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CA's Water Plan: 9 Million Acre-Feet Target
27 Feb
Summary
- California aims for 9 million acre-feet of new water by 2040.
- The plan addresses climate change impacts like drought and warming.
- Strategies include storage, recharge, and conservation efforts.
California officials have launched the California Water Plan 2028, an unprecedented overhaul with the goal of developing nine million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040. This target is designed to compensate for water losses expected due to climate change, including reduced snowpack and rising temperatures.
The plan establishes a statewide water-supply benchmark, a new initiative for California, to proactively close gaps widened by climate-driven extremes. This volume is equivalent to 2.93 trillion gallons of water.
Governor Gavin Newsom stated the plan is a commitment to ensuring California has the water needed to thrive despite climate challenges. The strategies to achieve this goal include expanding water storage, large-scale groundwater recharge, nature-based solutions, and improved water-use data collection.
Despite current favorable reservoir levels, state leaders emphasize the vulnerability to drought due to hydrologic whiplash. The plan, intertwined with Senate Bill 72, mandates modernized water planning, improved data, and coordinated actions across all levels of water management.
