California Department of Water Resources

What California Department of Water Resources does

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a California state government agency established in 1956 by the state legislature, operating under the California Natural Resources Agency. DWR's core function is to protect, conserve, develop, and manage California's water resources, primarily through operation of the State Water Project (SWP)—the nation's largest state-built water conveyance program. The SWP spans more than 700 miles from Northern 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. The system supplies water to approximately 27 million Californians and irrigates 750,000 acres of farmland, and includes the Edmonston Pumping Plant, which lifts water 1,926 feet over the Tehachapi Ridge—the world's tallest water lift. The SWP is also the fourth-largest energy producer in California.

DWR's supporting programs include the California Water Plan (a statewide collaborative planning framework), Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation covering 515 groundwater basins, and the Division of Safety of Dams (regulating over 1,200 dams). The agency maintains public data tools including the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC), California Water Watch, California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) with 145 automated weather stations, and California Groundwater Live. DWR is currently advancing multiple major initiatives: the Delta Conveyance Project (a $20 billion tunnel system), the 105 MW Pastoria Solar Project (completed April 2026 as the largest renewable energy project contracted by DWR), Project Nexus (solar-over-canal pilot), and California Water Plan 2028, which sets a statutory target of 9 million additional acre-feet of water supply by 2040. The agency publishes the official California Groundwater Bulletin 118, with Update 2025 released in March 2026.

DWR's business model is that of a state government agency rather than a commercial enterprise. Funding derives from state budget appropriations, water contractor payments for SWP deliveries, federal grants, and bond issuances, with no equity shareholders or commercial revenue mechanics. Water delivery is monetized through long-term contracts with state water agencies, and the agency distributes grants and loans to local water districts, provides technical assistance through four regional offices, and conducts procurement for major infrastructure projects. Pricing is governed by statutory cost-allocation frameworks rather than market dynamics, with one disclosed projection indicating that SB 1203's net-zero emissions mandate could increase water contractor costs by 10-20% through $35-40 million in annual renewable energy procurement. The agency serves diverse customer segments including municipal water districts, agricultural irrigation districts, urban water agencies, environmental stakeholders, and tribal governments.

Name

California Department of Water Resources

Legal name

California Department of Water Resources

Website

https://water.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The California Department of Water Resources is a California state government agency founded in 1956 that operates the State Water Project—the nation's largest state-built water conveyance system—serving 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of agricultural land across 700+ miles of infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB), Water Source Development & Conveyance (Intakes, Canals, Pipelines) (AFACAFAH)

Keywords

• State water management
• Water infrastructure operations
• Groundwater management
• Flood control services
• Hydroelectric power generation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California Department of Water Resources operates the State Water Project (SWP), the nation's largest state-built water conveyance system, delivering water to 27 million Californians and irrigating 750,000 acres of farmland. The agency provides integrated water management services including water supply, flood control, hydroelectric power generation, dam safety oversight of over 1,200 dams, groundwater management under SGMA, and real-time hydrologic data through platforms such as CDEC, California Water Watch, and CIMIS.

Product overview

The California Department of Water Resources operates the State Water Project (SWP) as its core product—the nation's largest state-built water conveyance system serving 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland across more than 700 miles. Supporting core programs include the California Water Plan (collaborative statewide water planning framework), the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Program, and the Division of Safety of Dams (regulating over 1,200 dams). DWR provides public data tools including: California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) for real-time hydrologic data; California Water Watch for statewide water conditions tracking; California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) with 145 weather stations for agricultural irrigation management; California Groundwater Live for basin monitoring; and the Dry Well Reporting System. The Delta Conveyance Program represents a major infrastructure planning initiative for future water supply reliability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State Water Project (SWP)
• California Water Plan 2028
• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Program
• Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD)

