Basic & Urgent: Realizing the Human Right to Water & Sanitation for Californians Experiencing Homelessness

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | August 15th, 2018

The report’s three main sections follow this executive summary. The Problem Overview examines: what is driving what one source called an “explosion” in the numbe

The report’s three main sections follow this executive summary. The Problem Overview examines: what is driving what one source called an “explosion” in the number of Californians who are unsheltered; the stark reality of a severe shortfall between the number of affordable housing units needed and the number that will be available for the foreseeable future; the many problems associated with failing to ensure access to water and sanitation for homeless Californians, and how access to these basic needs compares with international minimum standards; and key barriers to progress. The Case Studies on Berkeley, Oakland, and Sacramento offer: an inventory of publicly available potable water, toilets, and showers in the three cities; discussion of how unsheltered residents struggle to meet their basic water-related needs; and an examination of municipal, non-profit, and resident-driven efforts to connect people experiencing homelessness to water and sanitation. Finally, based on the research conducted for this report, the Recommendations section offers six policies, programs, and actions that advocates can bring to State or municipal leaders responsible for upholding the human rights to water and sanitation for all Californians, particularly the State’s most vulnerable unsheltered residents.

Basin Boundary Adjustment Regulation Fact Sheet

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 16th, 2015

In September 2014, the Governor signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Department has developed a program and is currently implementing ne

In September 2014, the Governor signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Department has developed a program and is currently implementing new and expanded responsibilities identified in SGMA. One of these responsibilities is developing emergency regulations to modify groundwater basin boundaries. SGMA established a process for local agencies to request that DWR revise the boundaries of a groundwater basin or subbasin, including the creation of new subbasins.

Basin Framework for a Multi-benefit Groundwater Replenishment and Water Trading Program: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Chapter Template

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) | October 1st, 2018

The following Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) chapter templates were developed by Environmental Defense Fund and New Current Water and Land, LLC to assist Groundwat

The following Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) chapter templates were developed by Environmental Defense Fund and New Current Water and Land, LLC to assist Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) with incorporating multi-benefit replenishment and water trading mechanisms into GSPs. These chapter templates provide an initial framework that can be adapted to reflect regional conditions and objectives. Achieving groundwater sustainability in many overdrafted basins is contingent upon collaboration between landowners/pumpers/operators (“operators”) and GSAs to replenish groundwater. Chapter [X] Multi-Benefit Groundwater Replenishment outlines mechanisms to encourage and incentivize operator engagement in groundwater replenishment projects, with opportunities to pair these efforts with community and natural resource values, such as habitat creation and improved drinking water quality. When properly designed, groundwater trading programs can assist in efficient allocation of scarce resources, while avoiding negative third party impacts. Chapter [Y]: Water Trading provides a framework for implementation of groundwater trading programs as a groundwater management mechanism. Appendix A. outlines qualifying conditions that allow for streamlined approval of water trades.

Basin-scale responses of groundwater-resource quality to drought and recovery, San Joaquin Valley, California

Hydrological Processes (Wiley) | April 15th, 2024

Groundwater-resource quality is assumed to be less responsive to drought compared to that of surface water due to relatively long transit times of recharge to drinking-su

Groundwater-resource quality is assumed to be less responsive to drought compared to that of surface water due to relatively long transit times of recharge to drinking-supply wells. Here, we evidence dynamic perturbations in aquifer pressure dynamics during drought and subsequent recovery periods cause dramatic shifts in groundwater quality on a basin scale. We used a novel application of time-series clustering on annual nitrate anomalies at >450 public-supply wells (PSWs) across California's San Joaquin Valley during 2000–22 to group subpopulations of wells with similar water-quality responses to drought. Additionally, we statistically evaluated the direction and magnitude of multi-constituent water-quality changes across the San Joaquin Valley using a broader dataset of >3000 PSWs with data during two select hydrologic stress periods representing an extreme drought (2012–16) and subsequent recovery (2016–19). Results of time-series clustering and stress-period change analyses corroborate a predominant regional response to pumping stress characterized by increased concentrations of anthropogenic constituents (nitrate, total dissolved solids) and decreased concentrations of geogenic constituents (arsenic, fluoride), which largely reversed during recovery. Cluster analysis also identified a secondary, less commonly occurring group of PSWs where nitrate decreased during drought, but explanatory factor analysis was not able to discern hydrogeologic drivers for these two divergent response patterns. Long-term tracer data support the hypothesis that the predominant regional signal of nitrate increase during drought is caused by enhanced capture of modern-aged groundwater by PSWs during periods of pumping stress, which can drive rapid changes in water quality on seasonal and multiannual timescales. Pumping-induced migration of modern, oxic groundwater to depth during drought may affect geochemical conditions in deeper portions of regional aquifers controlling the mobility of geogenic contaminants over the long term.

