Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life: Implementing Executive Order B-37-16

State of California | April 7th, 2017

In May of 2016 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Executive Order (B?37?16) that instructed State agencies to help Californians adopt permanent changes to use water more

In May of 2016 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Executive Order (B?37?16) that instructed State agencies to help Californians adopt permanent changes to use water more wisely. The Executive Order laid out a framework for moving the state from temporary, emergency water conservation measures to a more durable approach customized to the unique conditions of each local water agency. This report builds upon the Executive Order and provides recommendations for how to implement long?term improvements to water supply management that support water conservation.

Managed Aquifer Recharge and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Water Security through Resilience

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | May 14th, 2020

Managed Environmental Water Use Efficiency: Evidence in Practice

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | May 12th, 2006

The California Water Plan Update 2005 first introduced the term Managed Environmental Water Use Efficiency (MEWUE). Specifically, it defines MEWUE as a “mechanism to an

The California Water Plan Update 2005 first introduced the term Managed Environmental Water Use Efficiency (MEWUE). Specifically, it defines MEWUE as a “mechanism to analyze alternative uses of managed environmental water to determine which allocation of a given amount of water will maximize environmental benefits, and as a means to improve decision-making over time.” While MEWUE is a new term, we found several instances where managers maximized environmental benefit from a given amount of water in current practice. This paper demonstrates and analyzes current applications of MEWUE. It then provides the Department of Water Resources with the following recommendations to advance the concept and formally incorporate it into environmental water management: Formalize a MEWUE Policy to clearly state that the goal of MEWUE is a management strategy to maximize environmental benefit and not a water conservation policy. Develop Best Management Practices to increase understanding, provide guidance, and encourage use of MEWUE. Operate a MEWUE Pilot to learn more about the way MEWUE works, understand its strengths, and improve on its weaknesses. Facilitate an Environmental Water Market by applying experience and infrastructure to provide solutions for projects that require more water.

Management of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role

Congressional Research Service (CRS) | August 4th, 2022

Management of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role

Congressional Research Service (CRS) | September 7th, 2022

Managing An Uncertain Future: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for California’s Water

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 12th, 2008

For California water managers, the future is now. Climate change is already having a profound impact on water resources as evidenced by changes in snowpack, river flows a

For California water managers, the future is now. Climate change is already having a profound impact on water resources as evidenced by changes in snowpack, river flows and sea levels. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will continue to play a leadership role in adapting to these changes. DWR is already engaged in a number of efforts designed to improve California’s ability to cope with a changing climate. However, more must be done. This report recommends a series of adaptation strategies for state and local water managers to improve their capacity to handle change. Many of the strategies will also help adapt our water resources to accommodate non-climate demands including a growing population, ecosystem restoration and greater flood protection. Several of the recommendations in this report are ready for immediate adoption, while others need additional public deliberation and development. Some can be implemented using existing resources and authority, while the majority will require new resources, sustained financial investment and significant collaborative effort. Many of California’s most important water resource investments remain dependent on bond funding approved by voters. As a result, they are well funded in some years, but underfunded in most. This history of uneven and irregular investment has delayed progress in areas that have the potential to yield substantial gains over short periods of time. DWR presents this report as part of the process of updating the California Water Plan, and as part of the California Resources Agency’s draft statewide Climate Adaptation Plan. Overall, this report urges a new approach to managing California’s water and other natural resources in the face of a changing climate.

Managing California’s Freshwater Ecosystems: Lessons from the 2012-16 Drought

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | November 16th, 2017

The 2012–16 drought caused unprecedented stress to California’s ecosystems and pushed many native species to the brink of extinction. It also tested the laws, policie

The 2012–16 drought caused unprecedented stress to California’s ecosystems and pushed many native species to the brink of extinction. It also tested the laws, policies, and institutions charged with protecting the environment. Eight case studies on environmental water management during the drought reveal both strengths and weaknesses in federal, state, and local response that can inform how California addresses future droughts. Three areas of reform hold promise for improving ecosystem conditions and reducing conflict: * Improve water accounting. Drought management requires accurate and timely information about water use and availability and about likely environmental response to changes in water supply. But California’s current tracking systems are neither timely nor transparent. To address these gaps, environmental water accounting and ecosystem monitoring systems need an overhaul. * Prepare for drought. With a few significant exceptions, environmental water managers were unprepared for the environmental consequences of an extended drought, and were forced to make ad hoc decisions during a crisis. Developing watershed-level plans that set ecosystem priorities and identify trade-offs would help managers anticipate drought and drive implementation of habitat investments and water allocation. Annual watering plans that guide management under different types of water years would better engage and inform water users. * Develop ecosystem water budgets. Current methods of allocating water to support ecosystem health rely on minimum flow standards that are unevenly enforced and often insufficient during drought. Ecosystem water budgets, which allocate a portion of water to the ecosystem within watersheds, could enable more flexible and effective water management during dry times. Although state and federal agencies have important

Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | April 5th, 2011

In this book, we explore solutions for the modern era, when water management must become more balanced and flexible to support both economic prosperity and environmental

In this book, we explore solutions for the modern era, when water management must become more balanced and flexible to support both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. We start by reviewing the history of how California has adapted to changes and conflicts in water management in the past—slowly, controversially, and imperfectly—but with remarkable success. We then lay out a variety of promising principles and directions for improving water management in California for contemporary and anticipated future conditions.

Managing diversions in unregulated streams using a modified percent-of-flow approach

Freshwater Biology (Wiley) | August 22nd, 2017

In Mediterranean-type river systems stream flows are naturally low in summer and autumn. This pattern is often exacerbated by over-exploitation of water resources during

In Mediterranean-type river systems stream flows are naturally low in summer and autumn. This pattern is often exacerbated by over-exploitation of water resources during the dry season, which has implications for managing flows for both environmental and human needs. Mediterranean systems are characterised by strong inter- and intra-annual variability with almost all precipitation occurring in winter months followed by summer droughts with little or no rainfall, and extreme year-to-year variation ranging from intense winter storms to year-round drought (Gasith & Resh, 1999; Power, Kupferberg, Cooper, & Deas, 2015; Power, Parker, & Dietrich, 2008). The seasonal pattern of precipitation in Mediterranean climatic regions results in water availability and demand being out-of-phase; precipitation and runoff occur (almost exclusively) in winter when human demands are lowest, and precipitation is virtually non-existent in summer months when human demand is greatest (Kondolf & Batalla, 2005; Merenlender & Matella, 2013). As a result, rivers in Mediterranean climates tend to have a high degree of alteration with streamsdiverted and dammed to provide scarce water for human use (Kondolf, Podolak, & Grantham, 2013; Marr et al., 2009; Moyle, 2013). While the biophysical responses to alterations of land use, vegetation and hydrology are similar in Mediterranean and other climatic regions, the magnitude of responses tends to be intensified in Mediterranean systems. For example prolonged dry season flows may result in lower dissolved oxygen, higher temperatures and concentration of contaminants among other impacts (Cooper, Lake, Sabater, Melack, & Sabo, 2013). Climate change and increasing frequency and severity of drought promise to increase the conflict between human needs and ecological needs over time (Arthington, 2012).

Managing Drought in a Changing Climate: Four Essential Reforms

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | September 12th, 2018

California’s climate is changing. Hotter temperatures, a shrinking snowpack, shorter and more intense wet seasons, rising sea level, and more volatile precipita

California’s climate is changing. Hotter temperatures, a shrinking snowpack, shorter and more intense wet seasons, rising sea level, and more volatile precipitation—with wetter wet years and drier dry years—are stressing the state’s water management system. Recent climate projections indicate that the pace of change will increase. To avoid unwanted social, economic, and environmental consequences, the water system will need to adapt to greater climate extremes and growing water scarcity. While California is making good progress in some areas of drought management, a more focused plan of action is needed. Successful adaptation will require strong leadership at the state and local levels, and cooperation on all fronts. The 2012–16 drought—the hottest in the state’s recorded history and one of the driest—offered a window into the future under a warming climate and lessons for managing future droughts. Using these lessons as a starting point, this report offers a road map of essential reforms to prepare for and respond to droughts in California’s changing climate. Key reforms include: Plan ahead. Stronger drought planning is critically important for urban water management, groundwater sustainability, safe drinking water in rural communities, and freshwater ecosystems. Upgrade the water grid. California needs a comprehensive program to address above- and below-ground storage, conveyance, and operational challenges by mid-century, including repairing facilities that are broken, expanding conveyance and storage capacity, and modernizing and integrating operations. Update water allocation rules. California should comprehensively update its water allocation governance. The goals should be to find equitable and efficient ways to allocate limited supplies among competing demands during dry times while promoting efforts to capture and store water during wet times. Find the money. Reliable funding is crucial for adapting to climate change. New sources are needed to pay for necessary water-management investments and to fill funding gaps in the state’s water system. The focus of this reform agenda is on drought, because drought―more than any other aspect of California’s climate―reveals the vulnerabilities of watermanagement systems. Importantly, these reforms will improve drought resilience for today’s conditions, not just for the future.