{"id":67862,"date":"2024-10-02T14:23:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T21:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=67862"},"modified":"2024-10-02T14:23:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T21:23:50","slug":"california-makes-major-strides-for-water-supplies-and-climate-resilience-over-the-past-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=67862","title":{"rendered":"California makes major strides for water supplies and climate resilience over the past year"},"content":{"rendered":"<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-7141696330142905065mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table class=\"m_-7141696330142905065mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-7141696330142905065mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\"><strong>What you need to know:\u00a0<\/strong>With California experiencing climate-driven extremes in weather, the state is continuing to take aggressive action to protect and expand the state\u2019s water supplies, including prioritizing groundwater recharge and infrastructure improvements and supporting vulnerable drinking water systems.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"m_-7141696330142905065mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"m_-7141696330142905065mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\">SACRAMENTO \u2014 The State of California, under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, has made significant strides in securing and enhancing water supplies while building climate resilience. Over the past year, California has implemented innovative water management strategies and invested heavily in drinking water systems, groundwater protection and infrastructure projects, benefitting millions of residents statewide.<\/p>\n<p>As the state begins a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=0dfeeb65db&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D0dfeeb65db%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2szMQ3wPwVglv2ZTMSkke7\">new water year<\/a>, here\u2019s an overview of some key developments:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key milestones<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Connecting hundreds of thousands of people to clean drinking water:<\/strong>\u00a0Close to 900,000 more Californians now have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=1917075926&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D1917075926%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0OTRChwVXvoz-sa8GzYkLP\">access to clean drinking water<\/a>\u00a0since 2019, thanks to consolidation efforts and infrastructure improvements benefiting underserved areas across the state. Since Governor Newsom took office, California has reduced the number of people who lack access from 1.6 million to approximately 700,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Supporting drinking water systems:<\/strong>\u00a0Nearly 400 communities across California have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=98e865aba8&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D98e865aba8%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3-HUEjEuGDxiS_ALh3WysY\">received support<\/a>\u00a0to bolster their drinking water and wastewater systems and build resilience against climate impacts through $880 million distributed by the State Water Board in the 2023-2024 fiscal year alone. These projects, which focus on both immediate and long-term needs, ensure cleaner and more reliable water access for local communities. Since 2019, California has facilitated more than 140 water system consolidations to provide safe drinking water, and the Governor last month signed SB 1188 (Laird) to support struggling small water systems with technical resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Streamlining Sites Reservoir project:<\/strong>\u00a0California is forging ahead with this major water storage project which could store enough water for 3 million households\u2019 yearly usage. The Sites Reservoir project cleared a legal hurdle<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=926d9c3e2e&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D926d9c3e2e%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hjkO8ot5n8WMzm0tf4F4C\">\u00a0last month<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0under expedited judicial review enabled by the Governor\u2019s infrastructure streamlining law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Making progress on the Delta Conveyance Project:\u00a0<\/strong>California\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=5206556adc&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D5206556adc%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3D_CDpjhk1ICo89fqYCgcR\">released<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0the final Environmental Impact Report for this critical project, as well as a new\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=80b4d0f75e&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D80b4d0f75e%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw33S1L1RdbhzFlNaaM2Z8g8\">cost-benefit analysis<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0showing that it would create billions of dollars in benefits for California communities \u2013 including reliable water supplies, climate change adaptation, earthquake preparedness and improved water quality. With every $1 spent, $2.20 in benefits would be generated. Through the rest of the year, local water districts that depend upon the State Water Project\u00a0 will vote on funding the project. To date, the boards of the first three such districts to vote have committed to providing planning funds for the project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>10 years of protecting groundwater supplies:<\/strong>\u00a0California last month marked the first\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=fe25de986c&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Dfe25de986c%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2H8uLupErylfBf6QEo-voC\">decade of protecting<\/a>\u00a0and sustaining our critical groundwater supplies through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which empowers local agencies to tackle overpumping that endangers water supplies for communities, agriculture and ecosystems. Since the law\u2019s enactment, more than 300 local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies have been formed and are implementing enforceable groundwater sustainability plans. The state has invested nearly $1 billion in SGMA to achieve groundwater sustainability for future generations\u200b.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Increasing groundwater supplies:<\/strong>\u00a0California has increased its groundwater reserves, investing in projects that recharge groundwater basins, including capturing excess stormwater. In 2023 alone,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=224fb90673&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3D224fb90673%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2eqRMJsGT0h_4Kjxuce-sA\">4.1 million acre-feet of water were added<\/a>\u00a0to underground aquifers through managed efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Water Plan for extreme weather:\u00a0<\/strong>Governor Newsom unveiled an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=ea3f7e317f&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Dea3f7e317f%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2KBM4YEj1KHpw8oUdIZcnj\">update<\/a>\u00a0to the California Water Plan, outlining comprehensive solutions to enhance the state&#8217;s ability to capture and store more water, especially during extreme weather events like floods. This plan includes infrastructure improvements and technological advancements to build climate resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clearing $880 million in water utility debts:<\/strong>\u00a0The state distributed $880 million to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=cb4d18211d&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Dcb4d18211d%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2WeAyuCKBTo0YAFUnljsna\">eliminate water utility debts<\/a>\u00a0for 4 million Californians, alleviating financial burdens on residents and businesses and ensuring continued access to water services during challenging economic times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As California begins a new water year, the state remains ready to respond to changing water conditions, including the potential return of dry conditions. With estimates that hotter, drier conditions could reduce California\u2019s water supply by up to 10% by the year 2040, the state is implementing an all-of-the-above approach to safeguard and boost water supplies as outlined in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=aa24c0d82b&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Daa24c0d82b%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0oWKlfHIOT-HSdjqYlhYZT\">California Water Plan<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=b99a875413&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Db99a875413%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2y3XLZ73SlUWl5MTDnsCLU\">\u00a0Water Supply Strategy<\/a>\u00a0and<a href=\"https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&amp;id=a1e4d362f4&amp;e=0a97a8055b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mclist.us7.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Dafffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55%26id%3Da1e4d362f4%26e%3D0a97a8055b&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727985285172000&amp;usg=AOvVaw29OEsdnth4I6ER3dLHyYhk\">\u00a0Water Resilience Portfolio<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What you need to know:\u00a0With California&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67863,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67862\/revisions\/67863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=67862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=67862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}