Blueprint Releases Unified Water Plan
FRESNO — The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and the California Water Institute at Fresno State on Sept. 3 released the Unified Water Plan for the San Joaquin Valley, a congressionally authorized, federally funded report that gives local, state and federal decision-makers a single roadmap for water investment across the eight-county region.
The California Water Institute prepared the plan with the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and Stantec, and its results will be reported to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. The plan integrates the adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plans of all 16 San Joaquin Valley subbasins into one regional strategy covering Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties.
Funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the plan establishes the first Valley-wide measure of the region’s water challenge: an annual supply-demand gap of about 2.5 million acre-feet per year by 2040. Without coordinated action, that gap would take up to one million acres out of irrigated production and cost the region about $7.2 billion in annual farm revenue, 85,000 jobs, and $2.1 billion in annual employee compensation, with losses concentrated in communities already facing economic and drinking water challenges.
The plan responds with three nested investment scenarios, ranging from roughly $18 billion to $33 billion. The scenarios begin with restoring the capacity of subsidence-affected Central Valley Project and State Water Project canals, a foundational investment that protects existing deliveries and enables the local recharge, reuse and storage projects that follow. Throughout, the plan integrates water supply reliability, flood risk reduction and ecosystem enhancement as one strategy. With coordinated investment, the land transition drops from an unmanaged loss of up to one million acres toward a deliberate repurposing of up to 400,000 acres.
“Congress asked for one unified plan built from the Valley’s own data, and this report answers that request. It gives federal partners a sequenced, accountable path for protecting infrastructure the nation has already built and the food supply that depends on it,” Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley Executive Director Austin Ewell stated in a news release.
Yuba Water Awards $13.9 million Contract for Hillside Stabilization
Yuba Water Agency has awarded a $13.9 million contract to Hat Creek Construction & Materials, Inc. for hillslope and soil stabilization around the agency’s penstock pipe and New Colgate Powerhouse in the Yuba County foothills.
The work is part of Yuba Water’s ongoing recovery efforts following the rupture of its penstock earlier this year, which sent water flowing down the hillside causing significant erosion to the hillside around the penstock. A penstock is a large diameter pipe that moves water from New Bullards Bar Dam to New Colgate Powerhouse to generate power. The contract includes placing slope and soil stabilization materials, adding a rock buttress on the east side of the penstock to prevent further damage to the hillside and building detention basins to manage runoff from rain.
“This project is an important step in stabilizing the soil and slopes around our penstock and protecting our facilities and the river from additional sediment and runoff ahead of the rainy season,” said Yuba Water Senior Engineer Matt Murray.
Construction is set to begin in September and will continue as long as weather permits. Yuba Water is covering the ongoing cost of repairs through its financial reserves. Yuba Water does not receive local tax revenue and does not have residential ratepayers.
Visit engage.yubawater.org to learn more about Yuba Water’s Colgate Powerhouse and Infrastructure Restoration Project.
Karla Nemeth Now Leading Association of California Water Agencies
SACRAMENTO — Former California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Karla Nemeth today started her new role as Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), bringing more than two decades of water policy experience to the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the nation.
As the top staff member, Nemeth oversees a team of more than 40 people based in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and leads the association’s day-to-day operations on behalf of approximately 470 member agencies responsible for 90 percent of the water delivered to cities, farms and businesses across California.
Nemeth’s immediate priorities include advancing ACWA’s strategic plan and its Vision for Our Water Future initiative, a member-driven effort to elevate water as a top policy priority for California’s next governor and state leaders. The initiative focuses on building a resilient and reliable water system, protecting affordability, investing in infrastructure and modernizing water management and permitting.
“This water year promises to be yet another story of weather extremes. A vision for ensuring a strong California economy, safe communities and a healthy environment must come from all of us. And we must work to make it affordable for all people in all parts of the state,” Nemeth said. “Solutions not only require thoughtful planning and collaboration, but a willingness to act and invest, too. I look forward to working with ACWA staff and the Board of Directors to build upon the association’s extraordinary foundation and strengthen our collaborative voice on behalf of our members.”
