Association of California Water Agencies

980 9th Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-4545
Contact Us

Washington, D.C. Office

400 North Capitol Street NW,
Suite 357
Washington, D.C. 20001

Our Partners

ACWA Announces Statewide Water Leader as New Executive Director

California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth has been selected to lead ACWA as its sixth Executive Director, President Ernie Avila announced today during ACWA’s Spring Conference.

Nemeth brings an unprecedented breadth of experience, list of accomplishments and high-profile statewide recognition to overseeing the largest association of its kind in the nation. She is the first woman to hold the position in its 116-year history.

Nemeth’s appointment followed overwhelming support by the association’s Board of Directors after a nationwide recruitment process. She will assume responsibilities as ACWA Executive Director effective Sept. 1. Current Interim Executive Director Marwan Khalifa will remain at ACWA through a transition period.

“Bringing in Karla to lead the ACWA team is a phenomenal win for our members,” said ACWA President Ernie Avila. “She brings deep expertise and a proven track record navigating California’s most complex water challenges. Her leadership will strengthen ACWA’s role as a leading voice and advocate for water agencies across the state.”

Nemeth is among the most instantly recognizable and accomplished decision makers within the California water space, having served as DWR Director since 2018, originally appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown and re-appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Throughout that time, Nemeth has participated in numerous ACWA conferences as a panelist and keynote speaker, sharing her perspectives on a wide range of critical issues.

“On behalf of our member agencies, I also want to extend my deep appreciation to Marwan for his leadership during the past 15 months and through a transition period,” Avila said. “His contributions have been invaluable in supporting the association, especially in successfully implementing the 2025-’29 Strategic Plan and launching ACWA’s Vision for Our Water Future initiative.”

Federal Agencies Issue Cybersecurity Advisory to Water Systems

Federal agencies this week issued an advisory that urges water systems to ensure their cybersecurity measures are up to date. ACWA is sharing resources with member agencies they can use in heeding the advisory and remain vigilant and proactive in maintaining strong cybersecurity practices.

Cyberattacks against public water systems that diligently work to ensure a clean, safe water supply are increasing. Cyber threats continue to evolve, and water agencies remain critical infrastructure targets.

ACWA recommends reviewing and reinforcing your agency’s current security protocols — including system monitoring, access controls, employee training and incident response plans — to help prevent, detect, respond and recover from cyber incidents. ACWA also urges coordination with local, state and federal partners and to report any suspicious activity promptly.

Resources

There are numerous resources available to guide cybersecurity best practices, including:

Questions

For questions about federal cybersecurity resources, please contact ACWA Federal Relations Representative Caleb Raspler at (202) 434-4762.

ACWA Board Adopts Vision for Our Water Future Policy Document

In January 2026, ACWA launched Vision for Our Water Future, a member-driven initiative to define statewide water priorities and inform engagement with California’s next Administration. Today, ACWA’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Vision policy document, establishing a unified set of water priorities to guide that effort.

This milestone reflects strong member leadership and engagement across the state and marks an important step forward in advancing a unified, statewide water agenda.

Background

With a new Governor set to take office on January 4, 2027, this transition presents a critical opportunity to elevate water as a top statewide priority. The Vision initiative positions ACWA to engage early with gubernatorial candidates, advance a unified policy agenda, and reinforce the association’s role as the leading voice on water in California.

The Vision policy document reflects extensive statewide member engagement. Input was gathered through region board meetings, membership briefings, ACWA events, and leadership discussions to ensure the document represents the diversity of ACWA’s membership.

A General Manager Working Group, representing ACWA’s 10 regions, was convened to synthesize member and Board input into strategic recommendations. Meeting five times between January and March, the group translated that feedback into the concise Vision document adopted today.

The final document is designed to clearly communicate ACWA’s priorities to gubernatorial candidates while serving as a foundation for more detailed policy development with the next Administration.

Learn more about the Vision for Our Water Future initiative at acwa.com/vision.

Next Steps

Throughout 2026, ACWA will elevate these priorities with gubernatorial candidates, legislative leadership, administrative officials, coalition partners and the media.

In the coming weeks, ACWA will share the Vision policy document and a toolkit to help members support and amplify it. A members-only webinar will be held on April 21 to walk through the document and highlight engagement opportunities. Members can register for the webinar at acwa.com/events.

Questions

For questions regarding Vision for Our Water Future, please visit acwa.com/vision or contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Director Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.

 

 

Governor Signs ACWA-Supported Budget Bill Accelerating Prop 4 Funding

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Feb. 19 signed into law ACWA-supported AB 107 (Gabriel) that will shorten timelines for grant solicitations funded by Proposition 4. Funding in the 2025-’26 state budget can now be deployed more quickly and efficiently, ensuring that administrative processes do not hold up vital projects.

Specifically, the new law exempts Proposition 4 funds allocated in the 2025 Budget Act from the Administrative Procedures Act, or APA. This will benefit water agencies seeking Proposition 4 funding by ensuring a quicker grant solicitation process.

