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California Water Plan Update 2009 Public Advisory Committee Announced

Posted on: Thursday, 24 May 2007, 21:00 CDT

The Department of Water Resources today announced the members of the California Water Plan Update 2009 Public Advisory Committee and posted the agenda for the first public Advisory Committee meeting on June 4 and 5 in Sacramento.

"The Water Plan is California's roadmap for managing the state's water resources," said DWR Director Lester A. Snow. "A viable plan depends on the collaboration of a wide array of stakeholders, particularly when we are facing a growing population and impacts from a changing climate."

Advisory Committee members include representatives from business, agriculture, environmental interests, local government and land use planning, citizens' organizations, recreation, agricultural and urban water suppliers, water use efficiency and water quality, and watershed and floodplain management. The complete list is attached.

Water Plan Update 2009 will be developed in a collaborative process with broad public input, and multiple opportunities for participation. In addition to the Advisory Committee, regional workshops and forums focusing on regional water issues and management strategies will be held several times a year. The Statewide Water Analysis Network (SWAN), a voluntary network of scientists and engineers from the public, private and non-governmental sectors, will hold public workshops on technical topics. Through the regional workshops and public meetings people can follow the Water Plan process and provide input. Regular information updates and public meeting notices are also posted on a DWR California Water Plan internet website at: http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/ . A link to the agenda for the June 4-5 meeting is available on the DWR homepage at: http://www.water.ca.gov.

An annual plenary meeting will also be held to bring all participants together.

The California Water Plan is the state's strategic plan for managing water resources statewide. It is updated every five years, as required by the California Water Code. The Water Plan is a key element in the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan.

The last update, released in 2005, outlined two key initiatives: Promote integrated regional water management through regional partnerships and diversified management strategies, and maintain and improve statewide water management systems. Update 2009 will track and report progress on action plan items and initiatives, and present actual statewide water uses and supplies for water years 1998-2005. The potential impacts of climate change will also be addressed.

For the first time, DWR will also partner with 16 other state agencies to guide the development of the Water Plan Update. This State agency Steering Committee will ensure the incorporation of water issues, initiatives, and information from other state agencies into the plan.

Plans for regional workshops in eight cities this summer and a regional forum will be announced soon. The first plenary meeting is scheduled for October 22-23 in Sacramento. All meetings are open to the public.

Named to the Advisory Committee are:

American Farmland Trust -- Ed Thompson

Association of California Water Agencies -- David Bolland

California Association of Resource Conservation Districts -- Patrick Truman

California Building Industry Association -- Steve LaMar

California Chamber of Commerce -- Valerie Nera

California Council of Governments -- Rusty Selix

California County Planning Commissioners Association -- Ted Allured

California Farm Bureau Federation -- Chris Scheuring

California Farm Water Coalition -- Michael Wade

California Landscape Contractors Association -- Larry Rohlfes

California Rural Indian Health Board -- James Crouch

California Sportfishing Protection Alliance -- Mike Jackson, Alternate: Jim Crenshaw

California State Association of Counties - Merita Callaway

California Urban Water Agencies - Steve Macaulay, Alternate: Elaine Archibald

California Urban Water Conservation Council -- Mary Ann Dickinson, Alternate: Katie Shulte Joung

California Water Association -- Jack Hawks

California Watershed Network -- Mary Lee Knecht

Central Valley Project Water Association -- Bob Stackhouse

Ducks Unlimited -- Chris Unkel, Alternate: Kevin Petrik

Environmental Defense -- Laura Harnish

Environmental Justice Coalition for Water -- Gary Mulcahy

Floodplain Management Association -- Iovanka Todt

Friends of the River -- Steve Evans

League of California Cities -- Kyra Ross

League of Women Voters -- Jack Sullivan

Natural Resource Defense Council -- Barry Nelson

Planning & Conservation League -- Jonas Minton

Regional Council of Rural Counties -- Kathy Mannion

State Water Contractors -- Terry Erlewine

The Nature Conservancy -- Susan Tatayon

WateReuse Association -- Bill Van Wagoner, Alternate: Paul Klein

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

Contact the DWR Public Affairs Office for more information about DWR's water activities.

Source: Business Wire

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