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California Ups Water Allocations As Drought Eases

A woman works among drought-tolerant plants in her front yard in San Diego, July 9, 2014.
Associated Press
A woman works among drought-tolerant plants in her front yard in San Diego, July 9, 2014.

Water agencies that serve nearly two-thirds of Californians will get more water, thanks to rain that's helping ease a six-year drought.

California's Department of Water Resources said Wednesday it expected to give 29 water agencies 45 percent of their requested water allotments in 2017.

That compares to just 5 percent of their allocations in 2014, one of the driest years of the drought.

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This year has brought twice the normal rainfall to parts of Northern California, leading the state to ease many water restrictions.

The 29 water agencies are served by California's State Water Project. Those water districts also help supply water to 750,000 acres of farmland.