The Momentum Is Building for Better Water Data in California by ACWA Staff Oct 21, 2026 Water News Written by the Initiative to Streamline Water Data Reporting in California (CalWEP, California Water Data Consortium, California Data Collaborative and ACWA) On September 3rd, 2026 more than 400 water professionals across the state joined us for the launch webinar of the Initiative to Streamline Water Data Reporting in California (ISWDR CA). We shared a lot of information that morning. We walked through our first comprehensive look at California’s water reporting landscape, discussed how reporting requirements have evolved over time, and showed some of the early analysis underway to better understand how information moves from local water agencies to the State. We were also grateful to be joined by E. Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, who opened the conversation with remarks about the importance of reliable water data to California’s future. His words helped set the tone for the discussion: better water data is not an end in itself—it is foundational to how California plans, manages its resources, and prepares for changing conditions. We sincerely thank Chair Esquivel for his time, his thoughtful remarks, and his support for continuing this important conversation. And that conversation continued throughout the webinar. We heard directly from participants about what is working, what could work better, and—most importantly—where they want this initiative to go next. Throughout the webinar, we asked participants how they interact with State-reported water data, what would make that information more useful, and where they believe this initiative should focus next. What could look different? We asked participants how State-reported water data shows up in their work today. The responses were mixed. Some use it for local and regional planning, statewide trends, research, or other reporting requirements. But 46% said they submit data to the State without knowing what happens to it afterward, while 33% said they generally return to their own internal data instead. Those responses give us another way to think about what success could look like. If this effort works, we would hope to see those answers change. More agencies using State-reported data for their own planning and decision-making. More opportunities to compare local and regional trends. Information that can be entered once and appropriately reused. Easier access to previously reported information. And a clearer understanding of why information is being collected and how it ultimately informs decisions. The measure of success, then, isn’t simply whether reporting becomes easier. It’s whether the information California already collects becomes more useful… to the State, to water agencies, and to the communities and decision-makers that rely on it. The opportunity is bigger than reporting California collects an extraordinary amount of water information. Our initial analysis identified more than 4,100 reporting requirements across 2,673 statutory and regulatory provisions. Those requirements support important purposes—from water supply planning and emergency response to drinking water, groundwater management, infrastructure investment, and public transparency. The question now is how we get more value from all of that information, while at the same time, making it more efficient, less costly, and more reliable. When we asked participants what would make State-reported data more useful, they gave us plenty to work with: centralized access, consistent definitions and reporting periods, APIs, benchmarking, better visualizations, regional trends, data reuse, and stronger connections across State programs. Others asked for something even more fundamental: greater clarity about why particular data are being collected and what questions they are intended to answer. We heard ideas about entering information once and reusing it where appropriate, making previously reported information easier to access, and creating better connections between State programs and systems. We also heard a desire to get more back from the data being reported—through trends, comparisons, summaries, and information that agencies can put to use themselves. Streamlining is about being more intentional with the information California collects—and designing a system where high-quality data can move more easily between the people who produce it and the people who need it. We also heard where people want us to start We asked participants where they would most like to see a tangible improvement. The two leading answers were fewer duplicative requests (52%) and better coordination across State agencies (43%). Respondents also pointed to reducing staff time, making better use of reported data for planning and decisions, improving consistency, and creating ways to enter information once and reuse it. Those answers matter because ISWDR CA is not starting with a predetermined technology or a single policy solution. We are building this work around a process: analyze what exists, engage the people who report and use the information, develop potential solutions, test them, and use what we learn to develop recommendations. Stakeholder feedback is intended to inform that process throughout. The next question is: what can we actually change? One of our final questions was simple: What do you want to hear from us next? The responses were straightforward… basically… let’s go! “Next steps.” “How can I get involved?” “What do we need to do to advance improvements?” “How do we engage in this initiative?” “Next steps and progress updates.” So that is where ISWDR CA is headed next. The foundational work has given us a much clearer picture of the reporting landscape. The next phase is about moving from that picture toward practical solutions. That means digging deeper into existing reports and their underlying data elements. It means identifying where definitions, timing, and data requests can be better aligned. It means working directly with reporting agencies, State agencies, consultants, and other data users to understand what will work in practice. And ultimately, it means prototyping and testing ideas before recommending that California adopt them more broadly. The goal is not to design a perfect system on paper. It is to find improvements that work in the real world. Now we need your help to build it In order to enact a fundamental change, we need your help to keep the momentum going. There are several ways to participate in what comes next. Water agencies and consultants can join upcoming engagement sessions, volunteer for technical work and future pilot testing, complete the Reporting Impact Survey, and share the initiative with colleagues and leadership. State agencies can help identify opportunities for coordination, bring forward lessons from previous streamlining efforts, participate in discussions about common data rules and definitions, and help identify where improvements are both useful and feasible. And organizations that want to see this work move from analysis into implementation can help fund the next phase. ISWDR CA’s next steps are deliberately modular. Funding will support work including development of a common data dictionary, analysis of process and data rules, proof-of-concept development, capacity building, facilitated State and stakeholder engagement, reporter outreach, technical expertise, and publication of findings. That investment is not a new reporting tool. It is an investment in figuring out, together, what a more connected and useful water data system for California should look like—and proving that it can work. This is the moment to get involved California has been talking about integrated, accessible water data for years. The work that came before ISWDR CA created an important foundation. What feels different now is the opportunity to connect that vision to a practical pathway for implementation. We have partners at the table. We have new analysis showing us where to look. We have water agencies and State partners contributing their experience. And, after the September 3, 2026 webinar, we have a clear message from participants: keep going, show us what comes next, and give us a way to participate. That is exactly what we intend to do. If your organization reports water data, uses water data, regulates or administers water programs, provides technical support, or simply believes California can get more value from the information it already collects, there is a role for you in this effort. Get involved. Participate in the upcoming engagement process. Complete the Reporting Impact Survey. Become a funding partner. And help us move California’s water data from reporting requirements to a resource that works better for everyone who depends on it.