ACWA’s 37-member Board of Directors selected Nemeth for the position in May following a nationwide recruitment process. She is the first female executive director in the association’s 116-year history.
Nemeth brings a breadth of experience in California water policy, management and planning to the association. She was appointed DWR Director by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 and re-appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom the following year. DWR manages and protects California’s water resources and supports the reliability of the state’s electrical grid.
In 2024, Gov. Newsom appointed her to also serve as advisor on the Administration’s water priorities and to lead implementation of key water projects, including modernizing California’s water conveyance infrastructure, executing Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and stabilizing Colorado River supplies.
Prior to joining DWR, Nemeth worked at the California Natural Resources Agency as Brown’s deputy secretary and senior advisor for water policy. She also served as Bay Delta Conservation Plan project manager from 2009 to 2014.
Tuolumne River Partners Launch Next Habitat Restoration Project
As part of a continued commitment to restoring and enhancing habitat for native fish, Tuolumne River Partners Modesto Irrigation District (MID), Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), have begun construction on the Powerhouse Riffles Restoration Project, a mainstem Tuolumne River restoration effort designed to improve spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and other native aquatic species.
The approximately $4.7 million, self-funded project will restore spawning habitat impacted during high river flow events in 1997, 2011 and 2017 by reconstructing riffles and gravel bars and enhancing in-channel habitat complexity and diversity.
Riffles are shallow, fast-moving sections of a river where the water flows over a cobble or gravel bed, creating a choppy surface. Riffles are key habitats for salmon: the churning water traps air and raises oxygen levels in the river, rocks and gravel attract aquatic insects, and juvenile fish gather in riffles to eat the abundant insects and lay their eggs in the clean gravel.
The Powerhouse Riffles Restoration Project will add approximately 25,000 cubic yards of spawning gravel, creating 4.8 acres of new gravel features and restoring approximately 2,400 feet of the Lower Tuolumne River. Coarse sediment mixtures have been carefully selected to maintain channel complexity while allowing the river to naturally evolve.
In addition to new spawning habitat, crews will install approximately 50 large pieces of woody debris throughout the project area to promote channel complexity, improve sediment sorting and provide juvenile fish refuge from predators. Approximately 80 strategically placed boulders will also be added at the downstream ends of select riffles to create improved feeding areas for fish. This in-water work is expected to be completed in October 2026.
“We continue to invest in science-based solutions to improve habitat and support healthy fish populations in the Tuolumne River,” said TID General Manager Brad Koehn. “We’re building on the success of our previous restoration efforts, and this project is another important step in the investment and early implementation of our comprehensive habitat restoration program.”
The Powerhouse Riffles Restoration Project is one of many restoration efforts planned as part of the Tuolumne partners’ historic, self-funded $80 million commitment to design and implement a collaborative, holistic habitat restoration program along the Lower Tuolumne River through the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program and a collaborative memorandum of understanding with USFWS.
River Partners, a renowned California riverway restoration organization, leads the Tuolumne River Partners’ multidisciplinary team of biologists, ecologists and other technical experts, including Applied River Sciences, which designed and is leading implementation of the Powerhouse Riffles Restoration Project. Ford Construction is performing construction activities, which kicked off in July and are expected to be completed in October. Stantec is providing environmental monitoring services.
The Tuolumne River Partners are working with the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California and the Northern Valley Yokuts/Ohlone tribe to ensure that tribal monitors have an opportunity to inspect any ground disturbing work and to ensure that known or discovered sites of tribal significance are protected.
This same team of project partners were instrumental in the construction and completion of the Tuolumne River Partners’ successful Old La Grange Bridge Habitat Restoration Project in 2024.
“Each restoration project contributes to a vibrant and healthier Tuolumne River,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “Through science, collaboration and long-term investments, we’re creating better habitat for native fish and delivering lasting benefits for the river and the communities and wildlife that depend on it.”
As part of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, MID, TID and the SFPUC have joined dozens of other California water agencies committed to collaborating with the State of California to advance agreements that will provide water supply reliability to our communities while enhancing river ecosystems.
