OPC updates guidance on sea level rise along California's coast
The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has released a guidance document to help California communities prepare and adapt to rising sea levels. The State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update finds that seas will likely rise by nearly a foot by 2050 and potentially as much as 12 feet by 2150. That is expected to lead to coastal storms and high tides compounding flooding, erosion, and groundwater challenges. Since the release of a previous guidance document in 2018, there have been significant advancements in scientific abilities to project future sea level rise levels. The updated guidance provides a process for incorporating the effects of rising seas into community planning and projects.
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DWR's monthly water loss webinar set for next week
DWR’s monthly water loss webinar will focus on assistance provided by State agencies and industry consultants to help water systems navigate the State Water Board’s water loss performance standards. The webinar will be Thursday, June 20. Registration is required.
Forum will review outcomes of Delta drought program
A forum on the outcomes of the Delta Drought Response Pilot Program will be held Thursday, June 20, in Walnut Grove. The program was launched in January 2022 to provide farmers with financial incentives to reduce their water use, protect wildlife, and protect water quality in the Delta. The Delta Conservancy is hosting the forum, which will include an opportunity to hear the experiences of program participants.
Getting a handle on California's water challenges
A new report, The Magnitude of California’s Water Challenges, examines the climate, society, economy, and ecosystems problems unfolding in the state. The report was commissioned by the California Municipal Utilities Association and written by University of California researchers. It says California’s water infrastructure, technologies, and institutions must continue to adapt to water scarcity problems that are expected to increase because of climate change, the end of overdrafting groundwater, and other factors.
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Survey results published on SJ Valley groundwater recharge
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has been looking into strategies to recharge groundwater basins. The findings are available in the report, Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley: 2024 Update. The report includes results from a survey of local water agencies about their recharge efforts.
Flood-MAR featured in The High Water Mark newsletter
Flood-managed aquifer recharge (Flood-MAR) and land use issues are featured in the latest newsletter from the Floodplain Management Association. The High Water Mark provides an article that looks at efforts over the last five years to use floodwaters as a way to recharge aquifers. There is also an article that covers the work being done by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide greater levels of flood protection.
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Using environmental flows for ecosystem water management
A new article from the Water Education Foundation explores a scientific strategy that would shift the current focus of environmental water management. Laws governing environmental flows in waterways have usually focused on a single species. The California Environmental Flows Framework calls for changing that single-species approach to one that considers entire ecosystems.
Webinar on nature-inclusive designs for coastal infrastructure
The Network for Engineering with Nature Knowledge series continues with a webinar on Thursday, June 20. The presentation will cover coastal and marine infrastructure projects developed with nature-inclusive designs. Case studies will provide examples of benefits that come with science-driven, nature-inclusive construction.
 The Splash is a weekly feature spotlighting topics from
California Water Plan Update 2023.
Objective 2 in the California Water Plan Update 2023 Roadmap to Resilience is: Improve Resilience of “Backbone” State, Federal, and Regional Built Water Infrastructure.
Because most California watersheds are dependent on State, federal, and regional built water infrastructure, resilience can only be achieved with improvements to these “backbone” systems. To improve the conditions of existing built backbone infrastructure, the recommendations are:
- Reinvest in and modernize built backbone infrastructure systems.
- Adapt and expand existing systems for climate change.
- Increase integration of State, federal, and regional built backbone systems.
- Improve data, analysis, and information-sharing to support integrated water management and planning.
- Improve integration of water, energy, and agricultural systems.
- Reduce water demands in all sectors.
These recommendations carry 14 actions to implement, including improving dam safety, restoring storage capacity in reservoirs, and expanding water supply portfolios in areas dependent on the Colorado River.
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