The Bureau of Reclamation on Dec. 4 issued a new Record of Decision that updates the long-term operation plan for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and its coordinated operations with the State Water Project (SWP). The decision, intended to increase water deliveries statewide while remaining compliant with federal environmental laws, immediately drew both praise and sharp criticism.
Stretching from Mount Shasta, through the tidal Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and into Southern California, the CVP and SWP supply water to more than 30 million people, irrigate over 4 million acres of farmland and generate over 4 million megawatt-hours of energy every year. The decision, developed under the National Environmental Policy Act, updates the Long-Term Operation Plan governing these essential systems.
The federal action was a result of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14181, issued Jan. 24, directing federal agencies to “take all available measures” to increase CVP water deliveries and hydropower production. A related presidential memorandum—Putting People Over Fish—framed water reliability as a top federal priority.
The order instructs the secretary of the Interior to operate the CVP to deliver more water “notwithstanding any contrary State or local laws.” It directs Reclamation to ensure that state agencies, including the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), do not interfere with maximizing federal water exports.
“With the signing of this Record of Decision, we are delivering on the promise of Executive Order 14181 to strengthen California’s water resilience,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “This updated operations plan reflects our commitment to using the best available science to increase water deliveries while safeguarding the environment and honoring the legacy of the Central Valley Project’s 90 years of service.”
Elements of the plan
Under the plan, the CVP may increase annual deliveries by 130,000-180,000 acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons), and the SWP by 120,000-220,000 acre-feet, depending on hydrology and contingent upon California adopting Action 5.
The decision implements several targeted operational adjustments, including removing the Delta Summer and Fall Habitat Action (Fall X2) after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined it was unlikely to significantly improve Delta smelt survival. Early export-reduction measures in the state’s Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program were also removed because necessary data and processes were not yet available.
Additional changes—including updates to Old and Middle River flow criteria and storm-flex operations—aim to improve export efficiency while relying on predictive, real-time science to ensure environmental protections remain effective.
Reclamation emphasized that many existing regulations were developed before modern advances in habitat modeling, species science and forecasting, and the agency may pursue further operational updates—potentially requiring new environmental review—for water year 2027 and beyond.
The announcement also contrasted sharply with a Dec. 1 forecast from the DWR, which set the initial SWP allocation at just 10% of requested supplies for 2026. That forecast, which is typically conservative this early in the water year, reflects current reservoir storage, hydrological conditions and an assumption of continued dry weather. Yet the new water year has begun with encouraging precipitation in both Northern and Southern California.
Sharp divisions in response
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) office blasted the decision, calling it another example of the Trump administration “putting politics over people.”
“As per usual, the emperor is left with no clothes, pushing for an outcome that disregards science and undermines our ability to protect the water supply for people, farms, and the environment,” spokesperson Tara Gallegos said in a statement reported by the Associated Press (AP).
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is also reviewing potential legal and administrative responses. His office said it is “looking at all available options to respond” to Reclamation’s updated plan.
“This politically motivated decision creates new risks for water availability, especially for Southern California cities, and the health of California’s waterways, fish, and wildlife,” a spokesperson told The Sacramento Bee.
DWR Director Karla Nemeth warned that increasing federal exports could force the state to dedicate additional water to species protection, thereby reducing supplies for urban and agricultural users. “It is important for the two systems to work together,” she told AP.
Agricultural groups, by contrast, welcomed the decision.
Westlands Water District General Manager Allison Febbo said, “These changes will help ensure that our growers have the water they need to support local communities and the nation’s food supply, while also protecting California’s wildlife … Action 5 is a testament to what can be accomplished with a data-driven, results-focused adaptation to water supply operations.”
For CVP South-of-Delta contractors such as Westlands, Action 5 is expected to yield about 85,000 acre-feet of additional supply annually, which could reduce groundwater reliance, support farmland and bolster regional economic stability.
Western Growers echoed that view. “Right on cue, those committed to throttling back water for farms and cities are apoplectic,” said President and CEO Dave Puglia, noting that CVP growers have received only 45% of their contracted supplies over the past 20 years. “This modest potential rebalancing represents a welcome return of common sense.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
