Recent California Water Transfers: Implications for Water Management

Natural Resources Journal (University of New Mexico) | January 3rd, 1995

The 1991 and 1992 California Drought Emergency Water Banks were the first large water transfer programs in the nation in which the state served as the predominant broke

The 1991 and 1992 California Drought Emergency Water Banks were the first large water transfer programs in the nation in which the state served as the predominant broker for water trades. Although the state-sponsored Water Banks have drawn widespread attention, there have been a great number of water transfers and exchanges taking place in California independently of the state. These transfers illustrate well the widespread applicability of transfers in managing water resource systems, as well as the multiple mechanisms available for effecting water transfers. This article focuses on California's recent experiences with water transfers, and offers a series of potential lessons for federal, state, and local managers for integrating water transfers in regional water resource systems.

Recharge Area Identification, Utilization, and Protection Resource Management Strategy

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | April 29th, 2024

This resource management strategy (RMS) advances water supply augmentation, resilience, and equity in California by providing summaries of the state of knowledge, applica

This resource management strategy (RMS) advances water supply augmentation, resilience, and equity in California by providing summaries of the state of knowledge, applications, and available information and resources on recharge area identification, utilization, and protection.

Recharge Area Protection (Resource Management Strategy)

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 29th, 2016

Recharge areas are those areas that provide the primary means of replenishing groundwater. Good natural recharge areas are those where good quality surface water is able

Recharge areas are those areas that provide the primary means of replenishing groundwater. Good natural recharge areas are those where good quality surface water is able to percolate through the sediments and rocks to the saturated zone which contains groundwater. If recharge areas cease to function properly, it will limit groundwater replenishment and/or groundwater quality for storage or use. Protection of recharge areas requires a number of actions based on two primary goals: (1) ensuring that areas suitable for recharge continue to be capable of adequate recharge rather than being covered by urban infrastructure, such as buildings and roads, and (2) preventing pollutants from entering groundwater to avoid expensive treatment that may be necessary prior to beneficial use. Protection of recharge areas is necessary to maintain the quantity and quality of groundwater in the aquifer. However, protecting recharge areas by itself does not provide a supply of water. Recharge areas are functioning properly when aquifer storage capacity is available, sufficient permeable surface is present, and the adequate supply of good quality water to recharge the aquifer is available. Protecting existing and potential recharge areas allows them to serve as valuable components of a conjunctive management and groundwater strategy.

Recommendations for Sustainable Groundwater Management

California Water Foundation | April 5th, 2014

The results of this effort are organized and presented as follows in this Report: • A review of the Dialogue process that provides additional details about participati

The results of this effort are organized and presented as follows in this Report: • A review of the Dialogue process that provides additional details about participating stakeholders and their perspectives; • A description of the background and challenges for California’s groundwater management and current efforts to achieve measurable progress toward sustainable management; • A set of key Findings; and • A package of seven policy Recommendations intended to lead to a new state policy for meaningful, measurable improvement in groundwater management within realistic timeframes. The Recommendations in this report reflect the best judgments of CWF about what is needed to achieve sustainable groundwater management while keeping decision making primarily at local and regional levels. CWF remains committed to a constructive public discussion about this critical issue and, ultimately, to meaningful legislative and policy actions.

Recommendations to the State Water Resources Control Board Pursuant to California Water Code Section 10609

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | September 29th, 2022

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to provide the following recommendations developed in response to the 2018 Legislation (Senate Bill 606 [Hertzberg] and

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to provide the following recommendations developed in response to the 2018 Legislation (Senate Bill 606 [Hertzberg] and Assembly Bill 1668 [Friedman]) enacted in support of “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life.” The Legislation included provisions for advancing urban water use efficiency through developing and implementing various water use efficiency standards, variances for unique uses of water, and commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) performance measures, among other requirements. Full reports detailing our methods, technical analyses, studies, public input, and recommendations will follow. These recommendations for long-term urban water use efficiency reflect technical considerations, public input, and the imperative to continue California’s progress in urban efficient use of water for future generations. If adopted DWR's recommendations on outdoor residential and CII water use on landscapes with dedicated irrigation meters, combined with the indoor residential water use standard recommendations submitted to the Legislature jointly by DWR and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), pursuant to Water Code 10609.4 (b)(1), would result in expected long-term water savings of approximately 450,000 acre-feet per year starting in 2030 – considering 2019 population and 2017-2019 water use data, the water savings are enough to supply about 1.6 million homes or 4.7 million residents for both indoor and outdoor annual water needs.

