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18 California Region - -Most of California's precipitation falls north of the Sacramento - <br />San Joaquin Delta during winter and spring, whereas most of California's water use <br />occurs south of the delta during summer and fall. Thus the State and Federal <br />governments have built storage and conveyance systems to geographically and seasonally <br />redistribute this water supply in support of a State economy that ranks 5th worldwide <br />among national economies. This water supply supports more than 7 million acres of <br />irrigated agriculture (about one -sixth of the Nation's irrigated land) as well as municipal <br />water for a majority of California's population. Recent climate trends (shifts from snow <br />to rain and an increase in the frequency of winter snowmelt events) have resulted in <br />substantial changes in the seasonal distribution of streamflow. This can have an impact <br />on the reliable yield of existing water - supply systems. Limits on the use of this water <br />system imposed by threatened fish species, effects of tides and delta island drainage on <br />source water quality, and vulnerable delta levees have encouraged consensus on long- <br />term plans to build additional surface storage, increase aquifer storage and retrieval, <br />improve municipal source water quality, and rehabilitate aquatic and wetland habitats. <br />These plans also contemplate water -use changes resulting from a projected California <br />population increase from 35 million to 45 million by 2020, and attendant land -use <br />conversion of Southern California desert and Central Valley farmland. The plans have <br />yet to incorporate evolving decisions about the Klamath- Trinity and lower Colorado <br />systems that may reduce present water - supply contributions from these systems to the <br />Central Valley and Southern California. <br />19 Alaska Region - -The hydrologic budget of water inflows, outflows, and water use is <br />poorly understood in many parts of Alaska. The State has more land, longer coastline, <br />more federally owned land, more and bigger mountains, and more major rivers than any <br />other State. During the 20th century, Alaska has undergone warming of several degrees, <br />and continued warming is predicted for much of the State. This is causing melting of <br />permafrost, drying of soils, increased respiration of soil carbon, and changes in <br />hydrologic budgets. However, the data network is too sparse to provide support for many <br />of the Alaska's water - management issues. Withdrawals are increasing for off - stream uses <br />and requirements are being set to meet in- stream needs. Policy makers and resource <br />managers often proceed with little hydrologic data to support their recommendations in <br />realms as diverse as oil and gas exploration, mineral development, base flow to streams, <br />sources for village water supplies, flood warning and flood control, or navigability issues. <br />Water supply, treatment, and distribution facilities are being built and expanded in rural <br />Alaska, only to find the water supply is inadequate to produce the increased demand on <br />the water system. Water availability information is needed to support exploration and <br />development while protecting the abundant natural resources of the energy -rich North <br />Slope area. <br />20 Hawaii Region -- Watersheds and aquifers in the Hawaiian Islands are small and in <br />need of better hydrologic characterization. Their small size and the variability of rainfall <br />makes the entire region highly vulnerable to drought. The only alternative source of fresh <br />23 <br />