The U.S. Drought Monitor map of California released last week shows most of the state in severe to exceptional drought conditions. Orange is severe drought; red is extreme drought and brown shows areas of exceptional drought. Click on map to see full statistics. (Brian Fuchs/National Drought Mitigation Center)

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced Friday that the Bureau of Reclamation is making $50 million available immediately for drought relief projects throughout the West — including nearly $20 million for California’s Central Valley Project.

“California’s ongoing drought is wreaking havoc on farmers, ranchers, municipalities, tribes and the environment,” Jewell said in a news release.

“With climate change, droughts are projected to become more intense and frequent in many parts of the West, so we need to pursue every measure to provide relief and support to communities who are feeling the impacts.”

Jewell made the announcement after meeting with California Gov. Jerry Brown in Sacramento.

“This important investment will help us improve how we save and move water, while continuing to protect sensitive habitat and wildlife,” said Brown. “Even with recent storms, we have a long, dry trek ahead and a close partnership with the federal government is crucial.”

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., said the money "will help boost immediate efforts to improve water supplies by increasing advanced monitoring, providing the data to support real time operation of the projects and increase pumping when there is decreased likelihood of listed species being harmed.”

“This could increase monitoring that would enable operators to ramp up pumping when the fish aren’t near the pumps, delivering vital water to communities in severe distress,” Costa said. “Additionally, some of these funds will go to short and medium-term projects to diversify California’s water supply, reducing demands on Delta water, increasing conservation and creating more resiliency in our water system.”

But Costa noted that the drought “is causing irreparable harm to the San Joaquin Valley, devastating our families, communities, and our businesses.”

“This is a small step forward, but it is imperative that the administration commit to increasing operational flexibility and to bringing more reliable water supplies to our valley,” he said.

“The valley, which produces more than half of our nation’s fruits and vegetables, cannot continue being the agricultural economic engine of our state with inadequate and unreliable water supplies.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor released Friday shows that most of California remains in drought conditions.

▪ U.S. Drought Monitor — California