California Water Plan Highlights Dec 2005

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In the future, water supplies and the environment must both be considered together. C alifornia must manage water in ways that protect and restore the environment. Water is a vital natural resource for people and the environment, so water management activities must occur in the context of resource management and environmental protection. Water development in California has a rich history of conflict, at times pitting water supply projects against ecosystem protection. Water supplies and the environment must be considered together. Water managers must support environmental stewardship as part of their management responsibilities. As they develop and deliver water supplies, they can incorporate environmental stewardship in many ways: • Integrate ecosystem restoration with water planning and land use planning • Restore and maintain the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems • Minimize the alteration of ecosystems through water management actions • Improve watershed management • Protect public trust resources • Integrate flood management with water supply management Water management activities will often have unavoidable environ- mental consequences. When water is removed from the natural environ- ment for other beneficial uses, the environment is affected. In carrying out water management activities, Californians must acknowledge these environmental costs and make certain that restoration actions are taken to maintain and improve environmental health. Initiatives to Ensure Reliable Water Supplies Two key initiatives in the California Water Plan outline ways to make sure that Californians have enough clean and affordable water supplies through the year 2030. These initia- tives must be based on the founda- tional actions. The first initiative is to continue recent progress in imple- menting integrated regional water management. California Water Plan >i k