Central Valley Project: Water Supply and Yield Study

Hydrologic conditions in California vary greatly from year to year, season to  season, and place to place.  Wet years bring the threat of floods, and drought years put pressure on available water supplies. The majority of the state’s precipitation occurs in the northern third of the state during the winter, while much of the water is used in the central and southern portions  of the state during the spring and summer. Because of this, meeting California’s water demands is complicated by the logistics of moving water from its source to its place of use, which may be over hundreds of miles. The availability of storage and conveyance facilities may limit California’s ability to deliver water to the right place at the right time.

The purpose of this Water Supply and Yield (WSAY) Study is to identify the following:

1. Opportunities for new firm yield and water supply improvements for CVP water service contractors (entities with contracts for the delivery of CVP water)
2. Water management actions or projects that would improve firm yield for the CVP while balancing the available supplies with existing demands
3. The financial costs of the water management actions or projects
4. Beneficiaries and beneficiaries’ willingness to pay for identified improvements