Lower Peninsula Watershed Condition Assessment 2016. Technical memorandum prepared for the Santa Clara Valley Water District - Priority D5 Project

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | October 2nd, 2017

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the C

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM), for the Lower Peninsula watershed in Santa Clara County; consisting of Stevens-Permanente Creek, Adobe Creek, southern extent of San Francisquito Creek, and their tributaries. The Lower Peninsula watershed covers approximately 98 square-miles with creeks flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into southwest San Francisco Bay and its tidal wetlands.

Lower Tule River Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Lower Tule River Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency | January 21st, 2020

Lower Tule River Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Plan San, Joaquin - Tule Subbasin

Lower Tule River Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency | July 19th, 2023

This Plan addresses the items identified in the SGMA regulations specific to the Agency, including descriptions of the physical characteristics, the water budget (histor

This Plan addresses the items identified in the SGMA regulations specific to the Agency, including descriptions of the physical characteristics, the water budget (historic and future), specific monitoring features and locations, quantifiable targets and minimum thresholds for depth to groundwater, groundwater storage, groundwater quality, and land subsidence between 2020 and 2040, and those projects and management actions proposed to implement during the 20 year planning horizon to achieve the Sustainability Goal.

Madera Subbasin Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Madera Subbasin Coordination Committee | January 31st, 2022

The Madera Subbasin is identified by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as a critically overdrafted basin. Therefore, the Madera Subbasin GSAs must develop,

The Madera Subbasin is identified by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as a critically overdrafted basin. Therefore, the Madera Subbasin GSAs must develop, adopt, and submit a GSP (or GSPs) to DWR for the entire Madera Subbasin by January 31, 2020. The Madera Subbasin is managed by seven GSAs, of which four (City of Madera GSA, Madera Irrigation District GSA, Madera County GSA, and Madera Water District GSA) have developed a joint GSP (attached here) and three (Gravelly Ford Water District GSA, New Stone Water District GSA, and Root Creek Water District GSA) have developed individual GSPs.

Making Nature's City: A science-based framework for building urban biodiversity

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

Cities will face many challenges over the coming decades, from adapting to a changing climate to accommodating rapid population growth. A related suite of challenges th

Cities will face many challenges over the coming decades, from adapting to a changing climate to accommodating rapid population growth. A related suite of challenges threatens global biodiversity, and many species face potential extinction. While urban planners and conservationists have long treated these issues as distinct, there is growing evidence that cities not only harbor a significant fraction of the world’s biodiversity, but that they can also be made more livable and resilient for people, plants, and animals through nature-friendly urban design. Urban ecological science can provide a powerful tool to guide cities towards more biodiversity-friendly design. However, current research remains scattered across thousands of journal articles and largely inaccessible to practitioners. Making Nature’s City fills this gap, synthesizing global research to develop a science-based approach for supporting nature in cities. We identify seven key elements of urban form and function that work together to maximize biodiversity, and we illustrate these elements through a case study in California’s Silicon Valley. Using the framework developed in this report, urban designers and local residents can work together to link local parks, greenways, green roofs, street trees, stormwater basins, commercial landscaping, and backyards to support biodiversity while making cities better places to live. As we envision the healthier, and more resilient cities, Making Nature’s City provides practical guidance for the many actors who together will shape the nature of cities.

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