BasinScout: Water Quantity

Freshwater Trust | January 16th, 2018

California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) establishes milestones that high- and medium-priority basins in a critical state of overdraft must meet to be

California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) establishes milestones that high- and medium-priority basins in a critical state of overdraft must meet to become sustainable. BasinScout can assist managers in building an objective allocation plan that reflects the needs of various stakeholders in shaping how sustainability is achieved.

Basis of Design Report - Species Conservation Habitat

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | April 14th, 2014

The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project provides shallow water habitat to support fish and wildlife dependent upon the Salton Sea that is being lost due to

The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project provides shallow water habitat to support fish and wildlife dependent upon the Salton Sea that is being lost due to salinity increases and the declining water surface elevation. The Project is located at the southern end of the Salton Sea (Sea) in Imperial County, California. Through the environmental review process, a Preferred Alternative was selected that encompasses 3,770 acres on both sides of the New River. The Project would include water supplies, berms to contain the water, and various other support facilities. The early start construction of the project is to develop habitat consistent with the EIS/EIR preferred alternative that is scaled down to fit the level of implementation funding currently available. The design described in this report is for early start project (Project) of the SCH and is limited to the 640 acres located within the bay on the east side of the New River. This report provides a summary of the primary design features and considerations associated with the habitat development. A more detailed discussion of the background, purpose, goals, design elements, Preferred Alternative, and Project impacts can be found in the 2011 draft EIS/EIR.  

Bathymetry and Digital Elevation Models of Coyote Creek and Alviso Slough, South San Francisco Bay, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | March 15th, 2018

In 2010 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center completed three cruises to map the bathymetry of the main channel and shall

In 2010 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center completed three cruises to map the bathymetry of the main channel and shallow intertidal mudflats in the southern most part of south San Francisco Bay. The three surveys were merged to generate comprehensive maps of Coyote Creek (from Calaveras Point east to the railroad bridge) and Alviso Slough (from the bay to the town of Alviso) to establish baseline bathymetry prior to the breaching of levees adjacent to Alviso and Guadalupe Sloughs as part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Since 2010 the USGS has conducted twelve additional surveys to monitor bathymetric change in this region as restoration progresses.

Battling the Inland Sea

University of California Press | July 1st, 1998

Bay Area Green Infrastructure Water Quality Synthesis

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 1st, 2018

San Francisco Bay is impacted by the numerous urban pollutants that flow from the surrounding landscape during storm events. In San Francisco Bay, total maximum daily lo

San Francisco Bay is impacted by the numerous urban pollutants that flow from the surrounding landscape during storm events. In San Francisco Bay, total maximum daily load (TMDL) clean-up plans are in place for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury (Hg) (Davis et al., 2007; Davis et al., 2012). As municipalities strive to reach regulatory targets, green infrastructure (GI) presents a promising solution for managing stormwater pollutants while achieving additional environmental and social benefits. However, remaining data gaps including the best design layout, media composition, and vegetation and submerged zone effects on performance can prevent local managers from accurately assessing water quality benefits provided by green infrastructure as well as the maintenance needs to sustain adequate performance.

Bay Area Water Supply Resilience and the Bay-Delta Plan

Publisher not available | March 15th, 2024