By Ginika Igboke
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has approved a revised operational plan for California’s Central Valley Project (CVP), aiming to deliver more water to the state’s agricultural sector.
The updated plan, known as Action 5, follows directives from Executive Order 14181, signed on Jan. 24 by President Donald Trump. The order instructs federal agencies to maximize water deliveries from the CVP while remaining compliant with environmental and legal requirements.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the decision fulfills the promise of the executive order by enhancing California’s water resilience. He emphasized that the new operational approach uses advanced scientific tools to increase water supplies while protecting natural resources.
Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek described Action 5 as a forward-thinking strategy that balances the needs of communities, agriculture, and ecosystems.
“By refining real-time governance and operational flexibility, we are ensuring that every drop of water is managed with precision, accountability, and purpose,” she said.
Under Action 5, annual CVP deliveries could rise by 130,000 to 180,000 acre-feet, while the State Water Project may gain 120,000 to 220,000 acre-feet, depending on weather patterns and how Action 5 is implemented.
The new strategy replaces a framework adopted in December 2024 and incorporates modern scientific models to guide operational decisions. It remains within the scope of the 2024 environmental impact study and aligns with biological assessments from NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Key operational adjustments include modest changes to Delta pumping, ending the Delta Summer and Fall Habitat Action, and removing export-reduction concepts proposed under California’s Healthy Rivers and Landscapes initiative.
The announcement coincides with the 90th anniversary of the CVP’s 1935 authorization, which established a vast network of dams, reservoirs, and canals stretching 400 miles and serving up to 30 million Californians.
In December 2024, federal and state officials agreed on a coordinated approach to regulating CVP flows to protect against both floods and droughts.
At the time, state water director Karla Nemeth said the framework would improve adaptive management and help operators meet the needs of water users and endangered species amid increasingly volatile weather patterns.
Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the federal–state partnership, noting that California’s future will be hotter and drier and that the state must modernize its water infrastructure accordingly.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Mike Brain affirmed the CVP’s importance to California’s long-term water security. Additional federal support arrived in September, when Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) announced $1 billion in funding for water-storage expansions.
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