The Flood-MAR Research and Data Development Plan Evaluation is now available on the Flood-MAR Hub website. This report evaluates progress made toward the 39 priority actions described in the 2019 Flood-MAR Research and Data Development Plan (R&DD Plan). The R&DD Plan presents the work of the Flood-MAR Research Advisory Committee (RAC), a multidisciplinary group of approximately 200 subject matter experts across 13 research themes. The RAC was tasked to identify the research, data, guidance, and tools necessary to support and expand the implementation of Flood-MAR projects and estimated that most of the 39 priority actions could be completed in under five years for approximately $147 million. The evaluation report details the results of a qualitative analysis to determine progress made towards the 39 priority actions and concluded that roughly two-thirds of the priority actions have been completed or are underway. The report’s review recommendations will be discussed at Flood-MAR Forum 2025, to be held at California State University, Sacramento, on November 5 and 6. Registration for that event is open now, as are sponsorship opportunities.

The next Basin Characterization Exchange (BCX) online meeting and webinar will be on Tuesday, June 24, at 12:30 p.m. The hour-long webinar, “Tool to Integrate AEM Data into Hydrostratigraphic Models,” will focus on Data2HSM, a suite of machine-learning-based methods designed to streamline the development of hydrostratigraphic models (HSMs) by integrating airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data with other hydrogeologic data and existing geologic information. Speakers include Hydrogeologist Nicole Jacobsen and Technical Manager Tori Ward, both from Woodard & Curran. Registration is required to attend this event. More information about BCX is available on DWR’s Basin Characterization Program webpage. Note that here will be no BCX meetings in July and August. BCX meetings and webinars will resume in September with presentations from members of the basin characterization community.

In July, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will launch a new and improved water data management system called CalWATRS (California Water Accounting Tracking and Reporting System) to make reporting water rights easier and more efficient. This system will help the State manage water data better and make it easier for the public to access important information. As part of the CalWATRS rollout, the State Water Board invites the public to access the system and offer user-experience feedback to help eliminate any issues. The current system, eWRIMS, stopped accepting annual water usage reports on June 8. Users can still search for water rights information in eWRIMS but can’t submit any new reports. Details and important dates related to the new CalWATRs system are available on the CalWATRS webpage.

The California State Library, Government Publications section, will host a webinar on Tuesday, June 24. “Web Archiving in Action” will discuss preserving and accessing California State information online. Librarians from the California State Library will share how web archiving supports transparency and ensures continued public access. They will also show how to locate archived versions of California government websites, track changes made over time, and use web archiving tools to support research. The free event runs for one hour and begins at noon. Registration is required.