Californian DWR to improve water supply in Sacramento region

Department of Water Resources (DWR) in California, US, has granted $14m for water projects in the Sacramento region, which will provide immediate relief from droughts and assist in preparation against future droughts.

The grant is part of the $200m funds allocated by Californian Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. for the entire state earlier this year.

Sacramento’s Regional Water Authority (RWA) received $9,765,000 for 17 projects and the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (YCFCWCD) received $4m for two projects.

The funds for the Sacramento region will be used to reduce the area’s reliance on Folsom reservoir during extremely dry conditions, while the Yolo County projects aim to offer drought relief for rural parts around Woodland, Davis and Winters.

RWA executive director John Woodling said: "The projects throughout the Sacramento region are designed to greatly enhance the ability to not only maximise available water supplies, but move water from those areas with available water to those areas in need.

"Local agencies have been actively storing groundwater in our underlying basin for nearly two decades, which makes the basin our greatest insurance against future water shortages."

YCFCWCD general manager Tim O’Halloran said: "These two grants will allow our region, in both the agricultural and urban sectors, to move forward in managing our precious water resources in a more efficient manner."

In view of drought, the state legislature has already directed DWR to speed up projects that offer immediate drought relief, try to reduce or prepare the region for future drought situations, support local water supply and potable water delivery, or promote water conservation.

DWR deputy director Gary Bardini said: "The grants we are announcing today to alleviate drought conditions in the Sacramento area and throughout the state are outstanding examples of Governor Brown’s commitment to addressing the water challenges facing California by having communities and regions work together on solutions.

"Integrated water management as outlined in the Governor’s California Water Action Plan and DWR’s just-released California Water Plan Update is the collaborative, proven formula whose success is demonstrated here today and that will guide us in using, managing and developing our water resources to the advantage of the environment and all our people."