- Reclamation
- California-Great Basin
- Region 10 Drought
Central Valley Project Operations Timeline
2024 Central Valley Project Water 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
- December 1 - The Department of Water Resources announces an initial State Water Project allocation forecast of 10 percent of requested supplies for 2024.
January
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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%.