By Bryce Lundberg, Chair, NCWA Board of Directors
The Northern California Water Association (NCWA) Board of Directors recently approved its 2023 Strategic Priorities that will serve as our region’s roadmap for this year. NCWA and the water leaders in the region continue to advance modern water management in the Sacramento River Basin and we look forward to working with our many partners in 2023 to cultivate a shared vision in the region for a vibrant way of life. We will also work to harmonize our water priorities with state, federal, and other regions’ priorities to advance our collective goal of ensuring greater water and climate resilience throughout California for our communities, the economy and the environment.
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Our 2023 priorities focus on the unique opportunities in the Sacramento River Basin to modernize California’s water management system from ridgetop to river mouth. Central to modernizing our water management system are the ongoing efforts to create a functional and healthy landscape, which will be our focus in 2023, and is the key to support regional sustainability and our vital rivers. This can best be envisioned by looking holistically at: 1) salmon recovery; 2) bird and terrestrial recovery programs; 3) floodplain reactivation for public safety and fish and wildlife; 4) sustainable groundwater management; 5) headwaters and forest health; 6) protecting and enhancing water quality for communities, ecosystems, and all beneficial uses; 7) facilitating water transfers; and 8) Sites Reservoir. This approach is described in detail in Ridgetop to River Mouth.
Additionally, the Sacramento Basin is working hard on a new way forward to implement Healthy Rivers California: Adapting to our climate reality by strengthening California’s landscapes, communities and farms. The Voluntary Agreement Process is central to California’s Water Resilience Portfolio and is the cornerstone for local and regional agencies to continue ridgetop to river mouth water investment and management and to resolve conflict by bringing the state and federal agencies together to solve California’s water challenges.
Californians have built an amazing and highly managed water system. But this system is under strain—as we vividly saw in 2022–as our values in California water continue to evolve and we face increasing recurrence of droughts, floods and fires. California’s current population of 40 million will grow to 50 million by 2050. We have the most abundant agricultural bounty in the world, we are graced with a stunning landscape and related natural infrastructure, we are the 5th largest economy in the world, and people pursue endless recreational opportunities in every part of the state. We cannot take any of this for granted! Water is life and is essential for all of these special features that define California. A balanced and contemplative approach that embraces and then enhances California’s unique values in water is needed for this great state to continue to protect and enhance our communities, economy, and environment.
We encourage you to review and actively engage with us on our 2023 priorities. Our goal is to inspire thoughtful public discourse and collaboration that points positive and brings people together–working towards a modern water system that will ensure reliable, affordable and high-quality water supplies will be available to serve multiple benefits in the Sacramento River Basin now and for future generations. We are seeking to cultivate additional partnerships in these important efforts and we welcome any additional ideas, thoughts, or engagement as we point forward by emailing us at info@norcalwater.org.
