Federal Government Approves Central Valley Water Plan, Increasing Output

The updated framework aims to increase water deliveries to farms and communities in California while staying within environmental and wildlife requirements.

An aerial view shows Friant Dam, which holds back Millerton Lake in Friant, Calif., on March 7, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has approved a revised plan for managing California’s Central Valley Project (CVP), with the goal of sending more water to farmers in the state.

The revised operation, called Action 5, aligns with directives from Executive Order 14181, signed on Jan. 24 by President Donald Trump, which orders federal agencies to maximize water output from the CVP while complying with legal standards.