California WaterFix Update
 Issue 11, March 2, 2017
 
Adapting to Climate Change

Climate-resilient infrastructure investments will be critical to future water reliability.              
                                              
    Historic first April snow measurement with no snow at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, 2015. 
Photo courtesy of DWR
  
    High flows followed January storms in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, 2017.
Photo courtesy of DWR  

Climate change in California is expected to:
  • Reduce the Sierra Nevada snowpack
  • Increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events
  • Raise sea levels, which could result in seawater intrusion that harms groundwater basins, Delta levees, drinking water from the Delta and increases storm damage
California WaterFix is a proposed plan to upgrade the state's aging water infrastructure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to address changing conditions. 
Two new underground tunnels would transport drinking water from the north Delta to the south. The tunnels would provide flexibility and reduce conflicts with migrating fish. They would capture excess flows to store in reservoirs or groundwater aquifers for future use. And they would protect against sea level rise and levee failure, helping to safeguard this high quality drinking water for millions of Californians.
State and federal agencies have released final environmental documents for the project and additional permit decisions are expected over the next few months.
California WaterFix is an opportunity to address current challenges in the Delta while also planning for future ones.
"Big Gulp" / "Little Sip"


California WaterFix would offer flexibility for the State Water Project to take a "big gulp" of water during very wet seasons like Winter 2017 while taking a "small sip" during dry times of the year.
 
Diversions from the Delta are dictated by Sacramento River flows. During many wetter periods when flows are high, diversions can be higher. However in dry periods when the river is low or when fish are migrating through the Delta, diversions are restricted.

Building flexibility into our water system will help prepare California for extreme weather conditions in the future. 
View a new fact sheet about California WaterFix here.
Read the previous California WaterFix Update here.
For more information

 
Connect
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
mwdh2o.com