Following several strong winter storms that brought snowpack and precipitation to above average levels, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced it will increase the 2019 State Water Project (SWP) allocation. Most SWP contractors will now receive 70 percent of their requests for the 2019 calendar year, an increase from the 35 percent allocation announced last month.

As of March 7, the Northern Sierra 8-station index recorded above average precipitation for water year 2019. While the state has not reached record precipitation like that seen in 2017, February was the third wettest recorded in the Northern Sierra index since 1921 and the sixth wettest in the San Joaquin index since 1913. The statewide Sierra snowpack is 156 percent of average for this date.

Reservoir storage, snowpack, precipitation, and releases to meet water supply and environmental demands are among several factors used in determining allocations.

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