California May Experience "Extremely Limited Water Supply" In 2023
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has warned towns and businesses in California sourcing water from the Central Valley Project of a fourth drought year and possibly a severely low water supply in the coming year of 2023. As put by the government organization (USBR) in charge of managing water resources in 17 states— “extremely limited water supply conditions in 2023."
The rainstorms in the Golden State that usually come at the beginning of the month aren't contributing much to combat the droughts that have plagued the state for several years. Additionally, the biggest reservoir in the state and the foundation of the Central Valley Project, the Shasta Reservoir, is currently only 31% full.
According to the agency, the reservoirs in the state providing water to the Greater Sacramento and San Francisco Bay areas and over 3 million acres of land in central California are almost hitting record lows. Putting around 2.5 million people a year receiving water from the reservoirs at dangerous risk.
“If drought conditions extend into 2023, Reclamation will find it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to meet all the competing needs of the Central Valley Project without beginning the implementation of additional and more severe water conservation actions.”
The majority of California’s water comes from snow packs, like the Sierra Nevada snow pack, brought in by the winter storms. The scorching temperatures and a lack of precipitation are putting that in jeopardy. California and other states are now at a point where they may have to prepare for an intensely feeble water supply.
Various factors have contributed to the ongoing water threats in California. This sweltering "megadrought" has had a grip on the southwest United States for more than 20 years. The region has not experienced a greater extreme drought since the beginning of the scientific record. Meanwhile, scientists have attributed about 42% of the drought's severity to human-caused climate change.
California water officials in March 2022, reduced State Water Project allocations that service around 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland from the original 15% to 5% to cope with water shortages. The Reclamation Bureau will announce 2023’s initial water supply allocations for the CVP coming February.
Click here for more information on Central Valley Project water supply updates.
