Planning for California's Water Future California Association of Resource Conservation Districts November 13, 2014

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California Precipitation Variable & Extreme Over Time & Location Most precipitation occurs November - March

California Statewide Precipitation

2 SOURCE: http://education.usgs.gov/california/resources.html#water

California’s Major River Systems

Distribution of Average Runoff Distribution of Water Use N

Average 56 MAF (~80%) Annual Runoff ~71 MAF/Year 15 MAF (~20%)

29 MAF (~2/3) 3

8% In-Delta Uses 74% Sacramento River Valley

The Delta Estuary at the heart of the California water system

10% Eastside Tributaries /In-Delta Precipitation 65% Outflow to Suisun and San Francisco Bays 16% San Joaquin River 12% Central Valley Project, Mostly Agriculture 15% Mostly Southern Industrial Use Los Angeles State Water Project, California Urban and San Diego

SOURCE: California Water: An LAO Primer, 2008 4

California Water Supply Systems

4% 22% 12% 7% 55% 1998-2005 average.. Does not include reuse or recycling. Quantities vary by year.

Local - Colorado - 38.3 maf 4.8 maf Federal - State - 8.1 maf 2.9 maf Groundwater -- 15.0 maf

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California’s Water Reservoirs

 Snow Pack  Surface Storage  Groundwater Basins  Soil Moisture 6

Snow Pack California’s Largest Surface Reservoir

13.5

MAF/year Sacramento Valley Reservoir Storage 15 MAF/year Snow Pack Storage 11 MAF/year San Joaquin Valley Reservoir Storage 7

Water is the Essence of Life

   

Reduce flood risk Statewide .

Provide safe drinking water.

Improve water quality for fisheries and recreation.

Clean, safe water supplies.

   

Enhance Bay -Delta ecosystem .

Restore terrestrial and aquatic habitats .

Improve watershed management .

Raise awareness and increase stewardship .

   

Enhance State economic output .

Contribute to job creation and security .

Promote food production security .

Provide stable funding for infrastructure .

A System in Crisis

Reduced Prosperity for Future Generations Greater Drought Impacts - Unreliable Water Supplies Increasing Flood Risk Groundwater Depletion and Subsidence Degraded Water Quality Declining Environmental Conditions Aging Infrastructure 9

Climate Change

A Costly Challenge for all Californians 10

Change in Groundwater Storage 2005 - 2010 Tulare Lake Region -3.7 to -8.9 maf Sac River Region -0.7 to -1.7 maf SJ River Region -1.0 to -2.6 maf

Water Scenarios 2050

Extreme Uncertainty in Future Demands 12

Interconnected Systems Require Integrated Solutions

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California’s Drought 2014

• • • • • • • • •

2014 third dry year statewide Statewide storage well below average Groundwater basins are being depleted Feb - March rain helped, but drought persists State & federal water project operations restricted by regulatory actions to protect the Delta Local conditions are degrading High level of local, State and federal coordination 2015 could also be dry More frequent or longer droughts are likely

D R O U G H T P R E P A R E D N E S S & R E S P O N S E

Statewide Drought Conditions

Extreme Drought + 82% Exceptional Drought +58%

Population Affected by Drought 37,253,959 United States Drought Monitor Sept 2, 2014

D R O U G H T P R E P A R E D N E S S & R E S P O N S E

State of California Taking Action

• EO to streamline water transfers (May 2013) • PRD Governor’s Water Action Plan & CA Water Plan Update 2013 (Oct 2013) • State Drought Task Force Established (Dec 2013) • Governor’s Drought Proclamation & Water Action Plan (Jan 2014) • Drought Emergency Funding (March) • EO to redouble Drought Response (April)

Sustainable Groundwater Management*

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Realign Governance Develop & Adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans Prepare Water Budgets to Improve GW Management Realize Sustainable Groundwater Management

Governance developed, adopted, and addressed by GWS agencies GWS agencies prepare and adopt an acceptable groundwater sustainability plan GWS agencies manage GW based on a water budget framework GWS agencies achieve objectives in GW Sustainability Plans (Years 1-3) (Years 4-8) (Years 6-10) (Years 10-14) *From 2014 sustainable groundwater management legislation, including provisions for State “backstop” measures

Governor’s Water Action Plan

A 5-Year Plan to Meet 3 Broad Goals  Reliability - more reliable water supplies for our farms & communities  Restoration – restoring important wildlife habitat & species  Resilience - more resilient, sustainably managed water systems & environment (supply, quality, flood protection & ecosystems)

The California Water Plan

 First published in 1957 as Bulletin 3  Water Code requires DWR to update Water Plan every 5 years – 10 updates (Bulletin 160)  Strong nexus with Governor’s Water Action Plan  Tool for guiding investment priorities and legislative action  Update 2013 lays out recommendations -- no mandates or appropriations 19

Proposition 1

Investing in Integrated Water Management

Water Supply

• Dams and groundwater storage—cost share associated with public benefits.

• Regional projects to achieve multiple water-related improvements (includes conservation and capturing rainwater).

• Water recycling, including desalination.

Watershed Protection and Restoration

• Watershed restoration and habitat protection in designated areas around the state.

• Certain state commitments for environmental restorations.

• Restoration programs available to applicants statewide.

• Projects to increase water flowing in rivers and streams.

Improvements to Groundwater and Surface Water Quality

• Prevention and cleanup of groundwater pollution.

• Drinking water projects for disadvantaged communities.

• Wastewater treatment in small communities.

• Local plans and projects to manage groundwater.

Flood Protection

• Repairs and improvements to levees in the Delta.

• Flood protection around the state.

Total $4,235

$2,700 810 725

$1,495

$515 475 305 200

$1,420

$800 260 260 100

$395

$295 100

A Decade of Regional Investment

Regional Diversity Requires Regional Solutions 21

Long Term Water Management

Observations and Lessons Learned  Solutions must be regionally based  Need to shift away from single-strategy approach toward “all of the above” approach  Investment should reflect water priorities  Interconnected systems require integrated solutions  The most predictable aspect of California water is unpredictability 22

Final Thought

How we plan is just as important as what we plan for 23

Questions & Comments

Paul Massera

Statewide Integrated Water Mgmt.

CA Department Water Resources

[email protected]