Coalition Urges Governor to Help Agencies Prepare for El Nino by ACWA Staff Sep 15, 2026 Water News SACRAMENTO — ACWA has joined a coalition urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a statewide Executive Order that will help local water agencies prepare for the predicted El Niño 2026-’27 winter storm season. ACWA is among more than 30 signatories on a Sept. 9 coalition letter urging the governor to authorize expedited flood protection activities such as vegetation management, debris removal, channel capacity improvements and related flood-protection activities in waterways presenting significant flood risks. The letter also asks the governor to streamline the regulatory process and temporarily suspend applicable requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. In addition, the letter requests that Newsom direct the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and other appropriate state agencies to provide all available funding, equipment, personnel, technical support, emergency-planning assistance and other resources to help local communities prepare for a worst-case flooding scenario this winter. “The window for preventive action is rapidly closing. Taking decisive action now will help safeguard California communities, agricultural resources, transportation networks, and public infrastructure from potentially catastrophic flooding,” the letter states. “Early intervention is far less costly, and far less disruptive to families, than emergency response and disaster recovery after flooding occurs.” National and international climate agencies are predicting a greater than 50% chance that rainfall totals in most of California this winter will be in the highest 20% of the climatological record, according to the letter, which adds that it is now very likely that California will experience stronger and more persistent storms, including repeated atmospheric river events across California.
