The Central Valley Project (CVP) Water Allocation for 2023 is Presently Unknown

An initial CVP supply allocation announcement is expected from the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in mid-February for Bella Vista Water District’s Contract Year, which begins March 1, 2023. Water Allocation details will be posted on Reclamation’s website: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/allocations.html. California traditionally receives half its rain and snow by the end of January. Water managers will reassess conditions monthly throughout the winter and spring. Starting in February, the assessments will incorporate snowpack data and runoff forecasts.

The District does not receive any water supply from the State Water Project (SWP), which is operated by the Department of Water Resources and now expects to deliver 30% of requested water supplies – or 1.27 million acre-feet – in 2023, up from the initial 5% announced on December 1. The State Water Project’s two largest reservoirs (Oroville and San Luis) have gained a combined 1.62 million acre-feet of water in storage – roughly enough to provide water to 5.6 million households for a year.