Update on Water Planning in Selected Western States

Update on Water Planning in Selected Western States Presented by Dominique Cartron January 10, 2013 Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

States with State Water Plan Washington Montana Oregon Idaho Wyoming Nevada Utah Colorado California Kansas Oklahoma Arizona Completed state water plan No completed state water plan Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. New Mexico Texas

Updates • • • Recent planning efforts Funding Integration of regional and state plans Linkages between funding and water plans Climate change Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Arizona Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Arizona • No published state water plan. • Five Active Management Areas (AMAs). • AMAs include 80% of the population, 75% of the water use. • Third Active Management Plan completed 2000 -2010. • Goal: Achieve safe yield by 2025. • Fourth Active Management Plan underway. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Arizona • Project funding down since 2008, program well staffed. • Groundwater withdrawal fees fund Water Management Assistance Program. – Groundwater Users Advisory Council recommends projects. – Funds focused on conservation, recharge, hydrologic studies. • No specific climate change focus. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Colorado Basin Planning Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Colorado • No state water plan has been published. • Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) 2003, 2010, 2016. • Permanent water roundtables in eight river basins and Denver metropolitan area (2005). – Basin roundtables develop basin-wide needs assessment → SWSI. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Colorado • Interbasin Compact Committee (2005). • Annual budget for SWSI, Compact Committee support, and basin-wide needs assessments: $1. 5 M. • Six permanent planning staff within Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). • Water Supply Reserve Account ($10 M) funds projects to address basin needs. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Colorado • Only projects recommended by basin roundtables are submitted to the CWCB. • Other funding sources are not linked to basin plans. • Colorado Climate Action Plan completed in 2007. • CWCB considering how to address climate change in current water planning cycle. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Oregon Integrated Water Resources Strategy Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Oregon Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy • Planning cycle 2009 -2013, plan published in 2012 ($1 M). • Two full-time staff with other agency staff support. • Governor’s budget request through 2015: Up to $66 M for planning and implementation. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Oregon Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy • No organized regional water planning program, but some areas are active. • Active groups go to the Legislature to fund specific projects. • Major water infrastructure funding programs are not tied to the IWRS. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Oregon Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy • IWRS supports research efforts into ongoing basin-level climate change. • Recommends developing climate change adaptation strategies. • State works with communities to include climate change in their planning. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Texas Water Planning • 2012 Texas State Water Plan – Third plan based on regional water planning • $16 M for 2007 -2012 planning cycle • $3. 5 M annually for agency staff, technical studies, and technical support to regions • 20 permanent water planning staff Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Texas State Water Plan • Projects receiving state funding or requiring state water rights permit must be consistent with the applicable regional water plan. • No climate change focus. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.