California Water Plan Update 2023
The California Water Plan, updated every five years, is the State’s strategic plan for sustainably and equitably managing and developing water resources for current and future generations. California Water Plan Update 2023 (Update 2023) promotes climate resilience across regions and water sectors with a statewide vision, clear goals, watershed planning framework and toolkit, and progress-tracking dashboard of indicators. It also includes updated resource management strategies, regional planning and performance tracking tools, water balances, future scenarios, and other technical and policy-related activities related to water resilience and sustainability.
Final Update 2023
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the final version of California Water Plan Update 2023. This plan can now be used by water managers, water districts, cities and counties, and Tribal communities, to inform and guide the use and development of water resources in the state. To match the pace of climate change impacts, California must move smarter, faster, and collaboratively to update our water systems. To accomplish this, Update 2023 builds on the Water Resilience Portfolio, and California’s Water Supply Strategy to ensure a more climate-resilient future for the state’s water supplies.
Update 2023 promotes a vision 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.” To tackle this ambitious vision, Update 2023 focuses on three intersecting themes: addressing climate urgency, strengthening watershed resilience, and achieving equity in water management.
This update weaves equity throughout the document and dedicates a full chapter to this very important topic. Addressing these equity challenges is crucial for climate adaptation and community resilience for all who live in California and is in accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-16-22 which directs State agencies to take critical actions and address equity in all strategic plans and updates.
For the first time ever in a California Water Plan, an entire chapter is dedicated to the challenges, strengths, and resources of California Native American Tribes. Chapter 7, “Strengths and Resources of California Native American Tribes" was co-authored by members of the California Water Plan Tribal Advisory Committee consisting of Tribal Chairs, members, and representatives.
Update 2023 has been informed by a diverse group of communities of interest and place. The feedback and suggestions DWR received were included in in the final plan. Materials from these meetings are available. If you have any questions, you can contact the Water Plan Team at cwpcom@water.ca.gov.
Engagement venues included:
- Core State Agency Team
- Policy Advisory Committee
- Tribal Advisory Committee
- Public Meetings
- Topic and/or place-based workshops
Key Elements that Shaped the Process & Context of Update 2023
Release Webinar
DWR hosted a two-hour webinar on April 29, 2024, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM that highlighted key points of Update 2023. The webinar also highlighted upcoming projects and funding that put California Water Plan Update 2023 into action. Additional meeting information, including an agenda and links to the recording of the webinar are available on DWR's Events page.
California Water Plan Update 2023 draws from and builds on reference documents related to water resources to enhance the content and produce a better plan with each succeeding update. They provide the methodology, assumptions, data, estimates, and other information used in the development of this update.
NOTE: Some of these reports and documents are being finalized and should be released soon. Please subscribe to Water Plan eNews to receive notifications about their release.
- 2023 California Tribal Water Summit Proceedings — The summit proceedings provide a summary of the summit speakers, panels, and discussions that occurred during the two-day summit in April 2023.
- Addressing Complex Problems Together: A Network Study — A reflection on forming a network to implement integrated water management using Flood-MAR. This study provides an overview of how forming a network can address complex issues by identifying a shared purpose and bringing together organizations and individuals to work towards a shared outcome.
- California's Groundwater Conditions, Semi-Annual Update: October 2023 — Semi-annual Conditions Updates are more frequent supplements to the comprehensive 5-year CalGW Updates, and also provide additional perspective on the near-real-time data availability through CalGW Live.
- California's Groundwater Update 2020 — California’s Groundwater (CalGW) Update 2020 is the State’s most up-to-date compendium of statewide data and information on groundwater resources and its management.
- California Water Plan Glossary — The glossary contains terms used in the text of Update 2023 and additional terms related to water resources.
- California Water Plan Resource Management Strategies: 2023 Updates: [Note: These 11 Resource Management Strategies (RMSs) out of a total of 30+ were updated for Update 2023. You can access the other RMSs through the link below.]
- Introduction
- Agricultural Water Use Efficiency
- Conjunctive Water Management
- Desalinization
- Flood Management
- Municipal Recycled Water
- Precipitation Enhancement
- Recharge Are Identification, Utilization and Protection
- Reservoir Reoperation
- Urban Stormwater Runoff Capture and Management
- Urban Water Use Efficiency
- Watershed Management
- All RMSs
- California Watershed Resilience Assessment (previously known as DWR Climate Change Risk and Preparedness Assessment — This technical report presents the approach and findings of a statewide assessment of both climate risk and resilience preparedness at the watershed scale throughout California.
