Drought | California-Great Basin, Region 10

Shasta Dam at Sunset

Central Valley Project Operations Timeline

October

The water year begins October 1 each year and ends September 30. A record-setting winter in 2023 leaves Reclamation’s Central Valley Project reservoirs in good shape as the 2024 water year begins with 8.17 million acre-feet of water in storage, more than double last year’s total.
October 20 - The Department of the Interior and San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority approve plans to implement the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. When complete, it will add 130,000 acre-feet of additional storage to San Luis Reservoir.

December 1 - The Department of Water Resources announces an initial State Water Project allocation forecast of 10 percent of requested supplies for 2024.

January 2 - The Department of Water Resources’ first snow survey records 7.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 3 inches, which is 30 percent of average for the Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Statewide the snowpack is 25 percent of average.

February 21 – The Department of Water Resources increases its 2024 State Water Project allocation to 15% of requested supplies, an increase from the 10% initial allocation announced in December.
February 22 - Reclamation announces initial 2024 water supply allocations for Central Valley Project water users.
- Agricultural water service contractors – North of Delta - 75%; South of Delta - 15%
- Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors – 100%, based on the 2024 water year’s determination as non-critical, as defined in their settlement contracts.
- Friant Division – 60% of Class 1 and 0% of Class 2.
- Wildlife Refuges – 100% of contract supply for refuges (Level 2), both north- and south-of-Delta.

March 22 – Reclamation increases 2024 Central Valley Project water supply allocations
- Agricultural water service contractors – north-of-Delta - 100%; south-of-Delta - 35%
- M&I water service and repayment contractors south-of-Delta are increased to 75% of historical use or public health and safety, whichever is greater, up from 65% of historical use.
- Friant Division contractors: Class 1 is increased to 65% from 60%; Class 2 remains at 0%.

April 1 – Storm activity, hydrologic conditions in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin and projected operations enable Reclamation to increase Central Valley Project water supply allocations for Friant Division Class 1 contractors from 65% to 95%.
April 18th – The CVP water allocation for Friant Division Class 1 contactors is increased from 95% to 100% and the Class 2 allocation from 0% to 5%.
April 24 – Reclamation increases the Central Valley Project water supply allocation for south-of-Delta contractors from 35% to 40%.

May 1 – Reclamation announces the availability, through May 14th, of a 50,000 acre-foot block of water to Friant Division Class 2 contractors.
May 2 – An additional 60,000 acre-foot block of water is made available to Friant Division Class 2 contractors through May 24.
May 10 – Reclamation determines that an additional 20,000 acre-foot water block of water is made available to Class 2 contractors under an uncontrolled season declaration for beneficial use between May 11th and May 28th.
May 21 – Reclamation announces a memorandum of understanding between itself, the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority and Friant Water Authority. The MOU identifies a framework, a long-term drought plan, and a 2024 Pilot Program, including a “drought pool,” to build drought resiliency in the region.

June 18 - Due to hydrologic conditions, upstream operations, Millerton Lake storage, extremely high temperatures and other related factors, Reclamation reduces the residual allocation for Friant Division Class 1 contractors from 100% to 90%.
June 25 – Reclamation increases the Central Valley Project water allocation for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors from 40% to 50% of their contracted supply.

Last Updated: 10/7/24