If you manage water operations in California, you already know how frustrating the lag can be between what’s happening on the ground and what the official sources say.

Reservoirs may be near capacity.

Soils might be saturated.

Storms may have rolled through for weeks.

And yet, you’re still operating under a “dry year” classification.

That lag delays decisions.

It narrows windows.

And in some cases, it means missing out on available supply.

At Weather Tools, we built the CAP and CRAFT forecasts to break that cycle.

Issued each November, these tools deliver early-season intelligence on precipitation and reservoir inflow, so you don’t have to wait for state metrics to catch up.

Stockton East Water District put both forecasts to work this past year.

Using CAP, General Manager Justin Hopkins began Central Valley Project operations months ahead of the official allocation.

And with CRAFT, his team managed New Hogan with confidence, releasing water for recharge, irrigation, and demand while still in control of the reservoir.

“It almost feels like we’re cheating the system, because we know the future,” Hopkins said.

They maintained strong storage levels despite receiving less rain.

And they avoided the cost of waiting.

If you’re looking for earlier guidance, greater flexibility, and fewer surprises, we can help.

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Read how Stockton East used long-range forecasting to stay ahead:

Beating the Lag: How Stockton East Took Charge of the Water Year

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