New ‘Action 5’ federal water rules affect Central Valley growers

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has approved a revised long‑term operations plan for the Central Valley Project (CVP) that could increase water deliveries to farms in California’s Central Valley, a development with potential significance for almond, pistachio, walnut and other orchard growers.

Under the plan — dubbed “Action 5” — water deliveries from the CVP could rise by 130,000 to 180,000 acre‑feet per year, depending on hydrologic conditions and state approval of associated measures. The new rules fine‑tune Delta export operations and remove certain export‑reduction restrictions designed under prior habitat‑protection guidelines.

For tree nut growers dependent on surface‑water allocations, the potential boost is a positive sign. More available irrigation water could ease pressure on groundwater pumping, a growing concern under tightening regulations and increasingly stringent water management in recent years. Consistent deliveries would also help orchard maintenance, irrigation scheduling and long‑term planning.

That said, the increases are conditional. “Action 5” only guarantees additional supply if hydrologic conditions are favorable and state-level arrangements proceed. In dry years, or if environmental or legal constraints re-emerge, water deliveries could still be limited.

The revised CVP operations plan has stirred pushback from environmental and state officials. Critics argue that increased pumping from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta threatens endangered fish such as salmon and Delta smelt and could compromise broader ecosystem health — an outcome that, if realized, might trigger litigation or future regulatory adjustments.

For nut growers, the key takeaway is cautious optimism. The plan offers a promising opportunity to secure more stable water resources, but growers would be wise to remain flexible: drought-ready contingency plans, adaptive water management and monitoring both hydrologic forecasts and regulatory developments remain essential.