The Central Valley Project

The Central Valley Project is a large U.S. water management system in California that provides irrigation for farmland, supplies drinking water, and generates hydroelectric power. Managed by the federal Bureau of Reclamation, it collects water from northern rivers and distributes it through a network of dams, reservoirs, and canals to support agriculture, cities, and ecosystems in California's Central Valley. The project helps ensure reliable water access in a region that depends heavily on irrigation and urban water use, balancing environmental needs with economic and societal demands.