California's water shortage has been exacerbated by years of bad policy, according to Friant Water Authority CEO Johnny Amaral. The state currently holds roughly 1% of its water in the 152-mile Friant-Kern Canal, which delivers water to roughly one million acres. The canal is part of the larger Central Valley Project (CVP), a federal system with roots stretching back over a century. However, due to regulation, litigation, lawsuits and restrictions on water usage and operations, the CVP began to deteriorate about 30 years ago due to regulations. Restrictions like the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have limited farmers to fraction of contracted supplies, even during wet years.