To help with the development of Governor Gavin Newsom’s climate-resilient water system plan, the public is being encouraged to provide input on water concerns. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Natural Resources Agency, and California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA) are tasked with drafting recommendations for meeting future water needs of the state. The agencies are urging community members to submit feedback on what California can do to address current and future water-related issues.
“California’s water history shows that the most durable solutions involve collaboration,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in a press release. “We’re one state with tremendous regional variety. We urge those of you who know your regions best to look ahead, think broadly, and consider what it will take to achieve regional resilience by 2050.”
The agencies are seeking input from Californians as part of Governor Newsom’s executive order to establish a water resilience portfolio for California which includes healthy waterways and a climate-resilient water system. The goal is to prepare the state for future environmental concerns related to water, as well as address aging infrastructure.
Agency officials are considering several questions relating to water issues facing the state, including the economic impact of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, how to implement additional water conservation measures, and more sustainable technological opportunities. “Think about California’s diverse regions 30 years from now,” said Cal EPA Secretary Jared Blumenfeld. “What can the state do now to best help people, the environment and the economy thrive even as California’s natural fluctuations grow more variable and extreme?”
State officials will be seeking input all summer through a series of scheduled meetings of the California Water Commission, State Water Resources Control Board, California State Board of Food and Agriculture, and other state agencies. Officials will also be collaborating with universities, community organizations, and water agencies in the scheduling of other workshops and listening sessions. A calendar of water-related events, as well as information on how to provide feedback, is available online.
About the Author