“We’re adding to what we’ve learned about the river and how fish respond to habitat improvements. This work reflects our longstanding commitment to responsible stewardship and science-based management of the Tuolumne River,” said MID General Manager Jimi Netniss. “By restoring spawning and rearing habitat today, we’re helping create a healthier river ecosystem that will support native fish populations well into the future.”
By 2030, with the help of experts River Partners and Applied River Sciences, the Tuolumne River Partners aim to develop 77 acres of suitable salmon floodplain rearing habitat and add approximately 100,000 tons of gravel in specific reaches of the river for optimal salmon spawning and rearing.
To learn more about the Tuolumne River Partners’ stewardship efforts, please visit tuolumneriverpartners.com.
Sweetwater Authority Breaks Ground to Improve Water Quality and Supply Reliability
SPRING VALLEY —Sweetwater Authority today broke ground on the Sweetwater Reservoir Aeration/Destratification System, a major infrastructure project designed to improve water quality, increase the yield of local water supplies and strengthen the region’s long-term drought resiliency.
The project is supported by a $1.53 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Drought Response Program, which provides funding to help water agencies implement projects that build long-term resiliency to drought.
“This project represents a smart, forward-looking investment in our water system that will help us make the most of our local water supplies while maintaining reliable, high-quality water for the approximately 200,000 people we serve,” said Ditas Yamane, Chair, Sweetwater Authority Board of Directors.
Local elected officials, Sweetwater Authority Board members and project partners joined Authority representatives for the groundbreaking ceremony.
The aeration and destratification system will increase dissolved oxygen levels in Sweetwater Reservoir by introducing air from land-based compressors through a submerged diffuser line. The system will help create more uniform water quality throughout the reservoir’s water column, improving the Authority’s ability to use local water supplies.
The project is also expected to reduce the need to blend local reservoir water with imported water sources. By increasing the usability and yield of local supplies, the system can help reduce water supply costs for Sweetwater Authority and its ratepayers while improving the region’s resilience during drought conditions.
Sweetwater Authority received the grant award from the Bureau of Reclamation on June 26, 2025. Funding was provided through the agency’s WaterSMART Drought Response Program. Construction of the aeration system is expected to be in completed in the Spring of 2027.
The project is part of Sweetwater Authority’s ongoing efforts to strengthen water supply reliability, make effective use of local water resources and maintain safe, reliable and affordable drinking water for the communities it serves.
FIRO Assists in Record Capture of More Than 18 Billion Gallons of Water at Prado Dam
CORONA – The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) captured a historic 18.1 billion gallons of water at Prado Dam between July 2025 and June 2026, marking the highest stormwater capture total since the 1940s. The amount is enough to supply more than 110,000 households for one year and is valued at more than $55 million.
The record reflects the benefits of Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), which uses advanced weather forecasting to better track atmospheric rivers and allows more water to be stored behind Prado Dam while maintaining flood protection. Close coordination between USACE and OCWD on the timing of releases helped create room for additional incoming storms and maximize every opportunity to capture stormwater for groundwater recharge.
“This all-time high for stormwater capture is a major win for Orange County’s water supply and demonstrates what can be achieved through innovation and strong partnerships,” said OCWD President Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E. “FIRO is helping us store more local stormwater using the infrastructure already in place, without having to build new facilities, to strengthen water reliability for the communities we serve.”
Water captured at Prado Dam is released downstream to OCWD’s recharge facilities in Anaheim and Orange, where it replenishes the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The basin provides approximately 85% of the drinking water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. During fiscal year 2025-26, Santa Ana River flows, including captured stormwater, accounted for approximately 60% of OCWD’s groundwater recharge.
FIRO at Prado Dam was recently recognized with a 2026 California Municipal Utilities Association Impact Award in the Innovative Projects and Programs category. The recognition reflects the collective work of OCWD, USACE, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in advancing new approaches to water management.
For more information about OCWD and its stormwater capture program, visit www.ocwd.com.
###
WEF Releases Spanish Edition of California Water Guide
SACRAMENTO — The Water Education Foundation (WEF) has released a Spanish-language edition of its widely used “Layperson’s Guide to California Water,” making one of the state’s most trusted educational resources available to Spanish-speaking Californians for the first time.
