California's water delivery outlook is grim

Operators of the sprawling state system that supplies water to 25 million Californians from Butte County to San Diego issued their lowest-ever estimate on the amount of water they will be able to deliver.

Officials predicted Tuesday they will be able to offer only 5 percent of the total volume of water requested by California cities and farms next year. That's the smallest water allocation the agency has released since its creation in 1967.

The estimate, based on current water conditions, is only preliminary and is almost certain to rise as the rainy season wears on. Still, officials expect a multiyear drought, low reservoirs and environmental restrictions on water pumping to keep supplies well below average in 2010.

"We have to assume we're heading into a fourth year of drought and we have to respond accordingly," said Lester Snow, director of the California Department of Water Resources, the state agency that operates the network of reservoirs, pumps and pipelines known as the State Water Project.

more from the SF Chronicle