The California Department of Water Resources agreed to raise its annual water allocations to its contractors by 5 percent due to increased precipitation over March throughout the state.

The California Department of Water Resources has agreed to raise its annual water allocations to its contractors by 5 percent due to increased precipitation over March throughout the state. Because of unusually dry conditions from November to January, the state had decreased allocations to 20 percent of normal, citing low reservoir storage.

Officials say that the entitlements could be increased to their initial amount of 40 percent of normal if rain and snowfall amounts continue to climb. Contractors say that they don't expect to receive their full entitlement of 95,200 acre-feet.