Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced a modest increase in the water allocation for Central Valley Project (CVP) South-of-Delta agricultural contractors from 50% to 55%. In response to the announcement, Westlands Water District General Manager Allison Febbo issued the following statement:

“While an increase is appropriate, given current reservoir levels and snowpack, a 5 % increase is disappointing and highlights a critical reality: even in average hydrological years, California’s outdated water system falls short of delivering the water our communities require. As a state, we are failing the family farms and rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley that depend on CVP water to grow food, provide jobs, and sustain the economy. We can and must do better.

We cannot simply hope for rain or snow. Our state needs a modernized water infrastructure that performs consistently regardless of annual hydrology. Westlands remains committed to working with state and federal partners to advance balanced, science-based solutions that improve the regulatory landscape, water storage, and delivery capabilities for the hardworking families who grow the food that feeds California—and the nation—day in and day out.”