An Important Source of California's Water...

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where the rivers of the western Sierra Nevada merge before heading into San Francisco Bay, is the hub of California's water system.

Historic Delta Legislation Signed Into Law

The Water Crisis

About 30 percent of Southern California's water supply moves across the Delta to the aqueduct system of the State Water Project.

The Delta's declining ecosystem, caused by a number of factors, has led to historic restrictions in water supply deliveries. The result is a pressing need to both improve the Delta environment and improve the water systems that help sustain the state economy. 

I keep hearing about California’s water supply problem. What is it exactly?

The problem is in the hub of California’s outdated statewide water system, located in Northern California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a vital estuary for scores of species and the location of pumping facilities for the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. These facilities provide vital water supplies for more than 25 million Californians, including 19 million in the Southland, and millions of acres of farmland. As the Delta ecosystem has declined, new regulations have placed stringent restrictions on pumping water to protect certain fish species.  This problem has been  compounded by years of low rainfall.

What is being done to fix the problem?

While there are no quick fixes, the problem is being addressed through a 50-year adaptive management plan known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a collaborative effort between state and federal resource and wildlife agencies, environmental organizations and water districts throughout California. The  goal is to map out a comprehensive, science-based, long-term conservation and restoration plan for the Delta. This preliminary plan, including new conveyance alternatives, will be released in fall 2010. 

Last November, the Legislature approved and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law an historic package of water bills (known as the Delta package) to improve the management and governance of the Delta and to place an $11 billion water bond measure on the November 2010 ballot. The package, which is now being implemented, includes  the  establishment of a Delta Stewardship Council to advance the co-equal goals of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability. Council members have been selected and the organization is up and running. Delta governance institutions such as the Delta Conservancy, the Delta Protection Commission and the California Water Commission will be created or updated to take the lead on ecosystem restoration and create a new economic strategy.

How does California’s water supply problem affect me and my family in Southern California?

About half of Southern California’s supplies are local, and the other half is imported  from either the Colorado River (via the Colorado River Aqueduct) or Northern California (via the State Water Project and passing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta).

With years of low rainfall and pumping restrictions, the reliability of our imported supplies, particularly state supplies through the Delta, has been diminished. Since the current restrictions were put in place, Southern California’s water supply has been reduced at times by hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day. We estimate that in total we’ve lost water supplies that could have sustained cities the size of Anaheim or Santa Ana for several years.  To make up for the loss in the short-term, we’ve asked for increased conservation and we’ve drawn on our water supply reserves. Today, our reserves are down by 50 percent.

How will the improvements be paid for?

Water districts like Metropolitan are prepared to make the investments necessary to improve the water conveyance system in the Delta; however, there currently is no funding  to restore the Delta ecosystem.  An $11 billion bond measure will be placed on the November 2010 ballot that would allocate funds for drought relief; Delta sustainability; water supply reliability; statewide water system operational improvement; groundwater protection and water quality; water recycling and conservation; and watershed protection.

• For more information on how much money would be available to Southern California, click here.
• To learn more about Metropolitan’s official position on the bond, click here.

Can we get by on local supplies until the state’s water supply problem is solved?

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is a long-term habitat restoration program and water conveyance improvements will take ten to twelve years to construct, so water districts are focused on alternative water supply strategies including recycling, conservation and groundwater clean-up to make the best use of current supplies. Water resource managers are also making interim habitat improvements to aid Delta species with the aim of restoring pumping operations curtailed in recent years. These strategies will help sustain Southern California while the necessary long-term infrastructure improvements are completed.

What can I do to help?
Conserve water at work and at home every day. Shorten your shower by a few minutes and save five gallons.  Turn the water off while you brush your teeth and save three gallons.  Consider replacing lawn with low-water-using California Friendly plants, and save 1,000 gallons a month. Check out the gardening guide on bewaterwise.com to search for drought-tolerant plants and get ideas for water-wise gardens.   Fix leaky sprinklers.  Sweep the driveway instead of hosing it down and save 150 gallons each time. Some of these water-saving measures may even be required in your area, so check with your local water agency to find out about laws or limits on water use.  Go to bewaterwise.com to learn more about what you can do to help conserve water.

Useful Documents

• “Resolving a Crisis” Powerpoint Presentation
• Map of Metropolitan’s Member Agencies
• Map of Major Water Conveyance Systems in California
• Bewaterwise.com for water-saving tips and more information

Historic Delta Legislation Signed Into Law

On November 4, 2009, the California Legislature passed a comprehensive bill that addresses the Delta ecosystem and provides for a reliable water supply for California.

To learn more about the Delta Package, please view the presentations / handouts below:

View Presentation

• What is the water crisis in California, and how will these bills address the crisis?
• How much money from the water bond has been identified for Southern California?
• What is Metropolitan’s position on the bond?
• Who are Metropolitan’s Member Agencies?
• What conveyance systems make up California’s water system? 
• Read the Chairman’s statement on the passage of the legislative water package.