Snowmelt and rain from the Sierra Nevada typically provide about half of Santa Clara County’s water supply, known as imported water. On Feb. 25, 2025, Valley Water received positive news about how much water it is projected to receive from the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project.
Valley Water gets imported water through contracts with the Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project) and the California Department of Water Resources (State Water Project). On Feb. 25, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the initial Central Valley Project south of the Delta water allocations for municipal and industrial use and for agricultural use are 75% and 35%, respectively. For Valley Water, this amounts to about 105,000 acre-feet of water.
On Feb. 25, the California Department of Water Resources announced an increase in the allocation from the State Water Project to 35% of the requested supplies, up from an initial estimate of 20%. For Valley Water, this amounts to about 35,000 acre-feet of water for Santa Clara County.
These allocations may change based on the remaining rainy season. Final allocations are typically announced in the spring.
Imported water is an important part of a diverse portfolio of water supplies that includes local reservoirs, recycled water and groundwater recharge. To sustain these supplies in the face of climate change, Valley Water is evaluating various supply and storage projects through our Water Supply Master Plan. We must make additional investments to ensure a reliable, clean water supply for future generations.
Photo caption: Snow blankets the Phillips Station meadow where the California Department of Water Resources conducted the second media snow survey of the season on Jan. 31, 2025, at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Photo courtesy of Xavier Mascareñas / California Department of Water Resources.