California Water Plan

Photo of Leonicio Ramirez and his daughter Tania Ramirez as the first residents to receive water through a water distribution system in East Porterville California.

Leonicio Ramirez and his daughter Tania Ramirez are the first residents to receive water through a water distribution system in East Porterville, California. DWR/2016

The California Water Plan is the State's strategic plan for sustainably managing and developing water resources for current and future generations. Required by Water Code Section 10005(a), it presents the status and trends of California’s water-dependent natural resources; water supplies; and agricultural, urban, and environmental water demands for a range of plausible future scenarios.

 The plan:

  • Is updated every five years
  • Provides a way for various groups to collaborate on findings and recommendations and make informed decisions regarding California’s water future
    • Elected officials
    • Government agencies
    • Tribes
    • Water and resource managers
    • Businesses
    • Academia
    • General public
  • Can't mandate actions or authorize spending for specific actions
  • Doesn't make project- or site-specific recommendations nor include environmental review or documentation as would be required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • Requires policy- and law-makers to take definitive steps to authorize the specific actions proposed in the plan and appropriate funding needed for their implementation

The goal for each plan update is to:

You can contribute to updates.

  • Visit our Participation page to learn about the various ways to take part.
  • Subscribe to California Water Plan eNews, our weekly electronic newsletter, for the latest information on the Water Plan.
  • Read public comments.
  • Submit your own comments.

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Water Plan Update 2023

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the final version of California Water Plan Update 2023. This plan can now be used by water managers, such as water districts, cities and counties, and Tribal communities, to inform and guide the use and development of water resources in the state. Update 2023 focuses on three intersecting themes: addressing climate urgency, strengthening watershed resilience, and achieving equity in water management. 

DWR hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the plan on April 29, 2024. An agenda and the recoding of the webinar is available on DWR Events page. 

You can find the final document and more information on the Update 2023 page.

Contact Us

For any questions or comments about the Water Plan, please contact us. 

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Water Plan eNews

Subscribe to Water Plan eNews to receive news and updates on upcoming meetings. To subscribe to California Water Plan eNews, visit the DWR email subscription page and select the “California Water Plan eNews” option.

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