The document titled “A Guidebook to Assist Agricultural Water Suppliers to Prepare a 2015 Agricultural Water Management Plan” (Guidebook) was prepared by the...
The document titled “A Guidebook to Assist Agricultural Water Suppliers to Prepare a 2015 Agricultural Water Management Plan” (Guidebook) was prepared by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to assist agricultural water suppliers in understanding and complying with the requirements of the SB X7-7- Water Conservation Act (Steinberg Statute of 2009), (Section I, Part 2.55, Division 6 of the California Water Code), the associated Agricultural Water Management Planning Act (Section I, Part 2.8, Division 6 of the Water Code), the Agricultural Water Measurement Regulation (Title 23 California Code of Regulations), and Executive Order B-29-15.
It is meant to help agricultural water suppliers better understand the Water Code Agricultural Water Management Plan (AWMP) requirements and assist them in developing an AWMP. This Guidebook also describes how water conservation plans submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) can be supplemented to satisfy the Water Code and Agricultural Water Measurement Regulation requirements.
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | September 22, 2017...
Summary
Senate Bill X7-7, the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), requires agricultural water suppliers who provide water to more than 25,000 irrigated...
Senate Bill X7-7, the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), requires agricultural water suppliers who provide water to more than 25,000 irrigated acres (excluding acreage irrigated by recycled water) to adopt and submit Agricultural Water Management Plans (AWMPs or Plans) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and to implement Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMPs), including two critical EWMPs: the measurement and volumetric pricing of water deliveries. These AWMPs were due by January 31, 2016. Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-29-15 required agricultural water suppliers that provide water from 10,000 to 25,000 irrigated acres to submit AWMPs by July 1, 2016.
California Water Code (CWC) §10845(a) and (b) directs DWR to report on the following:
• The status of adopted AWMPs
• Exemplary elements of adopted plans
• An evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented AWMPs in promoting efficient agricultural water management practices
• Recommendations relating to proposed changes to the AWMP reporting requirements and EWMPs
Additionally, CWC section 10608.48(g) directs DWR in consultation with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on:
• EWMPs that have been implemented or are planned to be implemented, and
• An assessment of the manner in which the implementation of an EWMP has affected and will affect agricultural operations and an estimation of water use efficiency improvements, if any.
This legislative report addresses the above requirements in a single report and documents the status of AWMP submittals and the implementation of associated EWMPs or best management practices (BMPs) for those water suppliers submitting a United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) plan in lieu of a plan meeting SB X7-7 criteria.1 A table comparing the SB X7-7 EWMPs and Reclamation BMPs is in Appendix B.
Further information on SB X7-7 requirements and legislative reports are available at http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/sb7/.
