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Statewide Planning The Department's long-range Statewide water resources planning activities are conducted under this program. The studies, together with those of other planning programs of the Department and other agencies, have been consolidated to obtain a Statewide perspective of needs, programs, and course of action involving the use, control, protection, conservation, and development of the State's water resources. This program began in the early 1960s, after completion and adoption by the Legislature of Bulletin 3, The California Water Plan, which is a general guide for water management activities throughout the State. The changes in the rate of population growth since that time, along with changes in irrigated agriculture, have made it necessary to continually reevaluate the future demands on the State's water supplies. Therefore, the California Water Plan must be updated on a continuing basis so that it remains responsive to the growing demands for water and the changing economic, agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental needs. A major output of the program is the Bulletin 160 series, which summarizes water use and water supply information and serves as an update of the California Water Plan. The series is widely used by the Legislature, other State agencies, federal and local water agencies, environmental groups, water consultants, the media, and other interested persons. Additional information gained through the studies is made available for use by other Department planning programs and the entire water community through discussions, letters, memorandum reports, web sites, and consultation. Present and projected land use, water use, water supply, population, and related information for the entire State is developed or assembled to provide a source for data to be used by federal, State, and local agencies and the private sector. Objectives The major objectives of this program are to: (1) periodically examine and update the status of the State's water resources; (2) reassess the probable future water use in all areas of the State; (3) identify possible means of meeting supplemental demands; and (4) present the results of such work to the water community and the general public. Updating California Water Plan The studies conducted under this program primarily address the issues of Statewide water demands and the measures needed to meet them. Bulletins in the 160 series were published in 1966, 1970, 1974, 1983, 1987, 1994, 1998, and 2005. California Water Code Section 10004, signed into law in 1994, now requires that updates be prepared every five years. It also requires that, before the bulletin is published, a draft be prepared and public workshops be held to receive comments. District staff participates in advisory committee meetings, workshops, and project team meetings, as necessary. Updates have been and presumably will continue to be made three years and eight years after each U.S. Census. Updates of the California Water Plan become official upon submission of these bulletins and related reports to the Legislature. Water use and allocation in California will continue to change as needs increase and change. Periodic Statewide reassessments of the needs for food and fiber production, urban requirements, environmental values, and other water uses must be made to guide federal, State, and local decisions regarding the use of the State's limited water resources. The updating and analysis of water use/water supply relationships provide the information needed to set priorities for specific water management planning efforts. Proposed plans and actions for management of remaining developable water resources of the State must be viewed from a long-term perspective. Current Activities The Department is now working on Bulletin 160-2009, the Southern California portion of which is being performed in the Southern District. Involved is the presentation of four regional reports-for the South Coast, South Lahontan, Colorado River, and the South Central Coast regions. |
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For further information contact: Vern Knoop |
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Copyright © 1998. California Department of Water Resources. All rights reserved. |