Shasta Dam at Sunset

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%.

 

 

Last Updated: 4/1/24