Calif. Water Projections Higher Than In '09

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- State water officials say farms and cities can expect about a quarter of the water they request next year but also were hopeful the figure will rise.

Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin set the initial 2011 allocation Monday for water districts serving about 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It is up from 5 percent projected at the same time last year, which was the lowest since the State Water Project began deliveries in 1967.

The 2010 allocation eventually rose to 50 percent after a series of storms in late winter and spring.

Cowin says the state should be able to provide 60 percent of the requested amount by next summer if California has an average winter. Rain and snow levels are above average so far.

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