For years, the Foundation’s “Layperson’s Guide to California Water” has helped readers understand the complex systems, policies and challenges that have shaped and continue to influence management of California’s water supply. The new Spanish-language version reflects the organization’s commitment to ensuring that even more Californians have access to reliable, easy-to-understand information about the state’s most critical natural resource.
“Water affects every Californian and understanding how our water systems work is essential for participating in conversations that shape decisions in our state,” WEF Executive Director Jenn Bowles stated in a news release. “By offering our ‘Layperson’s Guide to California Water’ in Spanish, we are expanding access to critical information and helping ensure that even more Californians can engage in discussions about water management, sustainability and the future of our state.”
Bowles said the Foundation was fortunate to have the translation completed by Laura Ramos, Director of the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno, who brings a deep understanding of California water issues.
“Her involvement ensured that the Spanish edition is not only accurate, but also clear and culturally relevant,” Bowles stated. “Laura brought a deep appreciation for the nuances of both the subject matter and the language, helping us create a resource that will resonate with Spanish-speaking readers.”
The guide covers topics ranging from state’s water supply and infrastructure to groundwater management and efforts to expand access to clean and affordable drinking water for all California communities.
Learn more about the translated edition and how to obtain copies on the WEF website.
Upper Water Launches “All Tap, Always” Campaign
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water) has launched All Tap, Always, a campaign recognizing tap water as clean, convenient, and dependable for the San Gabriel Valley. The campaign encourages individuals to choose tap water over bottled water and highlights the accessibility and reliability of water through local water systems.
“Tap water is something we use every day, yet it’s easy to overlook how convenient and reliable it is,” said Upper Water Board President Katarina Garcia. “With All Tap, Always, we want to encourage our communities to recognize tap water as a reliable choice for everyday hydration and make choosing the tap a simple part of everyday life.”
A key component of the campaign is its multilingual outreach, with materials developed in English, Spanish, and Mandarin to help connect with the diverse communities throughout Upper Water’s service area and build trust in their local tap water. The campaign also introduces “All Tap, No Cap,” a youth-focused extension of All Tap, Always. Designed with younger audiences in mind, All Tap, No Cap uses familiar language and a playful message to encourage students to choose tap water over bottled water. The phrase “no cap,” commonly used to mean “no lie” or “for real,” also creates a connection to the campaign’s goal of moving away from single-use plastic water bottles and toward reusable bottles filled with tap water.
Additionally, Upper Water has developed a dedicated webpage that brings the campaign’s information and resources together in one place. The page provides an opportunity for community members to learn more about their local water supply and explore materials that reinforce the benefits of choosing tap water. The page will also support Upper Water’s broader education and community engagement efforts, providing a resource that can be incorporated into school programs, educational presentations, and outreach activities.
For more information about the All Tap, Always campaign and to explore campaign resources, please visit: https://upperwater.org/alltap/
WVWD Marks Completion of Water Filtration Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project
RIALTO – West Valley Water District (WVWD/District) celebrated the completion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility (Roemer) Upgrade and Expansion Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 24, recognizing an important milestone for the district in its commitment to strengthening long-term reliability of its water supply for its approximately 100,000 customers.
The project expands the District’s ability to treat and deliver State Water Project water, increasing its total treatment capacity from 14.4 million gallons per day (MGD) to 21.6 MGD, a 50 percent increase. This will allow the District to balance the use of groundwater, local surface water and imported state water supplies based on availability, water quality, treatment costs and water demands.
“This celebration is the culmination of dedicated teamwork, strong partnerships, thoughtful planning and responsible investment,” said WVWD said President Kelvin Moore. “By expanding Roemer’s treatment capacity, we are strengthening the reliability and resilience of our water system while creating greater flexibility to make the best use of our available water supplies.”
The Ribbon Cutting hosted federal, state and local government legislators and community leaders, including Representative Pete Aguilar, State Water Resource Control Board Water Board Member Nichole Morgan, San Bernardino County Supervisors Joe Baca Jr. and Jesse Armerndarez, Ernie Avila President of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), and local city council officials from Rialto and Fontana.
