California Proposal Would Change How Millions Get Their Water

A coalition of 12 conservation groups in California proposed a major shift away from imported water supplies, advocating for expanded local stormwater capture, wastewater recycling, and groundwater cleanup to secure up to 2 million acre-feet of drought-resistant water annually by 2045. Their plan, titled *A New Vision for a Sustainable Water Future for Northern and Southern California*, argues this approach would outperform California’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project and address strain on the Colorado River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystems." "article": "A coalition of 12 conservation groups in California is pushing for a major overhaul of the state’s water system, arguing that Southern California must reduce reliance on imported supplies like those from the Colorado River and Northern California. Their proposal, *A New Vision for a Sustainable Water Future for Northern and Southern California*, estimates that stormwater capture, wastewater recycling, and conservation could provide up to 2 million acre-feet of water annually by 2045—equivalent to 650 billion gallons—making it more resilient against drought and climate change. The groups claim their approach would deliver significantly more water than California’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project, a 45-mile tunnel expected to yield only 0.5 million acre-feet annually. The coalition argues that continued dependence on distant water sources, like the Colorado River and Sacramento River, is unsustainable due to climate change, shrinking snowpack, and extreme weather fluctuations. California’s water system faces mounting pressure, with the Colorado River at its lowest levels since water exports began in the early 1900s and the Bay-Delta ecosystem struggling from pollution, drought, and declining fish populations. The state’s Department of Water Resources has already launched its own plan, the *California Water Plan 2028*, aiming to generate 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040 through expanded storage, capture, and conservation. The coalition’s proposal includes key measures such as ending state support for the Delta Tunnel project, enforcing science-based protections for the Bay-Delta, and pursuing a general obligation water bond focused on modern, sustainable water supplies. They also advocate for reducing Colorado River diversions, reforming Proposition 218 to allow local water funding, and removing caps on large recycling projects to access state loans. The groups emphasize the need for California to become more self-reliant in water management, shifting from long-distance transport to localized solutions like stormwater capture and wastewater recycling. Their plan aims to balance environmental protection, tribal water rights, and urban water needs while ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of climate challenges.