SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT: How do we get there?

AWRA Summer Specialty ConferenceJuly 2014

Gary Bardini, P.E.Deputy DirectorCalifornia Dept of Water Resources

California’s Water Crisis

How did we get here?

California’s Water Management Challenge: A Tale of Two Extremes

TOO MUCHFolsom Reservoir, 1976TOO LITTLE

California Precipitation

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

• Variable and extreme over time and location• Most precipitation

occurs November – March

California Statewide Precipitation< 5 in

50+ in

~15 in

5

n

Average Annual Runoff

~71 MAF/Year

56 MAF (million acre-feet) (~80%)

15 MAF (~20%)

29 MAF (~66%)

15 MAF (~33%)

N

Distribution of Average

Runoff(major river

systems)Distribution of Water

Use

California Hydrology and Water Use

Groundwater Use• Groundwater

accounts for almost 40% of CA water supply; more than 16M acre-feet

Water Year 2014 to Date

• Third consecutive dry year• Statewide

unimpaired river runoff: 30% of average (May)• All but one

major reservoirs below historical average

Lake Shasta, Feb 2014 (USGS)

Surface Water Storage (June 30)

Change in Groundwater Storage (2005-10) SJ River Region

-1.0 to -2.6 maf

Tulare Lake Region

-3.7 to -8.9 maf

Sac River Region

-0.7 to -1.7 maf

10

CA Water Plan (1957)

Water Management of the Past Focused on Challenges

California Water Plan – 3 Themes

Integrated Water Management is Part of the Solution

Integrated Water Resources Management Definition (Global)

A process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems - Global Water Partnership (GWP)

Integrated Water Management is Part of the Solution

Integrated Water Management Definition (California)

Comprehensive and collaborative approach for managing water to concurrently achieve social, environmental, and economic objectives. In the California Water Plan, these objectives are focused toward improving public safety, fostering environmental stewardship, and supporting economic stability. IWM delivers higher value for investments by considering all interests, providing multiple benefits, and working across jurisdictional boundaries at the appropriate geographic scale. – CA DWR, Calif Water Plan Update 2013

Defining “Sustainable Water Management”

Recent CA Legislative Proposals for Groundwater: Senate Bill 1168

Management of a groundwater basin to provide for multiple long-term benefits without resulting in or aggravating conditions that cause significant economic, social, or environmental impacts such as long-term overdraft, land subsidence, ecosystem degradation, depletions from surface water bodies, and water quality degradation, in order to protect the resource for present and future generations.

Assembly Bill 1739 Management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained

during the planning and implementation horizon without causing unreasonable adverse environmental, economic, or social consequences through the development, implementation, and updating of plans and programs based on the best available science, monitoring, forecasting, and use of technological resources, as determined by a groundwater sustainability agency.

Return on State InvestmentsIRWM Implementation Projects

48 Regional Groups; 87% population

425 projects funded statewide

$577 Million in State grant investments

Leveraged by $2.85 Billion in local (non-State) cost match(Prop 50, Round 1

& 2 Prop 84, Round 1)

Benefits of IRWM Investments (claimed)

(Prop 50, Round 1 & 2 Prop 84, Round 1)

195,000 ac-ft/yr

1,200,000 ac-ft/yr

55,000 acres

30,000 acres

512,000 ac-ft/yr

200,000 ac-ft/yr

Stakeholder Feedback Confirms Value of the Integrated Regional Approach

“The greatest valueof IRWM is creating more collaboration,

integration and extra money to make

projects succeed”

“…promoting a better understanding of each

others’ issues”

“Since its beginning, there has been a

huge difference in the working relationships among stakeholders”

“Promoted cross-boundary,

multi-benefit projects”

“Supported smaller projects that

wouldn’t have happened otherwise”

“More towards watershed-wide water resources

planning”

We’ve made good progress on collaboration…now onto improved cooperation and compromise

What’s Needed to Move to Sustainable Water Management?

What Water Leaders are saying: Establish Stable

Financing Improve Alignment at all

Levels of Government Improve Investment in

Science Measure and Track

Progress Towards System Resiliency

Improve Planning Tools

18

Communicating Value of the Integrated Approach to Customers and Partners

Application of IWRM Principles in Reclamation Planning

Bureau of Reclamation

California Water Action Plan

Ten Priority Actions/Objectives:1. Make conservation a California way of life2. Increase regional self-reliance and integrated water management across all levels of government3. Achieve the co-equal goals for the Delta4. Protect and restore important ecosystems 5. Manage and prepare for dry periods 6. Expand water storage capacity and improve groundwater management 7. Provide safe water for all communities; 8. Increase flood protection; 9. Increase operational and regulatory efficiency; 10. Identify sustainable and integrated financing opportunities.

Future Financing Strategies Need more reliable, predictable diverse

mix of finance mechanisms and funding sources to invest in actions with broad public benefits

Desired attributes: Avoid stranded cost, funding

discontinuity Leverage funding across government

agencies Improve cost effectiveness, efficiency,

accountability Increase certainty of outcomes

Proposed Public Investments:Examples of Recent Water Bond Bills

Existing Proposed Replacement Water Bonds

Historical Finance Categories CA Water Action Plan – Priority Actions SB x7 7

(Cogdill)SB 848 (Wolk)

AB 2686 (Perea)

Governor Brown

Water Reliability

1. Make conservation a California way of life 1.2 * * ?

2. Increase regional self-reliance and integrated water management across all levels of government

1.4 * 0 ?

5. Manage and prepare for dry periods 0 3 1.5 ?

6. Expand water storage capacity and improve groundwater management

3 * 4 ?

Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration

4. Protect and restore important ecosystems 1.785 3.18 1.5 ?

7. Provide safe water for all communities1.505 3.02 1 ?

Flood Management8. Increase flood protection

0 0.4 0 ?

Delta Management and Operation

3. Achieve the co-equal goals for the Delta 2.25 0.9 2.25 ?

9. Increase operational and regulatory efficiency * * * ?

Sustainable Financing through Integration and Alignment

10. Identify sustainable and integrated financing opportunities

0 0 0 ?

TOTALS ($ Billions) $

11.14 $ 10.500

$ 10.25

$ 6.0

Other Proposed Bills: AB 1331 - $8B, AB 2043 - $8B, SB 927 - $9.2B, AB 1445 - $5.8B, SB 1370 - $6.3B, SB 1250 - $9.5B, etc.*Funding provided in other categories

?

Financing Framework

Iceberg

Gary BardiniDeputy DirectorIntegrated Water ManagementCalifornia Department of Water Resources

For more information:(916) 591-1324carmel.brown@water.ca.govhttp://www.water.ca.gov

Extra slides

Past Investments:Relative to Current State Priorities