News Release Archive

Reclamation increases 2020 Central Valley Project water allocation for Friant Division

Media Contact: Mary Lee Knecht, 916-978-5100, mknecht@usbr.gov

For Release: June 24, 2020

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, the Bureau of Reclamation increased the water supply allocation for Friant Division Central Valley Project contracts for the 2020 contract year. The Friant Division provides water for 15,000 family farms and several cities in the Central Valley.

This is the fourth update to the 2020 Central Valley Project water allocation for Friant Division this year. Initial allocations were made on February 25.  

Many factors are involved in making water supply allocation adjustments, including the latest hydrologic information, operational conditions in both the Upper San Joaquin River Basin and at Millerton Reservoir, as well as canal schedules from Friant Division contractors.

Friant Division contractors’ water supply develops in the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Watershed and is delivered from Millerton Lake through Friant Dam to the Madera Canal and Friant-Kern Canal. Friant Division water supply is divided into two classifications: Class 1 and Class 2. The first 800,000 acre-feet of available water supply is considered Class 1. Class 2 is considered the next amount of available water supply up to 1.4 million acre-feet.

Given the current hydrologic conditions, Reclamation is increasing the Class 1 allocation from 60% to 65%; Class 2 remains at 0%.

Water supply updates are posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html.

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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. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.