AB 2215 would extend the timeline for the full development of the SWP’s existing water rights permits to December 31, 2085, aligning those permits with the term of the validated contracts between the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and SWP public water agencies. This extension is necessary due to longstanding delays outside of DWR’s control and will allow the state to better plan, modernize infrastructure, and respond to climate extremes such as droughts and floods.

Importantly, AB 2215 does not approve any new projects, facilities, or operational changes, nor does it bypass CEQA, NEPA, ESA, CESA, or any other environmental or public participation requirements. The bill also explicitly does not approve the Delta Conveyance Project or any other future modification of the SWP.

A broad and growing coalition of water agencies, business organizations, labor, agriculture, and community stakeholders has already gone on record in support of AB 2215. With the bill tentatively scheduled for an April 14 hearing in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee, it is critical to continue building momentum and expanding the coalition in the weeks ahead.

AB 2215 is about protecting prior investments, ensuring regulatory certainty, and safeguarding water reliability and affordability for 27 million Californians who depend on the State Water Project.

Read the letter HERE.

The post Expanding the Coalition in Support of AB 2215 appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

During his remarks, Secretary Crowfoot expressed Governor Newsom’s dedication to leaving the water supply in a more adaptable state. He emphasized the need to build local resilience and protect the backbone of the State Water Project. He highlighted the unique geography of California, with its longest mountain range and the drainage of water into a large estuary known as the Delta, which is also an agricultural region. He emphasized that two-thirds of the snowmelt flows through the Delta, making it a vital supply for the State Water Project. Unfortunately, the current system is broken and highly vulnerable, and he drew attention to the sinking of the California Aqueduct.

Secretary Crowfoot also underlined the ticking time bomb in the Delta, where the system is prone to earthquakes. He mentioned that Governor Newsom aims to deliver a construction project by the end of his term.

He stressed that it would be ultimately irresponsible to avoid such a challenging project, comparing it to the generation-defining Golden Gate Bridge and a decisive moment for California’s water, reminiscent of California Governor Pat Brown’s era. He posed the question of whether California is willing to invest in the necessary infrastructure to ensure its water supply resilience.

Following the Board meeting, a group of over 250 people convened in the exquisite Grand Parisian Ballroom at the Mission Inn in Riverside for lunch and a panel discussion centered around the theme of “Diverse Streams, One Goal – Uniting for Change.” The panel featured prominent figures in the water industry and the community, including Miguel Luna, CEO of Urban Semillas; James Morales, Board Member of East Valley Water District; Kurt Wilson, Executive Director of Western Riverside Council of Governments; and Regina Brown Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media.

Some key points made during the discussion were as follows:

• Kurt Wilson highlighted that the water sector has done a commendable job, resulting in public confidence in what local water agencies are doing. However, he emphasized the need to move people out of their passive stance and actively engage them.
• Miguel Luna stressed the importance of delivering the message effectively. He pointed out that studies have shown that humor can be a powerful way to engage people. Thus, he suggested making the approach more entertaining and engaging, rather than solely focusing on maintenance of infrastructure.
• Regina Wilson discussed the disruptive impact of digital media on information dissemination and the traditional news model. She identified an information gap and emphasized the importance of supporting local news as a means to facilitate dialogue and influence the conversation.
• James Morales shared the example of East Valley Water District’s approach to community engagement. They took a full year to speak to the community and ensure their wastewater treatment plant project included benefits for a disadvantaged neighborhood. This effort aimed to not only educate the community but also foster support for water initiatives and cultivate future water professionals.

Don’t miss out on our next Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon, scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024 in Temecula, California. Join us as we continue to weave together diverse voices for a water-secure future!

View all the photos from the event on our Flickr page HERE.

The post SCWC January Meeting Highlights Urgent Need for Delta Conveyance and Community Engagement appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

This is the highest allocation since 2019 when the final allocation of 75% was set in June of that year. It is also a reversal of the recent three very dry years with final allocations in 2020, 2021, and 2022 of 20%, 5% and 5%[1] respectively.

The updated 75% allocation for this year was announced based on the most updated information, but it may not be the final allocation of the year given that more weather and storms could change it in the remaining snow/rainfall-producing months.

