Letter from John J. Entsminger, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority, to Debra Haland, Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior

Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) | August 15th, 2022

Los Angeles Basin Stormwater Conservation Study: Plan of Study

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | February 28th, 2013

Imported water supplies to Los Angeles County, California, are uncertain due to periodic droughts in northern California and the Colorado River Basin, court decisions r

Imported water supplies to Los Angeles County, California, are uncertain due to periodic droughts in northern California and the Colorado River Basin, court decisions related to endangered species in the Bay Delta, and potential allocations of Colorado River water. Changing demographics, climate variability, and the competing interest for available water present additional long-term risks to the stability and reliability of imported water. Accordingly, various Los Angeles area agencies with water management authority, such as the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD), are actively pursuing a strategy aimed at achieving water independence by developing local water resources such as stormwater. The LACFCD is the primary agency for conducting groundwater replenishment operations in Los Angeles County. In typical years, the LACFCD infiltrates more than 270,000 acre-feet of captured stormwater, imported water, and recycled water into the various groundwater basins in Los Angeles County. In wetter years, that number can exceed 700,000 acre-feet and, in drier years, may be little more than 150,000 acre-feet. LACFCD partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Southern California Area Office to study long-term flood control and water conservation impacts from projected population and climate conditions. The Los Angeles Basin Stormwater Conservation Study (Basin Study) will recommend potential changes to the operation of stormwater capture systems, modifications to existing facilities, and development of new facilities that could help resolve future flood control and water supply issues. The Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River, Ballona Creek, South Santa Monica Bay, North Santa Monica Bay, and Dominguez Channel/Los Angeles Harbor watersheds (Watersheds) are the focus of this Basin Study (figure 1). This study incorporates the entire watershed boundaries, including where they extend outside Los Angeles County. The Watersheds share attributes such as overlapping municipal and water agency boundaries, an interconnected flood control system, and a common planning purpose with major ongoing planning efforts like the Greater Los Angeles County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), Gateway IRWMP and the Metropolitan Water District Integrated Resources Plan. Related links: Los Angeles Basin Study Summary Report Task 2: Water Supply and Demand Analysis Click here for Reclamation's index of inter-related LA Basin Study reports and appendices.

Los Angeles Basin Stormwater Conservation Study: Task 2 Water Supply & Water Demand Projections

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | December 1st, 2014

The Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD) partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to collaborate on t

The Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD) partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to collaborate on the Los Angeles Basin Stormwater Conservation Study (LA Basin Study). The purpose of the LA Basin Study is to study long-term water conservation and flood control impacts from projected climate conditions and population changes in the Los Angeles Basin. The LA Basin Study will recommend potential changes to the operation of stormwater capture systems, modifications to existing facilities, and development of new facilities that could help resolve future water supply and flood control issues. The recommendations will be developed through identifying alternatives and conducting trade-off analyses. For Task 2 of the LA Basin Study, Water Supply and Water Demand Projections, existing and projected water supplies and demands were characterized for the LA Basin Study Area (Study Area) out to 2095, with consideration of projected climate change effects. It is important to note that this Task 2 report inventories projected available supplies (i.e., potential supplies), and does not make assumptions for the volume of each supply source that will actually be used to meet projected demands, nor the facilities necessary to access and serve those supplies. This determination would require more in-depth integrated supply and demand planning to predict and analyze the multitude of factors that influence water supply and use decisions such as policy, cost, environmental factors, reliability, etc. This Task 2 report is intended to provide a supply and demand basis for understanding the potential need and benefit of additional stormwater capture systems that could be implemented across the region by the LACFCD and its partners. Given that stormwater is a local and relatively inexpensive source of supply, it must be a critical and substantial part of the LA Basin water supply portfolio that could help meet demands through 2095 and beyond.