- From Climate Traces to Climate Insights: Future Scenarios Analysis for the California Central Valley — This report provides an in-depth overview of the climate vulnerability assessments used to quantify potential vulnerability at the regional and statewide scales and identify areas for more in-depth analysis. The analysis could be used to make better investment decisions on climate adaptation strategy projects at regional or local scales.
- Merced River Flood-MAR Reconnaissance Study Report — DWR, in partnership with Merced Irrigation District (MID), is studying the use of flood waters for managed aquifer recharge that can reduce flood risk, increase supply reliability, support groundwater sustainability, and enhance ecosystems in the Merced River Basin.
- Process Guide for Update 2023 — This article summarizes the elements of the Update 2023 development process, while highlighting the organizational structure and methods used to facilitate a robust, iterative collaboration among agencies, California Native American Tribes, the public, and the technical team.
- Summary of Equity Survey for Water and Flood Management Agencies/Districts in California — As part of the CWP Update 2023, DWR surveyed water and flood management agencies/districts to better understand how water managers are advancing equity in their communities and how State government can assist them in advancing equity. The survey was developed with input from a public workgroup that included representatives from water management agencies/districts and non-governmental organizations.
- Water Portfolios and Balances — Water portfolios and balances describe the distribution of water throughout the hydrologic cycle, water use by the urban and agricultural sectors, water in the environment, and water supply sources used to meet these uses at the statewide and regional levels.
- Water Supply and Balance to Water Budget: Merced Basin Pilot Study — This pilot study explores how the water supply and balance data can be transitioned to a comprehensive water budget, consistent with the Water Budget Handbook’s standardized accounting templates. The Merced basin study provides a detailed methodology for mapping water supply and balance data to the water accounting templates.
- Watershed Hub Resilience Indicators and Metrics — This technical memorandum describes the approach used to identify and recommend a preliminary set of water-related indicators and metrics to measure, track, and report on changing conditions throughout California’s watersheds.
- Watershed Resilience Framework and Toolkit — The Watershed Resilience Framework serves as a roadmap for the State and regions to carry out climate resilience planning. The framework is paired with an online, interactive toolkit that offers planning guidance, best practices, case studies, resources and tools to conduct each step of the framework.
- WEAP Model Application to Decision-Scaling Using Paleo Climate: A Pilot Study of the Merced River Planning Area — This pilot study tests if and how the Central Valley Planning Area Water Evaluation and Planning Model (WEAP-CVPA) can be applied using the decision-scaling approach. Decision-scaling is an emerging cutting edge, risk-based, “bottom-up” approach for conducting climate vulnerability assessments.
California Water Plan Update 2023 Public Review Draft
DWR released the Public Review Draft of California Water Plan Update 2023 on September 20, 2023, beginning a 30-day comment period. Comments that were received by October 19, 2023, informed the final plan. A list of comments received is provided below.
DWR also held the Water Plan Plenary Meeting on October 3-4, 2023, to provide an overview of the plan and to allow participants to provide comments. Thank you to all who joined us. Presentations and notes from the meeting are available online.
Versión en español
El resumen ejecutivo del borrador de revisión pública de la Actualización del plan hidrológico de California de 2023 (Actualización de 2023) está disponible en español. Los comentarios recibidos hasta del 19 de octubre de 2023 sobre el borrador de revisión pública formaron parte del plan final.
