On Dec. 1, 2025, the California Department of Water Resources announced an initial State Water Project allocation of 10% for 2026. You can read the full announcement here.
Valley Water relies on both the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project to help meet Santa Clara County’s water supply needs. The United States Bureau of Reclamation will announce its initial Central Valley Project allocation in February of 2026.
This initial State Water Project allocation is based on current reservoir storage and assumes dry conditions for the remainder of the year. For comparison, last year’s initial allocation was also 10%, later increasing to 50% by the end of the rainfall season.
While the water supply outlook for Santa Clara County remains positive, California’s climate makes it especially vulnerable to drought. That’s why Valley Water encourages residents and businesses to continue making water conservation a way of life. To support those efforts, residents, businesses, and farms can explore a wide range of rebates, tools, and programs at watersavings.org.
Photo information: An aerial view in May 2025 shows high water conditions at Enterprise Bridge located at Lake Oroville in Butte County, California. Lake Oroville is the State Water Project’s largest reservoir. Photo courtesy of Nick Shockey / California Department of Water Resources.