Healthy Headwaters

Healthy headwaters and watersheds are vital to the state’s water supply reliability.

Headwaters and Watersheds

Headwaters are where the rivers and streams begin, providing flow to surface and groundwater supplies. Headwaters are critical to sustain land and aquatic ecosystems and watersheds; support healthier forests and meadows; improve air quality; support recreational uses; and contribute to feasible renewable energy production.

ACWA's Efforts

As the climate changes, wildfires are becoming increasingly catastrophic, and as California’s population increases the health and maintenance of the state’s headwaters is invaluable. ACWA recognizes the importance of resilient headwaters as an unmatched source of clean, reliable water for people, ecosystem, and industries. ACWA released policy and management recommendations to improve the state’s headwaters.

ACWA Member Efforts

With 102 million dead trees in California forests, dealing with the impacts of the state’s tree mortality crisis will take cooperation, collaboration and long-term commitment. That’s why ACWA members in all areas of the state are working to protect and restore California’s headwaters and watersheds through innovative partnerships with local, state, and federal stakeholders and by advocating for improved forest management practices.

Learn More…

“...Water users in every part of the state are affected by the health of our headwaters. We need to do everything we can to work together to advance strategies that will protect headwaters...” Steve La Mar ACWA Past President

Jul 13, 2023
Policy Documents

Recommendations for Resilient Headwaters

by Caroline Minasian

As the climate changes, severe wildfires are threatening the state’s already constrained water resources. ACWA recognizes the importance of resilient […]