Department of Water Resources & State Water Projects
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is within the California Natural Resources Agency. The department’s charged with protecting, conserving, developing, and managing California's water supply. This includes the State Water Project (SWP), supplying water to nearly 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It spans from Northern California to Southern California and includes 36 storage facilities, 21 pumping plants, 26 dams, 5 hydroelectric power plants, 4 pumping-generating plants, and approximately 700 miles of canals, tunnels, and pipelines. The SWP also provides flood control, hydroelectric power generation, recreational opportunities, and ecosystem enhancements to protect fish and wildlife habitat.
DWR's responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the statewide process of developing and updating the California Water Plan (Bulletin 160);
- Overseeing the statewide process of developing and updating California’s Groundwater – Update 2020 (Bulletin-118), and a companion web-based application called California’s Groundwater Live<
- Planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the SWP;
- Protecting and restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta;
- Regulating dams, providing flood protection, and assisting in emergency management;
- Working to preserve the natural environment and wildlife;
- Educating the public about the importance of water, water conservation, and water safety;
- Providing grants and technical assistance to service local water needs; and
- Collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to manage and protect California’s water resources.
- State Water Project Water Allocations: https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2021/Dec-21/SWP-December-Allocation
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