The exemption does not eliminate transparency, consultation or public engagement, but would instead streamline implementation, maintain consistency across programs and avoid creating barriers to delivering critical funding where it is most needed.

Background

Proposition 4 is the $10 billion climate resilience bond approved by voters in 2024 that includes $3.8 billion in funding for water-related projects, and there are shovel-ready projects ready to move forward in nearly every category.

Historically, grant funding from bond proceeds is exempt from the regulatory process. However, Proposition 4 did not include this exemption because of an oversight. Also, last year the Legislature elected to require an emergency regulatory process instead of a full exemption from the APA, which led to significant delays in the issuance of grant solicitations by state agencies.

The bill signed into law on Feb. 19 addressed the immediate challenges related to allocations in the 2025 Budget Act. However, an APA exemption is still needed for any future allocations. AB 35 (Alvarez), introduced earlier this year, would exempt all Proposition 4 grant solicitations from the APA moving forward, which ACWA has supported. Following the governor’s signature on AB 107, AB 35 will continue to move through the process for future Proposition 4 allocations and ACWA staff will continue to advocate in support of the bill on behalf of member agencies. ACWA members can help support AB 35 by joining ACWA’s coalition.

Questions

For questions about the Proposition 4 APA exemption, please contact ACWA Director of State Legislative Relations Julia Hall at (530) 902-9746.

ACWA Announces New Vision for Our Water Future Policy Initiative

ACWA is excited to announce the launch of a new policy initiative to actively elevate water-related priorities with California’s gubernatorial candidates, legislative leadership and administration officials in advance of a new governor taking office in 2027. The Vision for Our Water Future initiative will focus on integrating members’ unified priorities into campaign platforms and further establishing the association as a leading voice in shaping California’s water future.

In support of the initiative, ACWA’s Board of Directors today approved funding for an outside consultant to support staff’s efforts.

Next Steps

ACWA is implementing the initiative through a structured process guided by (1) broad member input, (2) prior ACWA strategic documents, and (3) ongoing Board guidance. A General Manager Working Group has started developing a strategic, member-driven policy document that articulates focused statewide priorities and recommended actions.

The document is expected to be finalized and brought to the Board of Directors for adoption this spring. After it’s approved, the document will be the framework behind ACWA’s advocacy with gubernatorial candidates and other policy decision makers. ACWA will also work closely to engage diverse coalition partners. California’s Primary Election will be June 2; the General Election will be Nov. 3.

Member Briefings

ACWA has scheduled a series of regional briefings to update members on this initiative and facilitate critical regional input to help shape the priorities and solutions that should be represented.

These meetings are for ACWA public agency members only. For more information and to register, visit www.acwa.com/events.

Questions

For questions regarding Vision for Our Water Future, please contact ACWA Regulatory Relations Director Chelsea Haines at (916) 669-2431.

 

 

Apply Now for ACWA 2026 Spring Awards

ACWA member agencies can apply now for three prestigious awards recognizing agency and individual excellence in the water industry. The application process is simple and winners will be honored in front of their peers at ACWA’s Spring Conference & Expo in Sacramento or the Washington DC Conference.

Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award

The Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence, sponsored by Jacobs, recognizes exemplary projects and programs in water resources management, including capital improvements, water quality, watershed or ecosystem restoration, renewable energy and more.

The winning agency is given the opportunity to select the finalists for a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a deserving undergraduate student in a water resources-related field.

Applications must be submitted electronically using ACWA’s easy-to-use online award system by Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. Members must register online to apply. This account is separate from your ACWA website login.

More information about this award, including eligibility requirements, is available on ACWA’s website.

Excellence in Water Leadership Award

Sponsored by Black & Veatch, ACWA’s Excellence in Water Leadership Award – Building a World of Difference® – recognizes individuals or groups who have made remarkable and visible contributions to the enhancement, protection or development of water resources in California.

The award recipient has the honor of bestowing a $5,000 charitable contribution to a nonprofit organization that works toward the enhancement and/or protection of California’s water resources.

The Excellence in Water Leadership Award nomination form is available on the ACWA website. Nominations must be sent via email by Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m.

More information about this award is available on ACWA’s website.

Special Outreach Award: Most Effective Agency on a Federal Issue

This annual outreach award was established to recognize ACWA member agencies that engage on federal issues as prioritized by the ACWA Federal Affairs Committee. ACWA encourages any member agency that strongly advocated last year at the federal level to submit an application for this year’s federal award.

Applicants for this award must submit a Special Outreach Awards entry form. Forms must be sent via email by Monday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m.

Questions

For questions regarding the Clair A. Hill and Excellence in Water Leadership awards, please contact ACWA Senior Communications Specialist Caroline Meade at (916) 669-2383.

For questions regarding the outreach award, please contact Senior Regional Affairs Representative Jennifer Rotz at (916) 669-2373.

