Transcript How We View and Value Water

How We View and Value Water in
the Bay Region
Kathleen Van Velsor. Environmental Planner- Sustainable Silicon Valley Water Summit, Dec. 7th, 2009
Do you recognize this
water body?
This one?
This one?
Or this one?
Orientation to Bay Area Water
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We have an estimated 400 watersheds within
the Bay Region before counting groundwater
basins and sub-basins:
Each watershed has multiple land uses.
 Degree of understanding of each watershed varies.
 Many have not had basic hydrologic analyses
performed and water flows are not gauged.
 Some are well managed. Many have no
comprehensive management regime.
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Orientation to Bay Area Water
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We import more water than any other
hydrologic region of California.
We are expanding our imported supplies.
We are expanding water conservation and
recycling – creating new cooperative networks
Bay Area Water
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In many instances, our growth and water
consumption rates are on the same trajectory.
Many of the sub-regions are water
challenged.
Conflict among suppliers and users is
commonplace.
Heavy dependence on imported water
supplies

especially Delta-based and Russian/Eel River-based
Bay Area Water
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Poor data on how much water we have on
hand in the region –
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entitlements and how much we divert and pump.
Supplied by roughly 100 water retailers,
wholesalers, contractors (local, state, federal)
to a range of land uses -- each with their own
governance
Commercial/industrial
 Residential and mixed uses
 Large landscapes and agricultural

Frames

Views of water are framed by our common
understandings and misunderstandings
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Water is cheap relative to other commodities
Our projected needs for water are accurate
We are guaranteed a certain supply of water
Water needs to become more expensive to be reliable
Water is plentiful in the Bay Area– for the most part
Water generally comes from the tap (via reservoirs)
We don’t rely on local water or watersheds
Water supplies are fully protected from hazards
Frames
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Our groundwater supplies are not challenged
Water experts will secure and protect supplies
There are secret supplies of water if push
comes to shove -- the experts are holding out
on us
Suburban communities and farmers waste
water, but urban users do not
Smarter, dense growth means less water
consumption
Distinct World Views of Water and
Values Associated with Them

Bay Area water as
coming from the tap
(practical/reliable)
through a pipe,
channel (engineered)
or water “temple”
(divine and
engineered)
Distinct World Views of Water
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Bay Area water as
Delta-sourced
Distinct Views of Water Sources
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Bay Area reservoirs
Bay Area water as
local creeks, rivers
and ground waters
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Sources in the
Sierras/No.
California
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Tuolumne,
Mokelumne,
American Rivers
Russian River
Eel River
Distinct World Views of Water
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Bay Area water as
ocean-derived

Desalination as the
future of water
Distinct World Views of Water

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Bay Area water as
conservation-derived
and reclaimed,
recycled and captured
Land use planning as
intimately tied to
water resource
planning
Distinct World Views of Water

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Water as a supply for
industry and
commerce
Water as an essential
ingredient for habitat
protection and
restoration; fisheries
management
Holistic approach to water resource
management in the region? Is it possible?

As affected by a range of factors:
Rate
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and styles of growth and
development
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Conservation of water resource lands
and waterways
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Climate change
Ability to adopt decision strategy
Politics and socio-economics
Availability of talented professionals and
citizen experts
Ability to cooperate and incorporate
distinct world views
Ability to incorporate other models of
management
Tendencies to shoot the messenger
Investments in styles of doing business
Objective assessment of water supplies,
uses and projected uses
Adequacies of existing water resource
management plans
Integrating land use planning and water
resource management
Education about the wide array of water
resources in the Bay Area