Reforming Watershed Restoration: Science in Need of Application and Applications in Need of Science (The H.T. Odum Synthesis Essay)

Estuaries and Coasts (Springer) | December 23rd, 2008

Coastal and inland waters are continuing to decline in many parts of the world despite major efforts made to restore them. This is due in part to the inadequate role that

Coastal and inland waters are continuing to decline in many parts of the world despite major efforts made to restore them. This is due in part to the inadequate role that ecological science has played in shaping restoration efforts. A significant amount of fundamental ecological knowledge dealing with issues such as system dynamics, state changes, context-dependency of ecological response, and diversity is both under-used by managers and practitioners and under-developed by ecologists for use in real-world applications. Some of the science that is being ‘used’ has not been adequately tested. Thus, restoration ecology as a science and ecological restoration as a practice are in need of reform. I identify five ways in which our ecological knowledge should be influencing restoration to a far greater extent than at present including a need to: shift the focus to restoration of process and identification of the limiting factors instead of structures and single species, add ecological insurance to all projects, identify a probabilistic range of possible outcomes instead of a reference condition, expand the spatial scale of efforts, and apply hierarchical approaches to prioritization. Prominent examples of restoration methods or approaches that are commonly used despite little evidence to support their efficacy are highlighted such as the use of only structural enhancements to restore biodiversity. There are also major gaps in scientific knowledge that are of immediate need to policy makers, managers, and restoration practitioners including: predictive frameworks to guide the restoration of ecological processes, identification of social-ecological feedbacks that constrain ecosystem recovery and data to support decisions of where and how to implement restoration projects to achieve the largest gains. I encourage ecologists to respond to the demand for their scientific input so that restoration can shift from an engineering-driven process to a more sustainable enterprise that fully integrates ecological processes and social science methods.

Regional Governance of Flood Management in the Central Valley

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | May 30th, 2014

California faces significant challenges in managing its highly variable water resources, particularly as climate change and a growing population exacerbate drought and fl

California faces significant challenges in managing its highly variable water resources, particularly as climate change and a growing population exacerbate drought and flood risks.  The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other state agencies have been encouraging integrated approaches to water management, taking into account the connections between water supply, water quality, flood protection, and ecosystem health. The recent California Water Action Plan calls for improved coordination between local, state and federal agencies and tribal governments in order to develop multi-­benefit water management strategies. Regional-­scale planning has become a crucial avenue for advancing these efforts. Initiated in 2002, the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning (IRWM) process has led to the formation of 48 water planning regions statewide, in which diverse local agencies have developed integrated plans for managing all aspects of a region’s water management. More recently, a Regional Flood Management Planning (RFMP) process was created in the context of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan to advance integrated approaches to reducing flood risks. Six flood planning regions, overlapping with nine IRWM regions, were formed in 2012. This study analyzes the origins and functioning of the IRWM and RFMP processes, and the degree of coordination between them to address flood risks in the Central Valley. In particular, it examines how each is working to generate multi-­benefit strategies, and how they account for climate change. It also discusses opportunities for future coordination between the IRWM and RFMP processes, and DWR’s role in supporting this. This study is primarily based upon an analysis of publicly available documents related to the IRWM and RFMP processes. It is also informed by meeting observations and conversations with staff at DWR and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and participants in IRWM and RFMP processes. Since RFMPs were not yet completed at the time of this writing, this study’s findings are preliminary. Nonetheless, this report provides an indication of the overall functioning of these RFMP and IRWM regions, and some general considerations for DWR as it assesses next steps in supporting these programs.

Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay 2017 Detailed Workplan and Budget

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | November 1st, 2016

In 2017 the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is entering its 25th year of collecting data and communicating information to suppor

In 2017 the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is entering its 25th year of collecting data and communicating information to support water quality management decisions. This Detailed Workplan and Budget describes the activities that will be completed in 2017 and their proposed funding levels.

Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay, 2020 Detailed Workplan and Budget

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | December 1st, 2019

Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Small Tributaries Loading Strategy: Modeling and Trends Strategy 2018

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | September 3rd, 2018

The Small Tributaries Loading Strategy (STLS) (SFEI, 2009) is a collaboration between the RMP, the Water Board, and Bay Area stormwater programs to address information n

The Small Tributaries Loading Strategy (STLS) (SFEI, 2009) is a collaboration between the RMP, the Water Board, and Bay Area stormwater programs to address information needs associated with improving understanding about the sources, pathways, loads, trends, and management opportunities in relation to watershed-derived pollutants of concern (POCs). Elements contained in this Strategy may be conducted via RMP collaborative efforts, or independently by the Water Board or Bay Area stormwater programs outside of, but in coordination with the RMP. The current priority POCs are mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), for which there are identified impairments and cleanup plans in place. The San Francisco Bay Hg and PCBs total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) reports (SFRWQCB, 2006; SFRWQCB, 2007) call for a reduction in tributary loads by 50% and 90%, respectively. In response, from 2010-2015, during the first term of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP 1.0) (SFRWQCB, 2009; 2011), a number of pilot efforts were initiated, focusing mainly on PCBs, to better understand the potential cost-effectiveness for a range of management options and the level of opportunity (the number of polluted sites or the amount of mass associated with polluted sites, property ownership and other factors). During the second term of the MRP (MRP 2.0) (SFRWQCB, 2015), efforts have been made to move from pilot testing to a greater amount of focused implementation. All of these past, current, and future efforts also aim to address (but at a lesser level) multiple benefits for other POCs including current-use pesticides and emerging contaminants, for which there is interest in monitoring the potential for biological impact. These are lower priority at the present, but in the longer term, the STLS Trends Strategy could address these and other POCs in a more focused manner.