Increase will provide additional water for agriculture, water users, and communities, while improving affordability in California
From the Bureau of Reclamation:
The Bureau of Reclamation is increasing Central Valley Project 2026 water supply allocations for south-of-Delta contractors, reflecting better than expected water supply conditions in the off-stream reservoir south-of-Delta.
“This additional water will help meet the needs of farms and communities across California,” said Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. “Through continued collaboration with our water users and stakeholders, Reclamation is working to improve water supply reliability and make the most of available water supplies.”
This update highlights Reclamation’s ongoing commitment to improve water supply reliability, enhance system resilience, and reduce regulatory delays, consistent with the directives outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order 14181. Reclamation continues to make improvements to forecasting to provide reliable water while meeting the many demands on the system.
This allocation is made available from water supplies already south of the Delta and will not change Delta operations. Reclamation will continue to monitor hydrologic conditions and operate the Central Valley Project to make the most efficient use of available water supplies.
Based on current hydrology and updated forecasts, Reclamation is announcing the following changes to CVP water supply allocations:
South-of-Delta Contractors
- Irrigation water service and repayment contractors south-of-Delta are increased from 28% to 31% of their contract total.
All other allocation amounts announced May 19 remain unchanged.
Reclamation manages the Central Valley Project, one of the nation’s largest water storage and delivery systems, providing water to farms, cities, wildlife refuges, and other beneficial uses throughout California.
Water supply updates are available on Reclamation’s California-Great Basin Region website.
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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.
Westlands responds …
Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District, issued the following statement:
“We are grateful to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for this additional allocation and for listening to the needs of our growers. We appreciate Reclamation’s leadership, its continued partnership with Westlands Water District, and its commitment to finding solutions that improve water availability for the farms and communities that depend on it. This decision demonstrates the value of a strong working relationship, operational flexibility, and sound science in managing California’s water supplies.
While allocation increases this late in the water year are unusual, the latest hydrologic data shows there is water available in our reservoirs that can be put to beneficial use now. Making that water available to growers is a prudent and responsible decision, particularly with the potential for an El Niño-driven wet winter ahead. Delivering available surface water now also helps advance the goals of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) by reducing the need for groundwater pumping and preserving critical groundwater reserves for future dry years. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, science-based water management that supports both our agricultural communities and California’s long-term water sustainability goals.
For our growers, every additional acre-foot matters. This increase will help family farmers maintain agricultural operations, protect jobs, and reduce reliance on groundwater. We thank Reclamation for its responsiveness and thoughtful approach to this decision and look forward to continuing our partnership to improve water supply reliability for the San Joaquin Valley.”