Governor’s Proposed Budget Includes Reduced Funding for Some Water Categories, New Funding for Others

Gov. Gavin Newsom today unveiled his $348.9 billion proposed state budget for the 2026-’27 fiscal year. While it would reduce funding for some important water issues, it would also include additional funding for programs like recycled water and conveyance.

Newsom’s proposed budget would help address an estimated $3 billion shortfall. While the significant shortfall must be addressed, ACWA will advocate to maintain funding for water and climate issues.

Specifically, the governor’s budget proposes funding and reductions in the following areas of interest.

Proposition 4

The administration is proposing additional allocations to Proposition 4 funded grant programs. While some categories would receive significant additional funding, others are proposed to be funded lower than expected.

On the positive side, the water quality-safe drinking water category would get a boost of an additional $160 million, recycled water would receive $78 million, and conveyance funding would receive almost a full allocation of $69 million. Disappointingly, dam safety received almost no additional funding. A full accounting of the administration’s budget proposal for Proposition 4 funding in 2026-’27 can be found on the Department of Finance’s website.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

As part of the reauthorization of California’s Cap and Invest program, the Legislature established policy that put existing funding categories within the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) into tiers. There are two categories within the GGRF that ACWA has actively advocated to maintain: Healthy and Resilient Forests and the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Program. Unfortunately, these two programs were put in the bottom tier of priorities by the Legislature and face proposed funding cuts.

Healthy and Resilient Forests used to be statutorily guaranteed $200 million a year, but is now proposed to receive $141 million. The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Program used to be statutorily guaranteed $130 million a year, but is now proposed to receive $92 million.

There is significant uncertainty with the Cap and Invest program and receipts that go into the GGRF have been affected; if those receipts increase, these numbers could be revised upwards.

California’s Constitution requires the governor to submit a balanced budget proposal to the Legislature by Jan. 10 of each year. A revised budget will be released in May, and the Legislature will have until June 15 to pass a final budget.

Questions

For questions about the governor’s proposed budget, please contact ACWA Director of State Legislative Relations Julia Hall at (916) 441-4545.

ACWA Announces Committee Appointments for 2026-’27

ACWA President Ernie Avila has announced his appointments to the association’s 13 standing committees, which will provide key technical, policy and organizational input to the ACWA Board of Directors for the 2026-’27 term.

The appointments were made based on recommendations from ACWA’s region Chairs and Vice Chairs, while also considering committee guidelines, geographic balance, subject expertise and other factors. Chair and Vice Chair appointments were ratified today by the ACWA Board of Directors, per association bylaws.

Becoming active on an ACWA committee is the most effective way for members to engage in state and local issues and influence policy and legislation. Committees are structured to include representation from all 10 ACWA regions, bringing together expertise and perspectives from across the state on key state and federal issues.

To view the 2026-’27 committee rosters, please visit the Committee Information page of ACWA’s website. The page lists the 13 committees and provides brief information about their individual roles.

ACWA received consideration forms from 139 member agencies nominating 679 individuals for committee appointments. Of that, 560 people were appointed to a committee. Some committees have limited membership, and those who were not selected have been automatically added to a waiting list, which will be used to fill vacancies as they occur throughout the term.

Not Too Late to Get Involved

Questions

For questions about ACWA’s committee appointment process, please contact ACWA Senior Region and Member Engagement Specialist Ana Javaid at anaj@acwa.com or (916) 669-2442.

 

 

 

 

 

ACWA Continues Search for New Executive Director

After thoughtful consideration, the ACWA Board of Directors has decided to re-open the recruitment effort for a new Executive Director and retain a new executive search firm to support this important process.

“The Board of Directors remains fully committed to finding the right leader to guide the association into the future,” said ACWA President Cathy Green. “Because of the critical nature of this decision, the Board agreed it was in the best interest of members and staff to engage a new recruitment firm and continue the search effort to ensure the best possible outcome.”

Marwan Khalifa, who has served as Interim Executive Director since February, will continue to lead the association until the position is filled. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and District Treasurer for Mesa Water District, as well as Chair of ACWA’s Finance Committee and member of the ACWA Board and Executive Committee.

“ACWA staff remains committed to delivering exceptional value to all members during this transition period,” Khalifa said. “We look forward to continuing our engagement with the California water community through collaboration, strong legislative and regulatory advocacy and world-class region events and fall conference.”

ACWA Launching Member Engagement Survey

Next week, ACWA will launch a comprehensive survey of its members to collect valuable feedback on services and programs, as well as to prioritize key legislative and regulatory issues.

An independent research company, FM3, will contact members by email, and possibly by phone, as part of the survey. If you see an email from info@surveysinsight.com providing a link to the survey, please know that it isn’t spam and your input is extremely valuable in helping to shape the direction of the association.

The survey is not limited to one response per member agency, but each email will include a unique link that can be used only once.

ACWA surveys its membership every few years to collect feedback and gauge whether the association needs to adjust to provide the best possible value to its members. The most recent member survey was conducted in 2022.

Questions

For questions about the survey, please contact ACWA Member Services Manager Katie Dahl at (916) 669-2439.