Public Comments Received
Comment Letter Number |
Submitted by |
Organization(s) |
Status |
1 |
Bethi Carver Gibb |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
2 |
Denise Ziehlke |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
3 |
David Sullivan |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
4 |
Jake Mackenzie |
NCRP |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
5 |
Erin Cali |
EWRI |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
6 |
Wenzhao Li |
Chapman University |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
7 |
Bud Hoekstra |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
8 |
Carolina T Hernandez |
LA County Public Works |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
9 |
Joy Harvis |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
10 |
John Rankin |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
11 |
Linda Sheehan |
Environment Now |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
12 |
Neal Jones |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
13 |
Misty Kaltreider/Dick Tzou |
Solano County |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
14 |
Kathleen Schaefer |
|
Incorporated As Appropriate |
15 |
David Roberts |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
16 |
Dennis O’Connor |
Mono Lake Committee |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
17 |
Tara Moran |
California Water Data Consortium |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
18 |
Bethi Caver Gibb |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
19 |
Diana Ciocan |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
20 |
Heidi Harrison |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
21 |
Edgar Fandialan |
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
22 |
Kelly Doyle |
Somach Simmons & Dunn Attorneys at Law |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
23 |
Michael K. Claiborne |
Clean Water Action | Clean Water Fund |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
24 |
Aaron Fukuda |
Tulare Irrigation District |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
25 |
Regina Chichizola |
Save California Salmon |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
26 |
Amanda Carr |
Orange County Public Works |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
27 |
Karen Cowan |
California Stormwater Quality Association |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
28 |
Mae Ryan Empleo |
Local Agencies of the North Delta |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
29 |
Dante John Nomellini Sr |
Central Delta Water Agency |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
30 |
Jeffrey Mosher |
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
31 |
Noah Boland |
Heal the Ocean |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
32 |
Ashley Overhouse |
Defenders of Wildlife (Coalition) |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
33 |
Jeremy N. Jungreis |
Yuima Municipal Water District and others |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
34 |
Soren Nelson |
ACWA |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
35 |
Kimberly A. Thorner |
Olivenhain Municipal Water District |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
36 |
Laura Hidas |
Alameda County Water District |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
37 |
Arohi Sharma |
Natural Resources Defense Council |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
38 |
Emily Moloney |
Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
39 |
Elizabeth Lovsted |
San Diego County Water Authority |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
40 |
C. Mel Lytle |
City of Stockton Municipal Utilities Department |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
41 |
Charleen Beard |
Shasta County Department of Public Works |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
42 |
Abhiskek Singh |
Groundwater Resources Association |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
43 |
Kori Peterson |
Westlands Water District |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
44 |
Patrice Chamberlain |
Ca. Dpt. Public Health |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
45 |
Ian Achimore |
IRWM Roundtable of Regions |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
46 |
Francis Coats |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
47 |
Sabrina Snyder |
Yolo County |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
48 |
Sonia Sanchez |
Self-Help Enterprises |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
49 |
Dominic Gutierrez |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
50 |
Kyle Ericson, P.E. |
El Dorado Water Agency |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
51 |
Laura Ramos, Cordie Qualle and Thomas Holyoke |
California Water Institute - Fresno State |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
52 |
Shirley Nixon |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
|
53 |
Charles Delgado |
Sustainable Conservation |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
54 |
Sarah Rapolla |
Desert Water Agency |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
55 |
Josh Watkins |
City of Redding & Enterprise Anderson GSA |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
56 |
Kristyne Van Skike |
CVFPB |
Incorporated As Appropriate |
Draft Assumptions and Estimates Report
The Draft Assumptions and Estimates Report (A&E Report) describes data and data sources; improvements to analytical tools, methods, and approaches; and the supporting documents and companion State plans being used to prepare Update 2023. The Draft A&E Report’s release on October 18 will be followed by a 30-day comment period. DWR is interested in receiving comments about the information presented in the Draft A&E Report. DWR also welcomes suggestions about improving the usefulness of the report.
A webinar was held on October 18, 2022, to provide an overview of the report. A recording is available online.
The following documents provide additional context and information on the development of Update 2023.
California Water Plan Update 2023 - Brochure
The Update 2023 brochure provides an overview of what the Water Plan is, its relation to the California Water Resilience Portfolio, and the intended outcomes of Update 2023. A Spanish translation is also available.
Building California's Climate Resilient Future - Fact Sheet
How the California Water Plan, Water Resilience Portfolio, and California Water Supply Strategy work together to build a climate resilient future for California.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Video: Governor Newsom and DWR Director Nemeth Announce California Water Plan Update 2023
Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments regarding Update 2023, you can contact us at cwpcom@water.ca.gov.
Subscribe to Water Plan eNews to receive news and updates on upcoming meetings. To subscribe to California Water Plan eNews, visit the DWR email subscription page and select the “California Water Plan eNews” option.