DWR Updates

California Department of Water Resources Engineer Jacob Kollen (left) and Engineer Anthony Burdock conduct the first media snow survey of the 2026 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The snow survey is held approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo taken December 30, 2026.

Each year, the State Water Project uses several factors to determine how much water it can deliver to water contractors. One factor that guides those decisions is snow surveys. Watch to learn more.

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Clifton Court Forebay, which is located two miles upstream of the Banks Pumping Plant in Contra Costa County, California. The Forebay is located on the southwestern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Contra Costa County. Photo taken on October 30, 2025.

As runoff from the last sizable storm was rolling down California rivers to San Francisco Bay in December, operators of the State Water Project used scientific information and modeling about the movement of fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to adjust operations and capture additional water supply without compromising species protecti ...

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High river flows on the San Joaquin River at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge in Stanislaus County, California. Photo taken June 13, 2023.

California is taking a new, data-driven approach to capturing floodwaters for groundwater recharge. DWR, in coordination with GEI Consultants, has released the Central Valley Flood-MAR Dashboard for public testing, allowing water managers across the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys the opportunity to explore the tool and offer feedback.

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