ACWA Releases New Policy Document on Headwaters Health by ACWA Staff Jul 26, 2023 Water News A new policy document developed by ACWA encapsulates the association’s advocacy and recommendations for improving headwaters health. “Recommendations for Resilient Headwaters” can be accessed for downloading and sharing by visiting the Resources page at www.acwa.com. Produced through ACWA’s Headwaters Workgroup, the two-page document can be used in a variety of settings as an educational and advocacy tool, including outreach to elected officials, community leaders and audiences interested in learning more about the importance of headwaters health and why ACWA considers it a priority issue. As the climate changes, severe wildfires are threatening the state’s already constrained water resources. ACWA recognizes the importance of resilient headwaters as an unmatched source of clean, reliable water for people and ecosystems across the state. Improving the health of our headwaters can significantly benefit water quality, water supply, ecosystems, and habitat, as well as public safety and recreation, increase carbon sequestration and reduce harmful emissions from catastrophic wildfires, and reduce stress on water supplies during periods of drought. In addition to background on the issue’s importance, the graphically designed document outlines key recommendations for action at the federal and state level. The recommendations identify several opportunities, such as protecting and expanding on federal funding to increase the pace and scale of forest management, as well as creating stability and new opportunities in the marketplace for increased utilization of trees and biomass products.
