The headline is deceptive. State Water Project allocations have not been increased by 5% but rather to 5% from zero. Farmers will get a bare trickle of water this year. Worse, the allocation won’t start until Sept. 1. This means a long, hot, very dry summer for them. Your food prices will be going up.
The State Water Project sends water from the Sacramento Delta to the fertile San Joaquin valley and southern California. It is the primary, and sometimes sole, source of water for Central Valley agriculture.
Regarding the possibility of increasing SWP allocation, Mark Cowin: We will consider the next forecast at the end of April. Frankly I would be very surprised if there’s any additional increase at this point in time.