20% by 2020: Achieving the Governor’s Water Conservation Target

Southern California Water Dialogue July 23, 2008 Rick Soehren Chief, Water Use Efficiency

Context for a Conservation Target

 Second Year of Dry Conditions  Increasing Environmental Constraints on Delta Pumping  Delta Vulnerable to Floods, Earthquakes, Rodents  Climate Change

Governor’s Three-Part Conservation Message

 A target: “20% reduction in per-capita use by 2020”  An order: “state agencies to develop this more aggressive plan”  An invitation: “legislation to incorporate this goal into statute”

The Target: Is It Achievable?

 Current urban water use = 8.7 million acre-feet per year  20% reduction = 1.74 million acre-feet per year

Additional Annual Water from 8 Resource Management Strategies by 2030 3.5

3.0

Low Estimate High Estimate 3.1

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.4

0.3

0.4

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.8

0.2

1.0

0.1

1.4

0.9

0.5

Pr ec ipi tat ion En ha nc em en t Oc ea Co nv n & Ag ey B an rac ric ce kis ult h D ura es l W ali ate na r U tio se n Ef fic ien Su cy rfa (N ce et) St or ag e Re C cy AL cle FE D d Mu Co nju nic nc ipa tiv l W e Mg Ur ate ba mt r n W & G ate W r U St se ora Ef ge fic ien cy (A pp lie d) 1.2

Savings Estimates



California Water Plan Update

2005: 1.2 to 3.1 maf by 2030  2006 CALFED Water Use

Efficiency Comprehensive

Evaluation: 1.2 to 2.1 maf by 2020 (most likely scenario = 1.76 maf)

“A More Aggressive Plan”

        Dept. of Water Resources Dept. of Public Health State and Regional Water Boards CA Public Utilities Commission CA Energy Commission CALFED Bay-Delta Program Bureau of Reclamation CA Urban Water Conservation Council

Legislating a Conservation Target

AB 2175 (Laird & Feuer) complements a state plan by encouraging local action. The bill would:  Place 20% State Target in Law  Hold Water Suppliers to Specific Targets  Set Numerical Target for Ag Conservation  Give DWR Power to Require Specific Actions Bill’s next hearing: Senate Appropriations

Climate Adjustments

 Bill sets “California Standard” per capita targets  Targets vary by ET Zone

Potential Amendments

 Don’t Hold Local Suppliers to State Target  Keep DWR Out of Regulatory Role  Increase Flexibility (Base Year, CII, Unique Situations)  Establish an Ag Water Mgmt. Planning Act

Rick Soehren Chief, Office of Water Use Efficiency and Transfers California Department of Water Resources (916) 651-7051 [email protected]

http://www.water.ca.gov