California is continuing to leverage recent actions and a historic $8.6 billion investment to ensure that water from storms is captured and conserved to help preserve supplies for communities, wildlife and the environment, and water users if dry conditions return.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in coordination with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, today awarded $25 million in financial assistance to three groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) through the LandFlex Program. The funding will help preserve critical groundwater supplies in Central Valley communities.

With California experiencing extreme storm events like those seen in January amid extreme drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) today awarded $15 million to support projects in the San Joaquin Valley through the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced grant awards to nine projects in six counties through the Urban Community Drought Relief Grant program. The $46 million in financial assistance will provide critical support to implement drought relief projects that build long-term drought and climate resilience in communities across the state, and help advance efforts outlined in … Read more

 The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station, which recorded 85.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 33.5 inches, which is 193% of average for this location on Feb. 1. Statewide, the snowpack is 205% of average for this date. Two months … Read more

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced that recent storms will allow the State Water Project (SWP) to boost deliveries to 29 public water agencies serving 27 million Californians. Based on the amount of water captured and stored in recent weeks, DWR now expects to deliver 30 percent of requested water supplies – or … Read more

 While California’s drought outlook is improving, the state is continuing to proactively prepare for a return to dry conditions amid climate-driven extremes in weather. Department of Water Resources (DWR) is officially launching a standing Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners (DRIP) Collaborative, which will include members of the public. Community members and water users are encouraged … Read more

California is taking urgent action to protect communities from climate-driven extremes in weather and expand the state’s capacity to capture storm runoff in wet years.

The Department of Water Resources is partnering with the State Water Resources Control Board to fast-track efforts to capture flood waters to recharge groundwater basins. 

Furthering state efforts to capture and preserve stormwater during high flow events amid drouht, the State Water Resources Control Board issued its first five-year temporary groundwater storage permit, authorizing the Omochumne-Hartnell Water District to divert 2,444 acre-feet from the Cosumnes River in Sacramento County.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station, which recorded 55.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 17.5 inches, which is 177% of average for this location. Conditions so far this season have proven to be strikingly similar to last year … Read more

As drought conditions continue throughout the state, the State Water Resources Control Board readopted an emergency regulation this week that bolsters California’s conservation efforts by prohibiting wasteful water practices like watering lawns when it rains.

Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation of 5 percent of requested supplies for 2023. The SWP provides water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. As the state prepares for a fourth dry year and continued extreme drought conditions in California, DWR will … Read more

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today awarded $86 million in financial assistance to meet the immediate and long-term water needs for millions of Californians in local communities small and large. As California experiences a climate transformation bringing hotter and drier conditions, small communities are extremely vulnerable and long-term solutions are crucial.

As directed by 2018 legislation, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) today submitted a first report to the State Water Resources Control Board summarizing how urban water districts assess the adequacy of their supplies over the next seven months.  Broadly, the assessments show the importance of conservation by individual Californians to help suppliers meet demands through June … Read more

The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted new performance standards for urban retail water suppliers—the utilities that provide water to people in California cities—that it estimates will save about 88,000 acre-feet of water per year, or enough to supply over 260,000 households, by requiring suppliers to monitor and reduce leakage in their distribution systems.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) awarded $1.2 million to the City of Coalinga for an emergency water transfer to supply the community through the winter months.

As California prepares for extreme drought to extend into a fourth year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is gearing up to provide $510 million in financial assistance to help communities, water agencies, and farmers prepare for a hotter and drier future.

Farmers are receiving financial incentives to reduce their water use and protect wildlife and water quality in the Delta as part of a Delta Drought Response Pilot Program launched by the State of California.

California water agencies that rely on Colorado River supplies have stepped up to propose reducing their water usage by up to 400,000 acre-feet each year beginning in 2023 through 2026 to protect storage in Lake Mead and help stabilize the Colorado River reservoir system.

Conserving water has become a way of life in California, especially as projections forecast warmer, drier conditions.

The Department of Water Resources announced new steps that, if approved, could save enough water to supply 4.7 million Californians annually while making conservation more affordable through financial assistance and tax exemptions.

One of the most effective ways to cut back on water use is to replace your lawn with drought-resistant plants and landscaping. Now Californians can get more money to do just that thanks to a new law signed today by Governor Gavin Newsom. The legislation exempts local rebates for turf replacement from state income tax.

As California faces a hotter, drier future and ongoing extreme drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources is offering $6 million in financial assistance to support desalination projects that will help develop new sources of local water supplies in California.

