SACRAMENTO, Calif. April 2, 2019 – Due to forecasted storms and growing snowpack, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will begin to release flows at 11 a.m. today from the Oroville main spillway. By early afternoon, releases from the main spillway will be about 8,300 cubic feet per second (cfs). This will be the […]
California Department of Water Resources
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DWR Prepares for Potential Use of Oroville’s Main Spillway
SACRAMENTO, Calif. March 26, 2019 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is closely monitoring Oroville reservoir levels and current forecasts. Due to storms expected in the Feather River basin, DWR is taking steps to prepare for use of the main spillway potentially as early as the first week of April. DWR is following […]
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State Water Project Allocations Increase to 70 Percent Following Strong Winter Storms
SACRAMENTO, Calif. March 20, 2019 – 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, […]
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Sierra Nevada snowpack is 153 percent of average says DWR
SACRAMENTO, Calif. February 28, 2019 – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the third Phillips Station snow survey of 2019. The manual survey recorded 113 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 43.5 inches, which is more than double what was recorded last month at this location. Statewide, the […]
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State Water Project Allocations Increased to 35 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. February 20, 2019 – As a result of improved water supply conditions, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an increase in 2019 State Water Project (SWP) allocations. SWP contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are set to receive 35 percent of their requests for the 2019 calendar year, up […]
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January Storms Boost California’s Snowpack to 100 Percent of Average
SACRAMENTO, Calif. January 31, 2019 – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the second Phillips Station snow survey of 2019. The manual survey recorded 50 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 18 inches, which is 98 percent of average for this location. Statewide, the Sierra snowpack is 100 […]
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CDFW and State Water Board to Present Cannabis Workshop in Grass Valley, Feb. 6
Feb. 28, 2019 – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are extending outreach to the cannabis cultivating community with presentations at four permitting workshops in northern California. The presentations are ideally suited for cannabis cultivators, consultants and anyone interested in the topic. CDFW will address […]
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State Water Project Allocations Increased to 15 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. January 25, 2019 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a statewide increase in State Water Project allocations for 2019. The majority of SWP contractors now stand to receive 15 percent of their requests for the 2019 calendar year, up from the initial 10 percent announced in December. Allocations are based […]
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Early Winter Storms Produce Sierra Snow, But Water Content Remains Below Average
SACRAMENTO, Calif. January 3, 2019 – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the first Phillips Station snow survey of 2019. The manual survey recorded 25.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 9 inches, which is 80 percent of average for this location. Statewide, the Sierra snowpack is 67 percent […]
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Initial State Water Project Allocation at 10 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. November 30, 2018 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an initial water allocation of 10 percent for the State Water Project (SWP) contractors for the 2019 calendar year. Allocations often change as hydrologic and water supply conditions change. “Even with the recent rainfall, Water Year 2019 has started dry […]
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2018 Wildfires Increase Risk of Flooding
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Oct. 24, 2018 – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today urged Californians to be proactive and prepare for flooding before the winter storm season begins November 1. Landscapes charred by recent wildfires are particularly vulnerable to flash flooding and debris flows this winter. Federal, state, and local officials gathered in […]
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Below Average Precipitation for Water Year 2018
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 1, 2018 – A new water year begins today and Californians will be eyeing the weather forecasts to see what kind of year it will be. Despite below-average precipitation in water year 2018, most California reservoirs are storing near- or above-average levels of water heading into the 2019 water year. “California experiences significant […]
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San Luis Reservoir Algal Bloom Advisory at “Warning” Level
SACRAMENTO, Calif. August 23, 2018 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today lowered a danger advisory that had been in effect since August 10 at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, but continues to urge the public to avoid water contact until further notice due to blue-green algae. DWR lowered the advisory from danger […]
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San Luis Reservoir Algal Bloom at “Danger” Level
SACRAMENTO – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) urged people to avoid physical contact with the water at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County until further notice and avoid eating fish from the lake due to presence of blue-green algae. Boating is allowed, but swimming and other water-contact recreation and sporting activities are not […]
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Lake Oroville: Potential use of main spillway next week
SACRAMENTO April 3, 2018 – Forecasted storms expected in the Feather River basin this weekend may require using Lake Oroville’s flood control outlet spillway (also known as the main spillway) this week or next. After last year’s spillway incident, the Department created the 2017/18 Lake Oroville Winter Operations Plan to ensure public safety in the […]
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Winter Storm Provides Much-Needed Boost to Sierra Snowpack, but Water Content Still Below Average
SACRAMENTO March 5, 2018 – Today’s snow survey at Phillips Station tells a more positive story than it did before the recent storm, but totals are still well below average. Despite the recent late-winter storm that brought much-needed snow to the Sierra Nevada, the snow water equivalent (SWE) is 9.4 inches, which is 39 percent […]
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Snowpack Below Average Despite Gains
SACRAMENTO, Calif. February 1, 2018 – Despite moderate January precipitation in the Sierra Nevada after an historically dry December, today’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) manual snow survey east of Sacramento found little snowpack there, two months into what is typically California’s wettest three months. Measurements at Phillips Station revealed a snow water equivalent (SWE) […]
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DWR Increases Allocation to DWR’s Water Contractors
SACRAMENTO January 29, 2018 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a statewide increase in water allocations. Going forward, the vast majority of State Water Project (SWP) contractors will receive 20 percent of their requests. Statewide allocations are based on conservative assumptions and may change depending on rain and snow received this winter. […]
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Dry December Produces Below-Average Snowpack
SACRAMENTO January 3, 2018 – Today’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) manual snow survey east of Sacramento in the Sierra Nevada found little snowpack, which was predictable after a dry December throughout California. Measurements at Phillips Station revealed a snow water equivalent (SWE) of _ inches, __ percent of the average SWE of 11.3 inches […]
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Initial State Water Project Allocation Set at 15 Percent
SACRAMENTO, Calif. November 30, 2017 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an initial water allocation of 15 percent for most State Water Project (SWP) contractors for the 2018 calendar year. That allocation will likely change depending on rain and snowfall received this winter. “It’s hard to know what mother nature will have […]