Regional Watershed Resilience Pilot Projects Guide Statewide Water Planning

As California faces increasing weather extremes brought on by climate change, watershed-scale planning has become an essential strategy for developing adaptable solutions and more resilient communities. Reflecting the growing need, the completion of five pilot studies through the California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) Watershed Resilience Program now provides essential insights that will guide future investments and strengthen statewide water planning.

The Watershed Resilience Program supports planning projects to help communities that are experiencing the impacts of climate change. Pilot projects implemented in five diverse regions across the state formed watershed-based networks that jointly analyzed the unique risks to each watershed, such as reduced snowpack, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion, and developed tailored adaptation strategies as part of their Watershed Resilience Plan.

Watershed Resilience Pilot Projects:

• Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency

• Regional Water Authority

• Sonoma County Water Agency

• Stockton East Water District

• The Ventura County Resource Conservation District

Together, the pilot projects provide a comprehensive look at how climate pressures affect all aspects of watersheds including ecosystem, flood management, groundwater supply, hydropower, surface water supply, agriculture, recreation, water quality, and community and equity.

The watershed-based approach reinforces the priorities laid out in the California Water Plan Update 2023 including climate resilience, equity, cross-sector collaboration, and managing water from headwaters to downstream outflow. It also aligns with the California Water Supply Strategy and Water Resilience Portfolio, which emphasize climate urgency, regional resilience, and inclusive planning.

With all five pilot projects now complete, the data, strategies, and local knowledge will help inform statewide implementation and support the development of Proposition 4 funding guidelines. The Watershed Resilience Program will offer more than $150 million in grants for planning and construction projects that help communities build more resilient watersheds that are better equipped to handle climate challenges.

Information and updates on the Proposition 4 funding through the Watershed Resilience Program are available online. A summary report highlighting the successes and lessons learned from the Watershed Resilience Program will be released later this year.