California Water Projections Raised As Storms Roll In
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Water officials say recent storms have given California the best early-season water supply outlook in five years.
As a result, Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin on Friday said farms and cities can expect half the water they request next year. That's double the 25-percent projection he made just last month.
Cowin says next year's delivery outlook should continue to improve for water districts serving about 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
Snowpack is 122 percent of normal for this time of year. Lake Shasta and Folsom Lake reservoirs are releasing water to make room for runoff from the latest storm that began raking the state Friday.
The news comes after three dry winters that led to low initial projections a year ago.
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