DWR: Senate Bill 72 Bolsters California Water Plan and advances long-term water supply goals – Maven’s Notebook

Report on California’s Water Supply Strategy and Senate Bill 72

Strategic Response to Climate Change and Water Scarcity

In response to escalating climate change impacts, the State of California has initiated strategic measures to ensure long-term water resilience. This aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. The 2022 California’s Water Supply Strategy acknowledged a future characterized by hotter, drier conditions, which diminish water availability for the state’s needs.

• Climate models indicate that rising temperatures lead to increased absorption of precipitation by dry soils and vegetation, as well as higher evaporation rates.
• This phenomenon results in reduced runoff into streams, rivers, and reservoirs, placing significant strain on water supplies, particularly during dry seasons.
• Addressing this challenge is critical for achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), which emphasizes the sustainable management of water resources.

Legislative Framework: Senate Bill 72

In October, Senate Bill 72 (SB 72) was enacted, providing the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) with a legislative mandate to secure California’s water future. The bill establishes a clear, data-driven approach to water management, reinforcing the state’s commitment to SDG 6 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Key Mandates and Goals of SB 72

1. Establish a Quantitative Target: The primary objective is to identify 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by the year 2040. This target is designed to offset anticipated losses due to warmer climate conditions.
2. Develop a Data-Driven Playbook: DWR is authorized to utilize its scientific and engineering expertise to analyze data, identify opportunities, and formulate a comprehensive strategy to meet the established water supply target.
3. Foster Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The initiative underscores the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by mandating engagement between DWR, the legislature, the administration, and local water agencies to find viable solutions.

Implementation and Stakeholder Engagement

While SB 72 does not allocate new funding, it directs DWR to collaborate with the Department of Finance to explore and identify potential funding mechanisms. The implementation plan will be integrated with existing public engagement platforms to ensure transparency and collaborative governance.

• DWR will leverage the public workshops and advisory processes of the California Water Plan Update 2028 to discuss the implementation of SB 72.
• These forums will provide opportunities to assess priorities and ensure that the path toward a resilient water future is developed through transparent and collaborative pathways, further supporting the principles of SDG 17.
• This robust engagement process is fundamental to building sustainable and resilient infrastructure and communities, a core tenet of SDG 11.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article is fundamentally about ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. It directly addresses the challenges of water scarcity caused by climate change and outlines California’s strategic response to secure its water supply for the future.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Securing a stable water supply is critical for the sustainability and resilience of communities. The article discusses a state-level strategy to mitigate the impacts of a water-related disaster (drought), thereby making California’s human settlements more resilient to climate change.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly states that the water supply issues are a result of “a hotter, drier future where the changing climate leaves less water.” The entire strategy described is an urgent action to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and strengthen resilience.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
  • The article’s focus on creating “California’s Water Supply Strategy” and setting a goal to identify “9 million acre-feet of additional water supply” is a direct effort to ensure a sustainable supply of freshwater and address the growing scarcity.
• Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels.
  • The article describes a collaborative and integrated approach. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is tasked with building a “data-driven playbook” in partnership with the legislature and administration, and it plans for “more expansive engagement with water agencies” and public workshops, which are hallmarks of integrated water resources management.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and disaster risk reduction.
  • The “California’s Water Supply Strategy” and the implementation plan for Senate Bill 72 are perfect examples of integrated state-level plans aimed at resource efficiency (water) and adaptation to climate change, thereby reducing the risk of water-related disasters for its communities.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  • The article is a case study of strengthening resilience. It details California’s plan to “adapt to a hotter, drier future” and build “a more resilient water future” in direct response to the climate-related hazard of increased water scarcity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions a very specific, measurable, and time-bound indicator that can be used to track progress towards the state’s water supply goals. While not a formal UN SDG indicator, it serves the same purpose in the context of the article’s subject matter.

• Primary Indicator: The article states that Senate Bill 72 “sets a target of identifying 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040.”
  • This quantitative goal is the central indicator for measuring the success of the new strategy. It directly relates to SDG Target 6.4 by providing a metric for ensuring a sustainable supply of freshwater to address scarcity. Progress can be measured by tracking the volume of additional water supply identified over time against the 2040 deadline.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mavensnotebook.com