase allocations to MWA and the other contractors. “This announcement does not come as a surprise considering the general deteriorating state of water supply conditions we have seen over the last few years” said Kirby Brill, MWA general manager. Of its 75,800 annual acre-feet entitlement, MWA has been able to import only 27,000 acre-feet of State Water Project water for the 2008 water year, which ended Dec. 31st. “This represents only 35% of our annual entitlement,” added Brill. “So we’ve already come to expect reduced deliveries.” But therein lies the challenge—having adequate supplies to meet present and future demands. To meet these anticipated challenges associated with a known variable imported water supply, MWA created groundwater storage accounts, or underground water “banks” throughout its service area. Policy adopted by MWA several years ago has been to deposit in the water banks high quality supplemental water from the State Water Project, so that the water can be withdrawn in times of prolonged drought like the state is now experiencing. “This aggressive management, combining State Water Project water supplies with local groundwater storage, puts our community in a very unique situation to avoid or minimize drastic mandatory cutbacks to end users that many others in the state will likely be facing next year,” said Brill. He added that conditions like we now face is another indication that the region needs to ensure it is prepared when high quality supplemental water is available through the State Water Project, to act fast to purchase it, recharge our basins, and deliver it when and where it’s needed. “The Regional Recharge and Recovery Project—known as R-cubed—is the best example of regional cooperation to ensure that infrastructure is in place to meet future demands.” R-cubed is expected to serve water needs of seven water agencies. Another example of regional cooperation between water agencies to meet water demands is the Water Conservation Incentive Program. Launched in February 2008 by MWA and the Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC), 20 agencies have joined to offer cash incentives to encourage water users to become more proactive in their water use habits. “In recent years communities throughout the High Desert have seen dramatic population growth and increased water demands, and water agencies have stepped up their efforts to be more water efficient,” added Brill. “These two projects are examples of several from the Agency’s Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.” Adopted by MWA in 2005, the Plan contains other projects and management actions to help meet water demands through the year 2025. DWR has historically made this important announcement about the next year’s allocation at the end of November. The early announcement comes slightly earlier to help local water agencies better prepare for 2009, which is expected to be another dry year. Founded in July of 1960, Mojave Water Agency serves the High Desert region of San Bernardino County as one of the 29 State Water Contractors. MWA is the only water wholesaler in the region and is responsible for managing the High Desert region’s groundwater resources to ensure a sustainable supply to meet present and future water demands. For more information about Mojave Water Agency and its plans to meet local water demands, contact Kirby Brill at (760) 946-7000 or by e-mail at kbrill@ mojavewater.org.