Starting March 1st, the San Joaquin River, including the area along the Fresno Aquarium property, will begin running higher as part of the 2026 San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) flow schedule. This annual process, now updated with the latest run-off forecasts and water allocations, reflects a Normal–Wet water year—meaning above-average Sierra snowpack and runoff are predicted for our watershed. That results in a substantial release of restoration flows from Friant Dam down the San Joaquin River for ecological recovery and fish habitat enhancement.

But what does this mean for Valley agriculture and farmers who depend on water for crops?

Even as restoration flows are increased to support river health and salmon recovery, California’s water system is designed to keep water moving to farms through managed pumping and diversions:

•    Federal and State freshwater pumps — including major facilities like the Central Valley Project’s Tracy (Bill Jones) pumping plant and the State Water Project’s (Harvey O. Banks) plant — continue operating to deliver water to irrigation districts and growers across the Valley. These pumps draw water from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta as it flows downstream, moving it into the network of canals and aqueducts that support agriculture.

•    Diversions and regulated releases downstream of restoration flows help balance ecological needs with human use, ensuring that irrigation deliveries from both federal and state systems continue while restoration flows work to revive the river. The SJRRP specifically aims to avoid or reduce negative impacts on water supply to long-term water contractors while increasing flows for fish and habitat.

What This Means for You

For farmers: while seasonal river rises might look dramatic online or from the riverbank, the integrated water management system keeps surface water moving where it’s needed — from snowpack to river to pumps and canals. This means irrigation water remains accessible even as the San Joaquin River plays its part in healthy watershed functioning.

For nature lovers: higher river levels are a sign of a functioning river system that supports native fish and wildlife — part of a decades-long effort to bring the San Joaquin back to life and reconnect the river along Fresno's northern border to the Pacific Ocean.

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the spring as water year data evolves — and as always, let’s celebrate both thriving farms and a living river here in the heart of California. 🌱