The 75% allocation, or 3.15 million acre-feet of water will allow the SWP’s 29 contracting public water agencies to store water this year to prepare for future dry years.

“History tells us that wet years like this are critical for water agencies in managing supplies for the millions of Southern Californians who depend on them. Especially recent history, where we’ve seen such dramatic results with a more variable climate,” said Charley Wilson, executive director of the Southern California Water Coalition. “Sound water use management, storage, and a means of transporting their water efficiently when it materializes, are all important actions and strategies for the near and long-term future.”

Southern California relies on water from the State Water Project as a part of its water supply mix that includes water from the Colorado River, local sources such as groundwater, recycled water, stormwater capture, and desalination.

[1] This 5% allocation in 2022 does not include the water provided to agencies for health and safety purposes and which must be repaid by the agencies.

The post Statement on State Water Project Allocation Increase to 75% appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Protecting Every Source: Southern California’s Water Story highlights the work that Southern California’s water agencies are doing to transform the regions’ water systems amidst a record drought. The video demonstrates how Southern California has become one of the most water-efficient regions in the world — diversifying our water supply portfolios to expand local water resources while protecting the health of our imported supplies.

“As climate change continues to make year-to-year hydrology less predictable, having a diversified water supply portfolio will help us adapt to meet the needs of our changing climate, and we want to make sure our ratepayers understand how that will happen,” said Paul Liu, SCWC Board Member and Managing Water Utility Engineer at LADWP. “This video will be a vital tool in dispelling the common misconception among Southern California residents that local water supplies will lead us to outgrow the need for imported water — this belief isn’t rooted in reality. Imported water will always be a vital piece of our portfolio.”

The video takes viewers on an animated journey, explaining the sources that make up Southern California’s water supplies. Viewers are shown the foundational importance of imported supplies, like those from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Colorado River, as well as added strength provided through local water investments in stormwater capture, water recycling and groundwater recharge — and how each of these sources have been impacted by California’s changing climate.

“We’re proud to have LADWP’s support in the development of this resource,” said Charley Wilson, SCWC Executive Director. “SCWC members have been hard at work innovating and modernizing our region’s water systems and it’s important that the communities we serve understand that their water comes from a variety of wide-ranging sources, as far away as the Eastern Sierras and as close as their backyards.”

The video series was made possible through generous funding provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Animation studio Epipheo also produced SCWC’s Recycled Water video series and a video encouraging California legislators to fund recycled water projects.

The post New Educational Video Highlights SoCal’s Water Supplies appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The light-colored ring around Lake Mead shows the decreased water level from years of drought conditions on the Colorado River. The photo was taken on Feb. 16. The reservoir was formed by Hoover Dam and is considered one of the largest artificial lakes in the world with 750 miles of shoreline. The lake helps provide water for 25 million people in Nevada, Arizona, and California. The historic water shortage on the Colorado River will likely lead to mandatory water cutbacks. Photo Courtesy of the United States Bureau of Reclamation

You don’t need to be a fortune teller to predict what the future may hold for water availability in Southern California next year. The region’s limited imported supplies will prompt water officials to consider region-wide mandatory conservation measures should the ongoing drought continue.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s six-county service area normally relies on supplies from Northern California and the Colorado River to cover more than half of the region’s water demands. The ongoing drought has reduced supplies from Northern California over the last three years to historic low levels. And the Colorado River is facing its first-ever shortage condition, with a call by federal officials for river users to prepare for deeper cuts next year.

In response, Metropolitan staff has informed its Board of Directors that it is preparing ways to implement mandatory conservation across Southern California, if necessary. The board could consider actions as early as January.

“We need to prepare for this drought to continue,” said Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil. “Even if the rains return, it will take a lot for the State Water Project system to recover, and the Colorado River will remain in a historic shortage condition. A region-wide response may prove necessary.”

Portions of the Metropolitan service area are already facing various mandatory conservation measures because constraints in Metropolitan’s distribution system and limited local supplies make them heavily dependent on extremely limited water deliveries from Northern California. Three consecutive years of low supplies from the State Water Project prompted Metropolitan to direct numerous local agencies starting last June to reduce demand. Those agencies are in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties, affecting six million people.

“We are working closely with these local agencies to manage through this challenge and develop plans to fast-track lasting solutions,” Hagekhalil said. “Even with these efforts, supplies will be limited until the State Water Project can deliver more water.”

