California's 2024 water allocation drops to 10% due dry start, leaving agencies and farmers hopeful for change - Bakersfield Now

California's 2024 water allocation drops to 10% due dry start, leaving agencies, farmers | KBAK

BAKERSFIELD, California (KBAK/FOX58) — The California Department of Water Resources recently announced that its State Water Project allocation for 2024 is only 10%.

This percentage is how much water the state will be able to give water agencies and farmers for the next year.

"It's disappointing but not out of the ordinary,” said Tom McCarthy with the Kern County Water Agency.

The reason for this percentage? The 2023 to 2024 water year is off to a dry start.

DWR guidelines determine that a new water year begins each October. So far, there has been little to no rain in October and November 2023. The DWR uses these two months to calculate the allocation for the new water year.

This calculated allocation does not take into consideration all the rainfall the state received in the first half of 2023, which still has water reservoirs at above-average levels.

The Kern County Water Agency is one of many water agencies across the state that are directly impacted by these allocations. They are in charge of preserving and enhancing Kern County’s water supply.

A portion of the water they receive from the state also goes directly to the California Water Service in Bakersfield, which brings water to residents' homes.

Both agencies say they are hoping the 10% allocation changes, especially with an El Niño forecast this winter.

"It's only December, we get these allocations once a month until May. We will have a good idea in the spring when we hopefully get more rain,” said McCarthy.

Water allocation amounts did change in the 2022 to 2023 water year. California was in a severe drought in December 2022, with water allocation being at 5%. A series of storms hit the state in the first half of 2023, bringing the water allocation amount up to 100% in April for the first time since 2006.