California Water Plan Highlights Dec 2005

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A A A Framework for Action California is a state of great diversity. Nationwide, no other state can match the variety of California's cultures, ecosystems, geography, and hydrology. This diversity brings distinct challenges to the management of California's groundwater and surface water resources. Most of the state's snow and rain fall in the mountains; most of the water is used in the valleys and coastal plains. Precipitation totals vary from year to year and from place to place. Wet years can bring the threat of floods; drought years put pressure on available water supplies. On a statewide basis, California meets most of its agricultural, municipal, and industrial water management objectives in most years. Over the past 50 years, Cali- fornians have been able to meet water demands primarily through an extensive network of water storage and conveyance facilities, groundwater development, and, more recently, by improving water use efficiency. A big challenge now and for the future is to make sure water is in the right places at the right times. Challenges will be greatest during dry years (see year 2001 water balance; precipitation was 72 per- cent of average). In these years, water dedicated to the environ- ment is curtailed sharply and less water is available for agriculture. Greater reliance on groundwater during dry years results in higher costs for many users. At the same time, water users who have already increased efficiency may find it more challenging to achieve additional water use reductions during droughts. As competition grows among water users, water management during dry years will become more complex and, at times, contentious. Over the past 50 years, we have been able to meet our water demands primarily through an extensive network of water storage and conveyance facilities, groundwater development, and, more recently, by improving water use efficiency. { V,