Sorghum as an Alternative Crop?
The purpose of this project was to engage the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) region in developing a water management planning process. The purpose of the plan was to develop the capacity for regional sustainability of water supplies for agricultural, domestic, industrial, and environmental uses.
The goals of this project included:
- Further developing and applying the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology to characterize surface and groundwater resources
- Collaborating in the development of mathematical models
- Conducting watershed-based studies
- Developing and/or evaluating efficient monitoring and reporting strategies
- Maintaining relevant databases that support water management strategies
The California Water Institute (CWI) collaborated with the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and their Water Work Group to develop the “framework” for long term SJV regional water management planning. The work group included members representing all eight counties and 62 cities providing technical support for a regional, balanced, and collaborative approach to water quality, water supply, flood control, and environmental enhancement.
The United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region (BOR) contracted with CWI to play a role in analyzing and developing water management strategies focusing on Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) planning efforts. Nineteen IRWM regions were organized in the San Joaquin Valley. The process involved organizing and conducting a careful analysis of the water environment assets and liabilities for every area of the Valley. All 19 regions developed plans that are now being blended with strategies, policies, and activities to develop an optimal Valley-wide effort. It is imperative that the SJV region work together to ensure adequate water supplies needed to:
- Sustain the SJV lifestyle
- Support regional economic growth
- Retain a world-class agricultural economy
- Maintain a reliable, high-quality urban water supply
- Protect and enhance our local environment
The documents were funded in part by a grant from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region through the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. As well as voter-approved propositions (50, 84, 1E, and 1).
Since the inception of Proposition 50 in 2002 through December 2014, the IRWM Grant Program had funded over 700 implementation projects statewide (CA DWR, 2015).
Below is a list of related reports and city ordinances that have developed from this work:
- Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the San Joaquin Valley of California http://www.californiawater.org/californiawater/report-on-an-integrated-regional-water-management-plan-for-the-san-joaquin-valley-of-california-may-2016/
- Framework For the Implementation Of Water Management Planning http://www.californiawater.org/californiawater/framework-for-the-implementation-of-water-management-planning-october-2009/
Principal Investigator: Sarge Green
Written By: Courtney Meinhold
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