The Lower Colorado Basin Fiscal Years 2019 & 2020

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | January 4th, 2021

The Magnitude of California's Water Challenges

UnIversity of California, Davis (UC Davis) | June 4th, 2024

California will see increasing water scarcity from climate change, the end of overdrafting groundwater and the Colorado River’s massive reservoirs, increased water dedi

California will see increasing water scarcity from climate change, the end of overdrafting groundwater and the Colorado River’s massive reservoirs, increased water dedications for environmental flows, and other factors, such as salination of aquifers and land subsidence reducing canal capacities. Total reduction in average water availability in the coming decades will likely range from 4.6 to 9 million acre-feet per year. For context, this is equivalent to the water use of 1 – 2.8 million acres of irrigated agriculture or most urban water use in California. Perhaps 20-30% of this loss will likely be addressed by ongoing water conservation and supply improvements, being planned and implemented, leaving a 3 – 7.2 million acre-feet/year likely net average difference between statewide water demands and availability.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Annual Report for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) | December 1st, 2019

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water

Pacific Institute | February 1st, 2002

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatiz

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatization to date. The report looks at the dangers and benefits of water privatization, offers case studies from around the world, and sets forth principles designed to help guide privatization deals. “Our assessment shows that rigorous, independent review of water privatization efforts are necessary to protect the public,” said Dr. Peter H. Gleick, the report’s lead author. “Governments must establish clear guidelines that ensure fair access to water regardless of income, protect the environment, ensure transparency, and include affected parties in decision-making efforts. Water is far too important to human health and the health of our natural world to be placed entirely in the private sector.”

The Once and Future Delta: Mending the broken heart of California

Bay Nature | April 1st, 2010

On March 30, 1772, Spanish explorer Pedro Pages was traveling east along the south shore of Suisun Bay, looking for a land route around the seemingly endless chain of b

On March 30, 1772, Spanish explorer Pedro Pages was traveling east along the south shore of Suisun Bay, looking for a land route around the seemingly endless chain of bays extending inland from the Golden Gate. Mounting to Willow Pass, the rise of land between present-day Concord and Pittsburg, he found himself staring at a new obstacle: an enormous expanse of marshland, threaded with bright channels. He had "discovered" the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

The potential of collaborative solutions to improve management of California (United States) wildlands

Restoration Ecology, Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) | November 13th, 2024

The Press and Pulse of Climate Change: Extreme Events in the Colorado River Basin

American Water Resources Association (AWRA) | June 21st, 2022

Extremes in temperature and precipitation are associated with damaging floods, prolonged drought, destructive wildfires, agricultural challenges, compromised human health

Extremes in temperature and precipitation are associated with damaging floods, prolonged drought, destructive wildfires, agricultural challenges, compromised human health, vulnerable infrastructure, and threatened ecosystems and species. Often, the steady and progressive trends (or presses) of rising global temperature are the central focus in how climate impacts are described. However, observations of extreme weather events (or pulses) increasingly show that the intensity, duration and/or frequency of acute events are also changing, resulting in greater impacts on communities and the environment. Describing how the influence of extreme events may shape water management in the Colorado River Basin in clear terms is critical to sound future planning and efforts to manage risk. Three scenario planning workshops in 2019 and 2020 were held as part of a Colorado River Conversations series, identifying potential impacts from multiple intersecting extreme events. Water managers identified climate-related events of concern in the Colorado River Basin that necessitate greater attention and adaptive responses. To support efforts to include consideration of climate-change-driven extremes in water management and planning, we explore the current state of knowledge at the confluence of long-term climate shifts and extreme weather in the Colorado River Basin related to the events of concern that were identified by scenario planning participants.

The Resilience Value of Recycled Water for Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | November 13th, 2024

In 2019, the City of Los Angeles (City) announced the development of the Operation NEXT Water Supply Program (Operation NEXT or Program) (City of Los Angeles, 2019), an a

In 2019, the City of Los Angeles (City) announced the development of the Operation NEXT Water Supply Program (Operation NEXT or Program) (City of Los Angeles, 2019), an advanced water recycling project aimed at expanding the use of purified recycled water. The current approach for Operation NEXT (now Pure Water Los Angeles) encompasses several distinct water infrastructure components. One is the construction and operation of an advanced water treatment purification facility at the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, the largest wastewater treatment facility west of the Mississippi. This project, in partnership with Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment comprises the Hyperion 2035 Program (Hyperion 2035) (LADWP, 2024; LASAN, 2024). Once constructed, potable recycled water flows from this facility will further diversify the City’s water supply portfolio, adding up to 257,636 acre-feet of supply each year once it is fully operational. A second component of Operation NEXT is a conveyance system that will transport this purified recycled water to groundwater basins or further treatment facilities, where it will be stored or blended with other water supplies. Currently, the construction and operation of Operation NEXT is still being estimated, and costs range between $6.4 billion and $24.0 billion USD as of 2020.

The Role of Snowpack, Rainfall, and Reservoirs in Buffering California Against Drought Effects

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 1st, 2016

California’s vast reservoir system, fed by annual snow and rainfall, plays an important part in providing water to the State’s human and wildlife population. There ar

California’s vast reservoir system, fed by annual snow and rainfall, plays an important part in providing water to the State’s human and wildlife population. There are almost 1,300 reservoirs throughout the State, but only approximately 200 of them are considered storage reservoirs, and many of the larger ones are critical components of the Federal Central Valley Project and California State Water Project. Storage reservoirs, such as the ones shown in figure 1, capture winter precipitation for use in California’s dry summer months. In addition to engineered reservoir storage, California also depends on water “stored” in the statewide snowpack, which slowly melts during the course of the summer, to augment the State’s water supply.

The Role of Water Transfers in Meeting California's Water Needs

Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) | September 9th, 2008

If water transfers are to help the state meet its water needs, we think that the Legislature should address a number of issues, including impediments to transfers and sta

If water transfers are to help the state meet its water needs, we think that the Legislature should address a number of issues, including impediments to transfers and stakeholder concerns about potential negative impacts of transfers on "third parties." Statutory policy on water transfers should be clarified and made more consistent.