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 27 million Californians with water supply
• +10 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026Negotiating water deal committing 50,000 acre feet in normal water years for salmon pulse flows. Water transfer revenue would fund the $94 million Canyon Tunnel water reliability project.
• Oakdale Irrigation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026Negotiating water deal committing up to 20,000 acre feet in critical dry years for salmon pulse flows, in partnership with South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
• San Luis & Delta Mendota Water AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026Water authority handling water exports for salmon pulse flow deal between SSJID, OID, and DWR.
• Turlock Irrigation DistrictflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Project Nexus - a pilot program testing solar panels installed over irrigation canals in Turlock. The project generates renewable energy and reduces water evaporation, showing 70% evaporation reduction and 85% algae reduction in initial results.
• UC Merced ResearcherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership on Project Nexus solar-over-canal pilot program. UC Merced researchers contributed the 2021 study projecting that covering California's 4,000 miles of canals with solar could generate 13 gigawatts and save 63 billion gallons of water annually.
• Solar AquaGridflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for Project Nexus solar-over-canal pilot program. Funded by $20 million in state funds for the 1.6-megawatt installations covering an area the size of one-and-a-half football fields.
• California State University, East BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Delta Wetlands Project carbon storage study - conducting soil samples and measurements to test whether traditional Indigenous burning practices enhance carbon sequestration in restored wetlands at Twitchell Island.
• University of California, BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Delta Wetlands Project - studying carbon sequestration and land subsidence reversal through traditional Indigenous burning practices at Twitchell Island.
• McCloud River CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year pilot study (2022-2026) helping endangered winter-run Chinook salmon bypass Shasta and Keswick dams. DWR built and operated the Juvenile Salmon Collection System, with at least two pairs of adult salmon returning to spawn in the McCloud River.
• Constellation Energy (Calpine)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction and operation of the 105 MW Pastoria Solar Project - DWR's largest renewable energy investment. Co-located with 80 MW/320 MWh battery storage and 750 MW natural gas combined-cycle facility. Project supports SWP carbon neutrality goal by 2035.
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor15-year power purchase agreement holder for Pastoria Solar Project battery storage system coming online in spring/summer 2026.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLADWP receives $14.6 million grant from DWR for Landscape Efficiency Assistance Program (LEAP) converting turf to drought-tolerant landscapes, projected to save 85.5 million gallons annually.
• Edmonston Pumping PlantcoreTechnology or IntegrationPastoria Solar Project co-located near Edmonston Pumping Plant - the world's tallest water lift at 1,926 feet, which pumps water over the Tehachapi Mountains into Southern California.

Scale indicators28 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: The federal counterpart that operates the Central Valley Project in California alongside DWR's State Water Project, managing large-scale water storage, conveyance, and hydroelectric generation across the western U.S. — the closest institutional peer for a state water resources agency.

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): The largest municipal utility in the U.S., combining water supply and power generation (including significant hydroelectric assets) for Los Angeles; a direct peer to DWR because of its combined water-and-power mandate, scale, and California's renewable/carbon-neutral policy exposure.
• East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): A California urban water utility operating its own reservoir, conveyance, and treatment system serving roughly 1.4 million people; a direct peer in operating integrated water supply infrastructure and navigating California's SGMA and climate-driven supply challenges.
• Water Replenishment District of Southern California: The largest groundwater management agency in California, focused on replenishment and protection of the Central and West Coast basins; comparable to DWR's SGMA implementation role and groundwater-recharge mandate at the regional scale.
• San Diego County Water Authority: A wholesale water agency importing the majority of its supply from the Colorado River and SWP, operating major conveyance and storage infrastructure; comparable because of its reliance on DWR-contracted supplies, capital-intensive infrastructure, and integrated supply diversification strategy.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: The largest SWP contractor and regional water wholesaler serving 19 million Southern Californians; comparable because it purchases and distributes SWP water, operates major conveyance and treatment infrastructure, and shares DWR's integrated supply, storage, and conservation mandate.

Regional players

• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD): A California community-owned electric utility with significant hydroelectric generation from upper Sacramento River dams; comparable to DWR's SWP power operations and its carbon-neutrality mandate, though focused on retail electricity rather than water conveyance.
• Texas Water Development Board: Texas's state water planning and financing agency responsible for statewide water supply planning, groundwater management, and water infrastructure financing — directly comparable in mandate and statutory authority, but operating in a different geography.
• Central Utah Water Conservancy District: Operates large-scale water collection, storage, and conveyance projects across Utah under a state-mandated water development role; structurally comparable to DWR as a state-level water development and delivery entity, though at smaller scale.

Others

• California Energy Commission: California's primary energy policy and planning agency, increasingly interconnected with DWR through SB 1203's net-zero mandate, the Pastoria Solar Project procurement, and SWP hydroelectric licensing — a regulatory and policy counterpart rather than a direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ca_dwr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/calwater
• Facebookfacebook.com/california-department-of-water-resources-95205192448
• Instagraminstagram.com/cadepartmentofwaterresources

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Department of Water Resources