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Outlook Indicates Low Water Supply For Farmers

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- California water officials say a combination of dry winter conditions and restrictions on pumping is leading to an outlook of a low water supply for some farmers in 2013.

The Bureau of Reclamation said on Monday that a stormy December was followed by one of the driest combined Januarys and Februarys on record.

Officials say the snowpack and amount of precipitation in the Sierra Nevada is below normal, while the snow water content statewide is 70 percent of average.

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And water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have been reduced this year to protect the threatened delta smelt.

Reclamation official say as a result of the dry weather, agricultural contractors on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley will receive an initial water allocation of 25 percent of requested deliveries.

Municipal, industrial and other water contractors will receive 75 percent.