Return to Water Management
Introduction
California is called the Golden State. With plenty of sunshine and a mild climate, it is easy to see why it is the most populous state in the country. California is also responsible for growing the most food in the nation. Sustaining over 40 million people and producing 13% of the country’s agriculture requires water and lots of it.
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Even before California’s population boomed, there were struggles with water allocation and distribution. Today, struggles continue but the nuances have changed. Most of the water circulating throughout California originates from the northern part of the state, while the greatest concentration of people who use the water are located in the middle and southern part of the state. This sets the stage for many competing interests. Does fresh water get pumped to millions of people who live far from the source? Or is it more important to make sure California agriculture is properly irrigated? And what happens when California experiences a drought? Or when the state suffers impacts due to climate change?
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To handle these complex issues, California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) was formed in 1956 with the mission of managing the state’s water supply. As you may recall from Action 2, they are responsible for distributing water to millions of Californians. The Department works with water agencies to ensure that long-term water supply planning is accomplished to identify sustainable water sources for current and future demands (at least 20 years), provide contingency plans for emergencies, and specifically address impacts of the water supply due to climate change. Water agencies are required to submit reports to the DWR every five years.
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Dealing with drought
California is prone to dry weather and the occasional drought, or a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall. While it is not a new phenomenon for the state, it adds an additional challenge to those charged with planning water distribution in the state. The most recent drought in California occurred during 2011-2015 and is thought to be one of the most intense on record. California leaders reacted by declaring a Drought State of Emergency which allowed water agencies the flexibility to enact provisions to strictly guide how we used water in the state. Drought as a periodic occurrence is one of the factors that water agencies consider when evaluating how to manage local water supplies. |
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The climate change factor
There is one factor, however, that plays a new and major role in water distribution across the state. This factor is climate change and it has taken center stage in California’s water management strategy. NASA defines climate change as “a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time.” Scientists have documented the steady warming of Earth’s surface and have attributed it to the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to industrialization.
A warming planet has many impacts on water management, and given that California experiences a range of climates — from deserts to alpine tundra — the potential repercussions vary from region to region. Some of these impacts are discussed below, and include: increases in temperature, a rise in sea level, and both increases and decreases in precipitation.
There is one factor, however, that plays a new and major role in water distribution across the state. This factor is climate change and it has taken center stage in California’s water management strategy. NASA defines climate change as “a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time.” Scientists have documented the steady warming of Earth’s surface and have attributed it to the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to industrialization.
A warming planet has many impacts on water management, and given that California experiences a range of climates — from deserts to alpine tundra — the potential repercussions vary from region to region. Some of these impacts are discussed below, and include: increases in temperature, a rise in sea level, and both increases and decreases in precipitation.
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Increasing temperatures can lead to a rise in sea level as the polar ice melts, putting coastal communities at risk of flooding. As temperatures rise, water demand can also increase for irrigation and cooling uses.
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Sea level rise can also lead to the intrusion of saltwater into some of the state’s water supply, particularly in groundwater aquifers and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (whose ecosystems would also be impacted).
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Increased precipitation can impact water quality as excessive pollutants get picked up as runoff, and intense rainfall events can lead to flooding as the capacities of flood control measures become overrun.
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Decreased precipitation leads to drought and a drop in the water supply, and can worsen the normal drought cycle in the region. Droughts put the state at an increased risk of wildfires, which lead to flooding and mudslides when it does rain.
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The impact on snowpack is significant. Californians rely on snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to store water for the warm summer months. Not only does the lack of snow have an impact on water reserves, but as the planet warms, any snow that does accumulate melts earlier. This creates an over reliance on groundwater sources during the hottest months.
Without an abundance of rain and snow, the aquifers and reservoirs become depleted quickly. In a state that has already experienced crisis level drought, the future of California’s water supply is uncertain. |
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Conservation is the key
Because of the great effort and energy expended to make clean water accessible, and the fact that usable water reserves in California are diminishing as the planet warms, water agencies around the state are constantly urging residents to conserve water. If there is any silver lining to combating a shortage of California’s water reserves, it is the availability of technologies to conserve and reuse water readily available to residents. As you read on, you’ll learn about strategies being implemented across the state to help conserve water. But more importantly, you’ll also learn about simple actions you can take to save water.
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Instructions
- Print this Data Collection Sheet, and grab a pencil.
- Follow the instructions on the data sheet to identify ways you can combat climate change.
- Report back to the city by clicking on the SUBMIT FINDINGS link below.
Evaluate and Report
Please submit your results to help your community plan for the future.
