Conservation Groups Advocate Overhaul of Water Policies in Southern California

Conservation organizations are urging a significant change in how Southern California sources its water. They emphasize reducing reliance on imported supplies due to the impacts of climate change, drought, and increasing costs. The coalition comprises 12 groups advocating for enhanced local water capture, wastewater recycling, and groundwater cleanup. This shift aims to decrease dependence on water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California.

The proposal, titled A New Vision for a Sustainable Water Future for Northern and Southern California, outlines estimates that technologies like stormwater capture, recycling, and conservation could supply Southern California with up to 2 million acre-feet of drought-resistant water annually by 2045. This volume is equivalent to approximately 650 billion gallons.

The coalition claims its plan would offer significantly more water than the Delta Conveyance Project. This 45-mile tunnel aims to transport water from the Sacramento River into the State Water Project system and is projected to provide around 0.5 million acre-feet annually, much less than the coalition’s predictions.

Challenges Facing California’s Water Supply

California’s water system transports water over great distances, including from the Colorado River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Both sources face increasing stress from climate change, diminishing snowpack, rising temperatures, and extreme weather causing both droughts and flooding.

The Colorado River is currently at its lowest level since exports started in the early 1900s. Meanwhile, the Bay-Delta deals with challenges like pollution, sharp declines in fish populations impacting California’s salmon fishing industry, and poor water quality.

The California Department of Water Resources has launched its plan to address these issues. Initiated in February, the California Water Plan 2028 sets a statewide water-supply target. It aims to generate 9 million acre-feet of supply by 2040 through storage, capture, and conservation projects.

Conservation Groups’ Proposed Actions

To reduce dependence on distant water sources, the coalition’s plan aims for California to become more self-reliant. Key points include:

• Ceasing planning and support for the Delta Tunnel, advocating for science-based in-stream flow protections for the Bay-Delta and its tributaries.
• Considering an ambitious water bond focused on modern local water supplies, avoiding wasteful or harmful spending.
• Developing best practices and regulatory standards to manage harmful algal blooms.
• Recognizing and protecting tribal beneficial uses in permitting decisions.
• Ensuring appropriate reductions in Colorado River diversions as part of a basin-wide plan for long-term sustainability.
• Creating a framework for businesses to fund green infrastructure for stormwater capture.
• Removing the cap on large water recycling projects for State Revolving Fund loans, allocating sufficient funds to support large-scale projects.
• Reforming Proposition 218 to facilitate local water rate assistance and ensure effective conservation rates. Proposition 218 requires voter approval for certain local taxes.

The coalition includes groups such as the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the River, Golden State Salmon Association, LA Waterkeeper, Resource Renewal Institute, Restore the Delta, San Francisco Baykeeper, Sierra Club California, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, and Yosemite Rivers Alliance. As of May 19, 18 additional organizations had expressed support for the proposal, according to LA Waterkeeper.