While Southern California’s water challenges during this drought have most affected these areas, the worsening shortage on the Colorado River from a decades-long drought could prompt region-wide mandatory conservation as early as next year.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation declared the first-ever shortage condition for the river in August 2021. With storage levels continuing to decrease, Reclamation recently announced that additional cuts would be necessary in 2023. Those cuts have yet to be identified while Metropolitan continues to work with other water users in California, Arizona, and Nevada to negotiate a collaborative response.

In addition to pulling from its local reservoirs, Metropolitan has operated its Colorado River Aqueduct at nearly its full capacity to meet the region’s demands this year. In future years, that might not be possible.

Metropolitan staff informed the board earlier this summer that it would develop a plan to enforce mandatory conservation on its 26 member agencies next year, taking into account unique local circumstances. “We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Hagekhalil said. “In the meantime, everyone can do their part by never wasting a drop of water.”

Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil speaks at a news conference about water restrictions. He is flanked by the Metropolitan Board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray, left, and Chief Operating Officer Deven Upadhyay.

Although all eyes are on water availability in 2023, Hagekhalil added that the region also must plan for the future and address climate change by increasing supply resiliency through infrastructure investments. “All options must be in our resource mix, from imported supplies, conservation, and recycling to local stormwater capture, recharging and remediating ground water basins and building storage. We also must improve our regional water system to move water across our service area to equitably meet future demands,” he said.

For more conservation tips, visit www.bewaterwise.com

Check out related What Matters Water TV and Podcast episodes to learn more:

• Episode #9 “A Collaborative Approach to Colorado River Management“
• Episode #8 “What’s Next for Metropolitan Water District” 
• Episode #1 “Interview with Adel Hagekhalil, GM of Metropolitan Water District”

At left, an aerial view of the South Fork of Lake Oroville in Butte County on Aug. 2. On this date, the storage was 1,440,432 reservoir acre-feet (AF), which is 41 percent of the total capacity. Lake Oroville is the largest reservoir in the State Water Project and it peaked this year at just over half its capacity. Above, 

The post Region-Wide Mandatory Water Conservation Possible in 2023 appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

BELOW IS THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE:

California’s Water Supply Strategy outlines actions needed now to invest in new sources, transform water management

Without action, state officials believe extreme weather could diminish California’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040

ANTIOCH – Hotter and drier weather conditions spurred by climate change could reduce California’s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040. To replace and replenish what we will lose to thirstier soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere, Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced California’s latest actions to increase water supply and adapt to more extreme weather patterns caused by climate change.

Thursday’s announcement follows $8 billion in state investments over the last two years to help store, recycle, de-salt and conserve the water it will need to keep up with the increasing pace of climate change, generating enough water in the future for more than 8.4 million households by 2040.

The actions, outlined in a strategy document published by the Administration called “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future” calls for investing in new sources of water supply, accelerating projects and modernizing how the state manages water through new technology.

This approach to California’s water supply management recognizes the latest science that indicates the American West is experiencing extreme, sustained drought conditions caused by hotter, drier weather. The warming climate means that a greater share of the rain and snowfall California receives will be absorbed by dry soils, consumed by thirsty plants, and evaporated into the air. This leaves less water to meet the state’s needs.

“The best science tells us that we need to act now to adapt to California’s water future. Climate change means drought won’t just stick around for two years at a time like it historically has – extreme weather is the new normal here in the American West and California will adapt to this new reality,” Governor Newsom said at the Antioch Brackish Desalination Project. “California is launching an aggressive plan to rebuild the way we source, store and deliver water so our kids and grandkids can continue to call California home in this hotter, drier climate.”

To help make up for the water supplies California could lose over the next two decades, the strategy prioritizes actions to capture, recycle, de-salt and conserve more water. These actions include:

• Creating storage space for up to 4 million acre-feet of water, which will allow us to capitalize on big storms when they do occur and store water for dry periods
• Recycling and reusing at least 800,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2030, enabling better and safer use of wastewater currently discharged to the ocean.
• Freeing up 500,000 acre-feet of water through more efficient water use and conservation, helping make up for water lost due to climate change.
• Making new water available for use by capturing stormwater and desalinating ocean water and salty water in groundwater basins, diversifying supplies and making the most of high flows during storm events.

