Opinion: California State Water Department Needs to Step Up in the Fight on Climate Change

"[California’s Department of Water Resources] could play a lead role in helping the state become more resilient in the face of climate change by ensuring that the State Water Project is managed to reduce diversions from the [San Francisco] Bay-Delta ecosystem and to promote water use efficiency, water reuse, and other measures that help water districts wean themselves off of unrealistic and unsustainable levels of water use," writes Bill Dodd.

Dodd says the history of water deliveries exceeding available resources has resulted in drained groundwater basins, dried-up estuaries and rivers, and impacts to wildlife. He urges DWR to make protection of the environment and endangered species priorities and to work with state and local agencies and the scientific community to develop policies and plans to better manage the state's water system.

"DWR needs a reality check and a renewed spirit for this new decade – one that heeds scientists’ warnings and forces contract holders to adapt to the challenges we’re now facing," adds Dodd.