California Water Plan Highlights Dec 2005

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Director's Message This is not just another update of the California Water Plan. Update 2005 represents a fun- damental transition in how we look at water resource management in California. It also represents a fundamental transition in the way state government needs to be involved with local entities and interest groups to deal with water issues in the state. The way we manage California's water resources is changing. We need to consider a broader range of resource management issues, competing water demands, new approaches to water supply reliability, and new ways of financing. Methods like storage and convey - a -__e "are being adapted to include more water conservation, recycling, desalination, and many other strategies. And today, local agen- cies and governments are beginning to work together to develop regional water plans that are more integrated, more inclusive, and more cost effective. As the first update of the 21 st Century, Cali- fornia Water Plan Update 2005 is a roadmap for meeting the state's water demands today and into the future. It identifies pressing issues and includes a strategic plan with goals, policy recommendations, and actions to ensure sus- tainable water uses and reliable water supplies in the face of uncertainty and change. The plan also outlines an array of management strate- gies and collaborative approaches to increase supply, use water efficiently, protect water qual- ity, and restore the environment. California's regions cannot meet all of their objectives with a single water strategy. Inte- grated regional water management is the future for California because it will help regions diversify their water portfolio strategies and get the most from local, state and federal resources and funding. While statewide water manage- ment systems such as the State Water Project will continue to be essential to the California economy, integrated regional water manage- ment enables regions to implement actions with multiple benefits and helps them become more self sufficient. California needs to make substantial investments in water management activities to support a vital economy, a healthy environment, and a reliable water supply for its citizens. In recent years, voters have approved a series of bonds to finance many water management strategies with statewide benefits. While water bonds will continue to provide needed funding, communi- ties throughout the state also need more reliable and stable funding sources. The Department of Water Resources will continue to support general obligation bonds and non - general fund revenue sources to carry out long -term improvements in statewide water management systems while pro- viding all customers with reliable water supplies. California Water Plan Update 2005 describes the water management strategies we must implement - and the investments we must make - to ensure California's water future. O�JE7�� Lester A. Snow