Article

The Bureau of Reclamation announced initial 2026 water supply allocations for the Central Valley Project on February 27, 2026. Over 270 contracts serve approximately 3 million acres of farmland and communities in California.

North-of-Delta contractors are allocated 100%, while south-of-Delta contractors receive only 15% for irrigation. Snowpack is currently 59% of historical averages, but reservoir storage remains strong due to previous wet years. The Central Valley Project is critical for water delivery for agriculture, urban use, and wildlife protection, contributing to over 6 million Californians and producing significant hydropower.