About
Established in 1956 by the California State Legislature, DWR protects, conserves, develops, and manages much of California's water supply. This includes the State Water Project (SWP), the nation’s largest state-built water conveyance program.
The SWP supplies water to an almost 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. It spans more than 700 miles from Northern California to Southern California and includes 36 storage facilities, 21 pumping plants, 26 dams, 5 hydroelectric power plants, 4 pumping-generating plants, and approximately 700 miles of canals, tunnels, and pipelines. In addition to supplying high-quality water for California’s cities, industries, and farms, the SWP also provides flood control, hydroelectric power generation, recreational opportunities, and ecosystem enhancements to protect fish and wildlife habitat.
Sustainability is our priority. We strive to meet the water needs of today and those of the future, while protecting and enhancing the environment. This balancing act is an enduring challenge and commitment. We work with many federal, State, and local partners to protect and restore the critically important Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in a way that also ensures long-term water supply reliability for the state.