State water managers reassessing water deliveries to thirsty cities and farms

Water managers are determining if recent storms helped California’s dwindling water supplies enough to warrant increases in water deliveries to farms and thirsty cities.

Meantime, the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Wednesday announced that water deliveries will remain at zero until the analysis is complete.

State Water Project allocations have been cut to zero for the first time in the system’s 54-year history, and the federally run Central Valley Project has also cancelled deliveries to most recipients.

Water resources director Mark Cowin says it will likely take until the end of the month to determine if any water can be delivered.

California is in a drought emergency, and officials said recent rains haven’t helped the parched state’s long-term water prognosis.