Water is the lifeblood of the Sacramento Valley, and with minimal precipitation and low reservoirs in the North State, we are using every drop to support our farms, fish and birds. Our goal is to be self-sufficient as a region – this year and every year – because water security at the local level is the best strategy to avoid impacts from drought, now and in the future.

Rice grower Nicole Van Vleck of Montna Farms in Sutter County comments on the triple benefit that comes from water in the Sacramento Valley.

Jay Lund, a professor of Civil Engineering, has prepared a “cheat sheet on the California drought” that provides some valuable insights into the drought. He highlights that water is our lifeblood and no drop is wasted. His conclusions–which translate well into the Sacramento Valley–provide that “managing the effects of drought requires a range of actions carefully organized and analyzed together as a portfolio of measures with benefits and costs. California accomplishes a great deal with its limited water supply, supporting 38 million people, 9 million acres of irrigated cropland, a $1.9 trillion a year economy and highly-valued native ecosystems. We can accomplish more, but we can no more drought-proof California than we can earthquake-proof or fireproof the state. We can only manage water better and in more modern ways to serve California’s dynamic and diverse objectives.”

The North State Water Alliance (NSWA) brought together leaders in late March from the public and private sectors, including business, government and water experts, to talk about an action plan for the region that will accomplish a comprehensive solution that meets water reliability an environmental sustainability goals in the North State and throughout California.