On April 23, 2024, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that the State Water Project (SWP) water allocation increased from 30 to 40 percent of the contracted amount. The SWP provides water to more than 25 million residents and more than 750,000 acres of agricultural land throughout California. The Kern County Water Agency (Agency) holds contracts with DWR for approximately one million acre-feet (af) of water from the SWP. The 40 percent allocation represents about 400,000 af of SWP water for Kern County.

“This allocation increase is incredibly disappointing and should be much higher,” said Agency Board of Directors President Ted Page. “It is inadequate, given the current hydrology, that the allocation increase wasn’t more than 40 percent. With a robust snowpack and following a 100 percent allocation year, reservoirs throughout the State are full. Yet, because of regulatory restrictions based on outdated fish population estimating tools, we are not getting the water we pay for.”

“There is no data to show that the actions imposed by the regulatory agencies have helped fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, but the actions have severely limited California’s available water,” said Page. “These actions have robbed the SWP of water that could have been delivered this year to grow food and store in groundwater basins for future drought years. What California really needs is a comprehensive solution to the water crisis — one that relies on good science and balances the water needs of people and the environment.”

The Kern County Water Agency (Agency) was created in 1961 by a special act of the State Legislature and serves as the local contracting entity for the State Water Project. The Agency, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011, participates in a wide scope of management activities, including water quality, flood control and groundwater operations to preserve and enhance Kern County’s water supply—the main ingredient for the well-being of an economy.

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