Sacramento, CA — The recent rains have state water officials easing up on drought restrictions. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Friday announced it would start releasing water from the State Water Project (SWP). The allotments will go from zero to 5%, which is what water districts had requested initially. DWR Director Mark Cowin says, “During February and March, state and federal water agencies worked together to capture storm runoff and increase our water supplies. In addition, on Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced it would supply 75 percent of the water requested by water agencies in the Sacramento Valley, up from the current 40 percent.