These actions are identified broadly in the Newsom Administration’s Water Resilience Portfolio – the state’s master plan for water released in 2020 – but they will be expedited given the urgency of climate-driven changes. To advance the infrastructure and policies needed to adapt, the strategy enlists the help of the Legislature to streamline processes so projects can be planned, permitted and built more quickly, while protecting the environment.

Over the last three years, at the urging of the Governor, state leaders have earmarked more than $8 billion to modernize water infrastructure and management. The historic three-year, $5.2 billion investment in California water systems enacted in 2021-22 has enabled emergency drought response, improved water conservation to stretch water supplies, and enabled scores of local drought resilience projects. The 2022-23 budget includes an additional $2.8 billion for drought relief to hard-hit communities, water conservation, environmental protection for fish and wildlife and long-term drought resilience projects.

The post SCWC Comments on Governor Newsom’s New Water Strategy For a Hotter, Drier California appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Let’s be honest, we are all hoping for a better and brighter 2021. Each new year brings the promise of a fresh start. It also marks a perfect time to step back and reaffirm what we want from the next 12 months. Here are my six resolutions for California water moving forward.

Resolution #1: We will maximize every drop to its best and highest use.

Water is vital to our quality of life now and in the future. It’s an essential resource increasingly threatened by the devastating impacts of climate change, and we must collectively work to preserve and protect it for future generations. This means making the most out of every drop we have through stormwater capture, water recycling and reuse, conservation and more.

Southern California has long been a leader in proactively finding flexible and efficient solutions like these, from our robust water conservation programs to our investments in local and regional projects to increase regional self-sufficiency. However, water recycled, groundwater storage and recharge, conservation and stormwater capture projects work in close concert with the stable, baseline supply that the State Water Project provides, helping to double or triple the SWP’s benefits. While we continue to increase our local supplies, SWP water remains an essential source for the state and region.

Resolution #2: Water is California’s issue to solve, not a regional issue for blame.

Building a resilient, statewide water supply portfolio for every Californian means recognizing the unique needs and challenging of each region as well as the power of the collective in charting a path forward. Pitting the northern part of the state against the southern part is the old binary–as water policy expert Timothy J. Quinn said during our “History Matters” webinar in June, this kind of adversarial decision-making process creates a winner-takes-all mentality that locks parties in fighting mode and makes the courtroom the policy forum. Instead, let’s aim for a collaborative process that involves public agencies and stakeholders working together in an open and transparent process, understanding that “collaboration is really hard,” as Quinn said.

Resolution #3: State and Federal Legislators from Southern California will understand more fully where their water comes from.

Water drives California’s economy, sustains our environment, and provides for our unique and treasured quality of life. Yet ask many people where our water supplies come from, and you might get a joking response “from the kitchen tap.” In fact, our water comes from rain and snow, most of which falls in the northern part of the state, while most of our population resides in the southern part of the state. Over the years, water resource development (moving water to where it was needed) has enabled our state to become an economic powerhouse and top agricultural producer while supporting critical eco-systems. 

The conviction that water will always just come out of the kitchen tap is not one we should take for granted. Recurring drought cycles, the impacts of climate change, the risk of earthquakes, and aging infrastructure may restrict our ability to meet future demands for a reliable, high quality and affordable water supply. SCWC sees our job this year as to equip its members, legislators and policymakers who represent us with the tools and knowledge needed to stay informed and active in promoting a secure water future. We must meet people where they are and share what we know about the importance of water to the California way of life as well as the urgent need to take action now to shore up a resilient water supply for all Californians. Count on us this year as we continue to produce resources and programming aimed at keeping our stakeholders not just informed but one step ahead as they tackle the latest developments in California water.

Resolution #4: Decisions will be made, and projects built to improve water resiliency BEFORE disaster hits.

The disasters of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 were a wake-up call to Californians working on the state’s water issues. The costliest and third-costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, these two hurricanes reminded us of the fragility of our own state water infrastructure from our more likely risks of earthquakes and sea level rise. For example, we know that a big earthquake could have a big impact on our state’s water supply. According to UCLA Professor Jon Stewart, the three main water systems that bring water to Southern California each cross the San Andreas Fault at least once. This means that should the “big one” hit along that fault line, Southern California’s imported water supply from the Colorado River Aqueduct, the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the State Water Project could be severely impacted. This is especially significant for the State Water Project. 