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Urban Water Management Plan 2015

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) | July 1st, 2016

The California Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act-effective January 1, 1984) requires that every urban water supplier prepare and adopt an UWMP every five years

The California Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act-effective January 1, 1984) requires that every urban water supplier prepare and adopt an UWMP every five years. The main objective of producing these plans is to confirm that cities are performing the advance planning necessary to provide reliable water service in the future. Specifically, the UWMP forecasts future water demands and water supplies under average and dry year conditions; identifies future water supply projects such as recycled water; provides a summary of water conservation Best Management Practices (BMPs); and provides a single and multi-dry year management strategy. I. Chapters 1-3 Introduction / Water Demands / Water Conservation 2. Chapters 4-8 Recycled Water / Los Angeles Aqueduct System / Groundwater / Watershed Management / Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Supplies 3. Chapters 9-12 Other Water Supplies - Transfers, Brackish Water Recovery, Seawater Desalination / Integrated Resources Planning / Water Supply Reliability and Financial Integrity / Sustainable City pLAn Targets for Conservation and Local Supplies / Water Shortage Contingency Plan / Water Supply Assessments / Climate Change and Water-Energy Nexus Appendix A: Urban Water Management Planning Act Appendix B: Management Plan Checklist Appendix C: Water Rate Ordinance Appendix D: Public Notices, Outreach, Comments Appendix E: References Appendix F: Groundwater Basin Adjudications San Fernando Basin – Judgment 650079 Sylmar Basin – Judgment 650079 Verdugo Basin – Judgment 650079 Eagle Rock Basin – Judgment 650079 Sylmar Stipulation – Judgment 650079 West Coast Basin – Judgment 506806 Central Basin – Judgment 786656  

Los Angeles Waterkeeper v. State Water Resources Control Board

Second Appellate District, Court of Appeal of the State of California | February 27th, 2023

Making Conservation a California Way of Life - Revised

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | March 12th, 2024

Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life Proposed Regulation Review of the Water Board’s Standardized Regulatory Impact Analysis (SRIA)

Mesa Water District | September 28th, 2023

Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life: Implementing Executive Order B-37-16

State of California | April 7th, 2017

In May of 2016 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Executive Order (B?37?16) that instructed State agencies to help Californians adopt permanent changes to use water more

In May of 2016 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Executive Order (B?37?16) that instructed State agencies to help Californians adopt permanent changes to use water more wisely. The Executive Order laid out a framework for moving the state from temporary, emergency water conservation measures to a more durable approach customized to the unique conditions of each local water agency. This report builds upon the Executive Order and provides recommendations for how to implement long?term improvements to water supply management that support water conservation.

Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life: Primer of 2018 Legislation on Water Conservation and Drought Planning Senate Bill 606 (Hertzberg) and Assembly Bill 1668 (Friedman)

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | November 30th, 2018

In 2018, the California State Legislature (Legislature) enacted two policy bills, (Senate Bill (SB) 606 (Hertzberg) and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668 (Friedman)), to establish

In 2018, the California State Legislature (Legislature) enacted two policy bills, (Senate Bill (SB) 606 (Hertzberg) and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668 (Friedman)), to establish a new foundation for long-term improvements in water conservation and drought planning to adapt to climate change and the resulting longer and more intense droughts in California. These two bills amend existing law to provide expanded and new authorities and requirements to enable permanent changes and actions for those purposes, improving the state's water future for generations to come.

Managing Drought: Learning from Australia

Pacific Institute | February 1st, 2016

Overall, Australia survived the Millennium Drought, demonstrating world leading innovation and exceptional examples of water planning and management driven by crisis. Yet

Overall, Australia survived the Millennium Drought, demonstrating world leading innovation and exceptional examples of water planning and management driven by crisis. Yet there are also examples of missed opportunities, as well as initiatives and decisions that did not work well. The research presented here reflects on some of the key lessons from the Australian Millennium Drought experience in order to assess the opportunities for California. This report serves as a powerful resource for Californian water planners and managers as it grapples with drought and seeks to build resilient and sustainable water systems. It provides a one-stop shop overview of the key events and initiatives implemented in Australia’s four largest cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane (and the surrounding south east Queensland region), and Perth. The work represents one interpretation of the drought and responses, informed by significant engagement with utilities and governments throughout that period, and a close working knowledge of the water systems and the policy environment. Specific attention is given to the role of demand-side measures in reducing the impact of drought. In Australia, urban water efficiency was the quiet achiever – saving more water at lower cost and greater speed than supply options. California can benefit from long-term structural water savings by implementing water efficiency measures at a similar breadth and scale.