California’s water partnerships are effective and in danger

In a year of profound shifts at the federal level, uncertainty has been the name of the game across the United States. Nowhere is that truer than in the California water world.

Over many decades, the state has forged a symbiotic relationship with federal agencies to manage its notoriously complex — and aging — water system. The state has worked with an alphabet soup of federal agencies to manage some of the worst floods and droughts the state has ever seen. 

Research and technical expertise undergird all water-related activity in California, whether you’re a farmer applying water to your crops, a utility providing clean drinking water to your customers or a municipality trying to protect your community from floods. 

Fortunately the state is blessed with top-notch water experts, hailing from state and federal agencies, universities, consulting firms and nongovernmental organizations. They’re responsible for many of the tools the state uses to manage its water. Any California water action relies on decades of applied research and experienced people to implement it.

Changes at the federal level have put this tight state-federal partnership in doubt. 

The dust has yet to settle on the cuts — including the impact of the recent shutdown — but the effects are already being felt, just as storm season gets underway in California. These cuts already are impacting flood forecasting and emergency response. 

The California-Nevada River Forecast Center is reducing the frequency of its flood predictions. And staff reductions of emergency responders and at regional National Weather Service offices mean fewer people will respond to extreme weather events, which puts Californians at risk. 

The loss of institutional expertise is harder to quantify, though it’s vital to managing droughts and floods, protecting human health and restoring ecosystems.

The state must keep water flowing for the wellbeing of California’s residents, economy, and ecosystems. It’s equally important to be ready for droughts, floods, fires and other natural hazards.

Fortunately, in recent years, Californians have come together to find pragmatic solutions to water problems. 

Voters have shown they are all in on water, with most passing bond measures that fund crucial work. Partnerships once considered impossible — between agriculture and environmentalists, or cities and farms — are becoming the gold standard in this state. 

Research is helping us use scarce water wisely.

In a recent report, we at the Public Policy Institute of California make recommendations for where research dollars should go. We need to keep better track of our water, find new ways of funding big projects and develop new tools for the new problems we’re facing.

“California’s farms, communities, and ecosystems would all benefit from more accurate and timely systems to track how rain and snowmelt move through soils, vegetation, groundwater, rivers, and wetlands,” the study says.

“Just as important are improved tools to monitor and measure water use — across agriculture, cities, and the environment — so that managers can respond quickly and effectively to changing conditions. Without these systems, water planning, management, and emergency services are all hamstrung.”

The challenges confronting California water are not going away. The state will need to step up to fund and maintain the technical expertise needed to manage our water systems.

Now is the time to double down on research. The governor, the Legislature and researchers can work collectively by setting priorities, allocating funds and collaborating with other western states. 

We’ve done hard things before; we can do it again.