About a third of Southern California’s water supply depends on water transported through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Islands in the Delta are protected by 100-year-old levees. Those levees are not likely to survive a major earthquake. Should these levees collapse, saltwater from San Francisco Bay would rush inland, and render water supplies too salty. That could interrupt service to millions of people, farms and businesses. It’s a known risk, and efforts to address it have been underway for years by people across the state. Planning for modernization of this critical statewide water system is underway with the ongoing environmental review of the Delta Conveyance project. We need to do everything we can to keep this important project progressing, along with simultaneous efforts to increase local supplies. Many successful collaborations are triggered by crisis. Let’s create our collaboration before that happens.

Resolution #5: Help create informed consensus about economic feasibility of water projects and policy.

Facts matter. We will continue to work with elected officials, policy makers and leaders to develop and support water projects and policies based on sound science and verifiable facts rather than more political motivations. For example, finding ways to address emerging contaminants in water must be done with an eye toward solutions that take into account the challenges and perspectives of both large and small water systems in meeting safe drinking water standards.

Resolution #6: Water managers in California will voluntarily agree to work together.

Smart, adaptive and real-time management of water resources is best achieved by those parties with the most at stake. That’s why we urge collaboration between state, federal and local water agencies in managing water resources and planning for the future. Successful voluntary agreements hold the key to improving conditions for fish and wildlife while ensuring water flows to the people and the economies that depend on it. We take heart and hope to follow the example of collaborative success stories such as those pointed out by Quinn during his June address to our organization: the San Gabriel and Santa Ana River watersheds, both of which demonstrated a decades-long transition from adversarialism to successful collaboration. The Butte Creek Salmon Restoration Project, the Yuba River Accord, the Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Plan, and the Battle Creek Restoration Project are other instances. Let us allow these examples to assure us that more can be done if we get the right people around the table. 

The post 6 New Year’s Resolutions for SCWC in 2021 appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

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On November 21, 2019, the California Natural Resources Agency made an announcement about the state process to permit State Water Project operations and litigation challenging the federal biological opinion for the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. Together, these projects provide water for 27 million Californians and millions of acres of some of the most productive farmland in the world.

SCWC Executive Director Charles Wilson released the following statement on this latest news for key sources of water supply in the state.

“Our message is simple. It is imperative that the state of California and the federal government work together to operate the water system in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and modernize it for the future. Twenty-five million Californians depend on it.

Today’s announcement of litigation by the state against the new federal biological opinions will challenge the ability of both governments to work closely together going forward. Yet, their approaches to managing the existing water systems with adaptive, real-time operations have more similarities than differences.

The Southern California Water Coalition urges the two administrations to resolve these issues through collaboration, not in the courtroom.” 

Established in 1984, the Southern California Water Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources. Spanning Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Ventura and Kern counties, the SCWC’s members include representatives from business, government, agriculture, water agencies, labor and the general public. Visit us at www.socalwater.org and follow us on Facebook by clicking here.

The post Statement on the State Water Project Permitting Announcement and Litigation appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

On October 22,2019, the new federal biological opinions to manage the operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project were released. Together, these projects provide water for 25 million Californians and millions of acres of some of the most productive farmland in the world.

SCWC Executive Director Charles Wilson released the following statement on this latest news for key sources of water supply for the state:

California and the federal government need to modernize both the water system in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and how it is operated on a day-to-day basis. The release of new biological opinions by federal agencies today updates the management for both the Central Valley Project and State Water Project under the federal Endangered Species Act.

While the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has yet to produce its new permit to operate the State Water Project to comply with the State Endangered Species Act, we expect management and diversion decisions to increasingly be made on a real-time basis based on state-of-the-art monitoring of endangered fish species. We believe that this is a sound approach overall when possible and urge the two administrations to work closely and collaboratively so that operations of the two projects can be harmonized as much as possible.

Read “A new approach for managing California’s water and improving the environment” by By Paul Souza, Barry Thom, and Ernest Conant, on CalMatters.

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