California Water Commission

Using its public forum, the California Water Commission explores water management issues from multiple perspectives and formulates recommendations to advise the Department of Water Resources, and, as appropriate, the California Natural Resources Agency, the Governor and Legislature on ways to improve water planning and management in response to California’s changing hydrology.
 
The California Water Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. Seven members are chosen for their expertise related to the control, storage, and beneficial use of water and two are chosen for their knowledge of the environment. The Commission supports policies that result in sustainable water management and a healthy environment statewide.

 

  • Public forum: The Commission provides a public forum for the discussion of statewide water issues, promotes public discourse on the future of water management in California, and provides transparent access to information.
  • WSIP: The Commission administers funding in the Water Storage Investment Program. The Commission made maximum conditional eligibility determinations for seven projects that would boost California’s water storage capacity by 2.77 million acre-feet.
  • White papers: The Commission formulates policy papers on actions assigned to them in the Governor’s Water Resilience Portfolio.
    •  Resilient water conveyance projects that meet the needs of a changing climate.
    • Well-managed groundwater trading programs with appropriate safeguards for vulnerable water users.
    • Strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of drought lasting at least six years.
  • Advise DWR: The Commission advises the Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to ensure that decisions on key programs and activities are sound and sustainable by providing advice and recommendations.
  • Rules and regulations: The Commission approves DWR rules and regulations, ensuring they are fair, clear, useful, and necessary.
  • State Water Project: The Commission conducts an annual review of the construction and operation of the State Water Project. The Commission submits the annual review to the California State Legislature and the Director of DWR.
  • Eminent Domain: The Commission ensures eminent domain proceedings initiated by DWR meet legal requirements with a Resolution of Necessity process that gives each affected person an opportunity to be heard.

Comments or Questions?

Comments and questions, including comments on Commission meeting agenda items, can be submitted via email to cwc@water.ca.gov or on our Contact page. Comments received by the Commission related to meeting agenda items will not be edited and will be posted to the Commission's webpage in their entirety.

California Native American Tribal Leadership Comment Policy

For information about the process for elected Tribal leaders and designated representatives to comment on Commission meeting agenda items, please see our California Native American Tribal Leadership Comment Policy.

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Water Storage Investment Program Update

The Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) includes seven projects that would boost California’s water storage capacity by 2.77 million acre-feet. The projects range from expanding existing reservoirs to increasing groundwater storage to building 21st century surface storage facilities. Each project’s timeline to construction and operation may be different, but they all must meet a statutory deadline to ensure progress and remain eligible for WSIP funding. Per Proposition 1, by January 1, 2022, applicants must submit completed feasibility studies, draft environmental documents released for public review, and commitments for at least 75 percent of the non-program funding. All seven projects met the statutory deadline to ensure progress and remain eligible for WSIP funding.

WSIP Early Funding

WSIP regulations allow for a portion of the Commission’s maximum conditional eligibility determination (MCED) to be awarded before the final funding hearing to assist with permits and environmental documents. Early funding cannot exceed 5% of a project’s MCED. In all, the Commission has awarded six projects early funding totaling $116 million. Early funding amounts: Chino Basin Program - $8,919,000. Harvest Water Program - $14,375,625. Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project - $23,877,917. Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project - $24,200,000. Sites Project - $40,818,884. Willow Springs Water Bank - $4,770,300.

WSIP News Releases

Recent news releases about the Water Storage Investment Program can be found on the Press Releases page, linked in the title above

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