“As our region grows, it is imperative that our water infrastructure can keep up with the needs of our community,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “That’s why I was proud to support the expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility, so that Inland Empire residents can have a safe, more reliable clean water source that their families can count on.”
One of the project’s biggest successes was securing a 1.1% State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan to support this project’s financing. Funding was provided by the Drinking Water SRF administered through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. By securing this loan at a highly favorable rate, WVWD was able to significantly reduce the cost of financing the Roemer Water Filtration Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project and lessen the burden on ratepayers while making a critical investment in water reliability. Over the 30-year life of the loan, the District is expected to save approximately $26 million compared with conventional financing.
“I congratulate the West Valley Water District and all the communities here in the Inland Empire who will benefit from the additional water security this upgraded facility will bring,” said State Water Board Member Nichole Morgan. “The State Water Board has supported this project and others like it to make drinking water more reliable for 27 million people in 213 communities across California over the past eight years. The Water Board’s low-interest financing allowed WVWD to upgrade the facility and keep water rates affordable.”
To learn more about this project, visit: www.wvwd.org/roemer
# # #
Since 1952, West Valley Water District has been dedicated to serving the Southern California communities of Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, Jurupa Valley and Unincorporated San Bernardino County. Providing water to approximately 100,000 customers. West Valley is committed to delivering a cost-effective, high-quality water supply. Governed by a five-member, publicly elected board of directors, our mission encompasses strategic water resource planning, effective management, and the development of regional partnerships to ensure sustainable water solutions
Hydro Works Here: IID Recognizes National Hydropower Day
In recognition of National Hydropower Day, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is highlighting the water and power infrastructure that has helped serve the Imperial and Coachella Valley for generations.
This year’s National Hydropower Day theme, Hydro Works!, recognizes the many ways hydropower supports communities, including clean energy, reliable electricity, local jobs, water resource management, and long-term energy reliability.
For IID, hydro works through a unique connection between Colorado River water, the All-American Canal, and the District’s public power system. Recognizing the potential to harness electric power from the nearly 200-foot drop in elevation along the All-American Canal between the Colorado River and the Imperial Valley, IID entered the public power business in 1936, offering rates that were 20 percent lower than those of the competing private utility at the time.
“Hydropower is part of IID’s history and part of our ongoing work to provide reliable service to the communities we serve,” said IID Board Chairwoman Karin Eugenio. “The same water system that supports our farms, homes and local economy also helps generate renewable energy for our region.”
Imperial Dam, completed in 1938, remains a key part of the regional water delivery system, diverting Colorado River water into the All-American Canal. As that water moves through the canal system, IID’s hydroelectric drop facilities use the force of moving water to turn turbines and generate electricity.
The completion of Drop 4 in 1941 marked IID’s first hydroelectric generation. Revenue from hydropower sales to local customers helped repay the $25 million construction cost of the All-American Canal.
Today, IID operates five drops along the All-American Canal, as well as the Pilot Knob Power Plant, which diverts water through the All-American Canal to generate power before returning it to the Colorado River for delivery to Mexico. IID’s local hydropower resources also include the East Highline Hydroelectric Plant, Double Weir Hydroelectric Plant, and Turnip Mini Hydro.
Together, IID’s local hydropower facilities represent approximately 85.8 megawatts of generation capacity. IID also imports hydropower generated at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Hoover, Parker, and Davis dams on the Lower Colorado River.
Hydropower remains IID’s greenest and most cost-effective power supply, providing reliable and cost-effective electricity for the Imperial and Coachella valleys. It also reflects the region’s long-standing relationship between water delivery, agriculture, public power and local reliability.
“Hydro works here because water and power have always been connected in the Imperial Valley,” Eugenio said. “It supports clean energy, strengthens reliability and reminds us that IID’s infrastructure continues to serve multiple public benefits.”
National Hydropower Day is observed each year on Aug. 24 to recognize hydropower’s role in providing reliable electricity and supporting communities across the country.
For more information about IID programs and services, visit www.iid.com.