Integrated regional water management plans will play a critical role in meeting the state’s future water needs. ACWA’s Blueprint recommends that the state support integrated regional plans by taking a number of actions, such as partnering with regions where requested to provide funding assistance and technical expertise.

Background

Regional efforts have long played an important part in providing water to California’s cities, farms and businesses. Today, regional efforts are assuming even greater importance as individual agencies and communities forge partnerships to diversify their water supplies, improve water quality and reliability, enhance environmental stewardship and increase flexibility to better cope with droughts, floods and other uncertain future conditions.

Though the specifics vary according to local needs, integrated regional water management plans generally include a mix of infrastructure improvements, environmental enhancements, and programs such as water recycling, water use efficiency, groundwater management and conjunctive use, water transfers and exchanges, flood protection and watershed management. By pursuing these strategies, regions can maximize their investments, make more efficient use of available resources and better coordinate information among all local governments.

ACWA’s Recommendations

ACWA recommends the state support integrated regional water management plans by taking the following actions:

• Direct the Department of Water Resources to better assist local agencies as they undertake regional programs and to provide for better coordination of regional efforts to help meet statewide needs.

• Partner with regions where requested to provide funding assistance and technical expertise to help develop sound integrated regional plans.

• Streamline regulations and approval processes for strategies such as water transfers, water recycling and seawater and brackish groundwater desalination.

• Clarify the definition of integrated regional water plans in the context of state grant programs and legislation requiring plans as a prerequisite to receiving funding.

• Establish funding priorities for development of financial assistance for regional efforts.

• Actively seek partnerships with local, regional and federal agencies to develop programs such as surface and groundwater storage projects that provide both regional and statewide benefits.

Recent Developments

On December 4, 2006 ACWA has submitted a comment letter to Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regarding IRWMP Program Administration.

The ACWA comment letter (found here) and the attached "Conclusions and Recommendations," (found here) were prepared by the Water Management Committee based on comments made in the "town hall" meeting on July 17, 2006, and subsequent comments by water agencies. With the recent conclusion of the first round of Proposition 50 grant program, ACWA believes the time was right to consider opportunities for some administrative changes to improve the program going forward.