2026 Water Transfer btwn Valley Water & Kern County Water Agency Member Units Lost Hills & Berrenda Mesa Water Districts, & Westside Mutual Water Company

The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) will request the California Department of Water Resources to transfer up to 8,000 acre feet of surplus 2026 State Water Project Table A water to the Kern County Water Agency (KCWA). The water will be delivered by the Department of Water Resources via the SWP Banks Pumping Plant on Reach 1 of the California Aqueduct. Once received, KCWA will distribute the water to the Lost Hills Water District, Berrenda Mesa Water District, and Westside Mutual Water Company for use on existing agricultural lands within Kern County. The project is designated as a categorical exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 for existing facilities, as the transfer will utilize existing diversion, conveyance, and storage facilities without requiring new construction or alterations. The project spans Santa Clara and Kern Counties, with Kelly White serving as the primary environmental planning contact. This action is classified as a forecast under NAICS code 221310.