Statewide water use dropped in July by 10.4% relative to July 2020,as state conservation actions continued to take hold and build momentum towardgreater water savings.

As part of ongoing efforts to help small communities address water supply challenges amid extreme drought and build water resilience for the future, the Department of Water Resources announced its eighth round of funding through the Small Community Drought Relief Program.

As sustained drought conditions reduce water in streams and rivers to critical levels, the State Water Resources Control Board yesterday readopted an emergency curtailment regulation for Mill and Deer Creeks in Tehama County to preserve minimum flows for the survival of multiple fish species and protect threatened drinking water supplies. The existing one-year regulation would … Read more

Hotter and drier weather conditions spurred by climate change could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040. To replace and replenish what we will lose to thirstier soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere, Governor Gavin Newsom announced California’s latest actions to increase water supply.

A new web-based tool developed by DWR will allow the public to explore thousands of groundwater projects across California to get a better understanding of one of the state’s most critical water supply resources.

With three consecutive years of drought reducing state and federal water project reservoirs to historic lows, the State Water Resources Control Board onWednesday readopted measures for the Delta to protect drinking water supplies, prevent salinity intrusion and minimize impacts to fish and the environment.

Seizing a generational opportunity to leverage unprecedented state funding to combat drought and climate change, the State Water Resources ControlBoard provided a historic $3.3 billion in financial assistance during the past fiscal year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022) to water systems and communities for projects that bolster water resilience, respond to drought emergencies … Read more

A year after receiving funding from the Budget Act of 2021, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has successfully awarded more than $440 million to date in drought relief assistance to small and urban communities to address water supply challenges and help build local resilience.

In an effort to better prepare for future drought conditions in the face of climate change, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released a draft Environmental Impact Report analyzing potential construction effects of future drought salinity barriers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Statewide urban water use in May of 2022, was 3.1% lower than in May 2020, and preliminary data from June 2022 representing 30% of the state’s population, shows water savings of 7.7% for June 2022 compared to June 2020.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is providing critical financial support to four urgent projects in Humboldt, Los Angeles, Modoc, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties through the Small Community Drought Relief Program. In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, DWR has awarded $2 million in funding to support four identified projects that will improve drought … Read more

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced $29 million in funding for 44 drought relief projects to improve water supply reliability, address drinking water quality, and support water conservation primarily serving underrepresented and Tribal communities.

With historic dry conditions continuing in the Scott and Shasta rivers, the State Water Resources Control Board today readopted and updated an emergency curtailment regulation that includes measures to protect imperiled fish, ensures supplies for human health and livestock needs, and encourages voluntary efforts that may be used in lieu of curtailments.

A new statewide emergency water conservation regulation that bans using drinkable water on decorative or non-functional grass at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties went into effect Friday. It also requires urban water suppliers to implement all demand-reduction actions under Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans.

The Department of Water Resources has released the Grant Program Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package for approximately $193 million in grant funding to help local agencies advance water infrastructure and resilience projects.

With ongoing drought conditions straining water supplies and creating uncertainty throughout California, the State Water Resources Control Board todayapproved a unique agreement that allows right holders in the Upper Russian River watershed to voluntarily reduce water use and share their available water.

As California continues to experience climate-driven severe drought conditions, DWR is providing tools and resources to help communities and domestic well owners prepare for potential well outages and other drought impacts.

The Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are gearing up for the hot and dry summer months as the state experiences a third consecutive year of severe drought.

In response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 28 Executive Order, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an emergency water conservation regulation today that will ensure more aggressive conservation by local water agencies across the state.

The State Water Resources Control Board today readopted an emergency regulation authorizing the Division of Water Rights to curtail diversions in Sonoma and Mendocino counties to protect threatened drinking water supplies and migrating fish in the Russian River.

In an effort to boost water supply reliability for millions of Californians, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced its first round of funding to 20 agencies responsible for managing critically overdrafted groundwater basins throughout the state.

Following the driest three-month stretch in the state’s recorded history and with warmer months ahead, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its seventh round of grant awards for local assistance through the Small Community Drought Relief program.

CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation has selected 11 organizations to receive $5 million in funding through a new competitive grant program, the Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the fourth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station.

As drought conditions persist throughout California, the State Water Board sent early warning letters to approximately 20,000 water right holders urging them to plan for potential shortages.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its second phase of funding through the Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant program.