DWR Releases Draft Water Plan Update 2023 by ACWA Staff Sep 20, 2023 Water News SACRAMENTO — From severe, multi-year droughts to sudden flooding, California is experiencing the impacts of the intensifying climate crisis. To better prepare and plan for a future with climate extremes, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the Public Review Draft of California Water Plan Update 2023. ACWA staff is currently reviewing the document and expects to submit comments. ACWA is putting together a member work group to provide staff with input and help shape those comments. California Water Plan Update 2023 envisions a future where: “All Californians benefit from water resources that are sustainable, resilient to climate change, and managed to achieve shared values and connections to our communities and the environment,” according to a DWR news release. To tackle this ambitious mission, California Water Plan Update 2023 focuses on three intersecting themes: addressing the urgency of climate change, strengthening watershed resilience, and achieving equity in water management. The Public Review Draft of California Water Plan Update 2023 can be viewed on DWR’s website and is open for public comment until Oct. 19. For decades, the California Water Plan has served and evolved as a strategic blueprint for managing and developing the state’s water resources. This comprehensive plan is meant to guide water managers, including water districts, cities, counties, and Tribal communities. Every five years the California Water Plan is updated, as mandated by the State Water Code, to reflect current water conditions and State government priorities. These updates are shaped by various factors, including the Water Resilience Portfolio, input from interested parties, state needs, and the Governor’s commitment to climate action, as demonstrated in California’s Water Supply Strategy: Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future. DWR is also hosting the California Water Plan Update 2023 Plenary on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville. This free, hybrid event will feature keynote speakers and cover key aspects of California Water Plan Update 2023. Attendees will gain more insight into the plan, have an opportunity to ask questions, and offer direct feedback. Registration is now open for in-person and online attendance. For more information and instructions on how to submit comments to DWR, visit DWR’s website. Members interested in participating in ACWA’s work group can contact ACWA State Relations Assistant Sonja Eschenburg.
