California Water Issues and Wetlands Good sources: aquifornia.com http://www.water-ed.org/watersources/default.asp

Figure 1. Freshwater Consumption as a Percentage of Local Average Annual Precipitation. (Source: USDA-NRCS, 2001)

California’s Water Supply Ground Water Provides 20-30% of state’s water (up to 40% in dry years) Aquifers hold ~20X the amount of water behind the >1200 dams in the state Surface Water Average annual precipitation = 24 inches (ranges from close to zero in deserts to >100 inches in northern mountains)  falls mostly in winter, needed in summer 60% evaporates or transpires  returns to atmosphere; percolates into soil Also receive water from Colorado River and Oregon rivers

California Water Supply California has been called “the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet” We’ve transformed deserts into farmland and supported the development of large cities and towns E.g. “Inland Empire” 70 percent of California’s runoff occurs north of Sacramento; 75 percent of California’s urban and agricultural demands are to the south Moving the water uses LOTS of energy The State Water Project is the largest single user of energy in California Also lose water in process

Santa Clara County Water Supply Less than half comes from local sources - aquifers The rest is imported from the Sierra Nevada through
pumping stations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

California Water Use Agriculture is the largest use of California water supply California is the largest producer of food and agriculture in the US Droughts leads to mandatory water reductions (last year - 30%)  pay penalty for non-compliance Lose crops Trees stop fruiting Also need water for domestic and industrial uses AND environment

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta 2/3 of CA population and 2.5 million acres of farmland depend on the Delta for water Consists of series of levees to protect land, which is below sea level, from floods and high tides Water also pumped to central and southern CA If the Delta’s levees were damaged due to heavy flooding or an earthquake, the state likely would not have the water to meet the public’s needs Wildlife threatened by water shortages – Endangered Delta Smelt and salmon  less water diverted to cities and agriculture

Current Conditions - CA Water systems have not been upgraded since the ‘70s Population has increased by ~14 million people  expected to increase 56% by 2050! Straining existing water supplies Drought and climate change also reducing snowpack  runoff replenishes our aquifers, fills our reservoirs, and drains to the Delta Colorado River also increasingly stressed  must share water resources! 2009

Current Conditions - Bay Area Experienced three consecutive year of drought This year rainfall is “normal”, but reservoirs still low Last year reservoirs were at lowest levels since 1992  at 65% capacity in county; now at 73% capacity Last year water district called for 15% mandatory reduction in water use – still in effect How that is enforced depends on local water retailers Some retailers put restrictions on watering lawns and increases in water rates City of San Jose price of water dependent on how much you use CA Water Video

Solutions Urban water conservation Agricultural water conservation Increase surface storage areas - dams and reservoirs Desalination Capture and retain storm water and urban runoff Recycle water

What is a Wetland? Areas where groundwater is at or near the surface long enough to support water plants Transition between terrestrial and aquatic zones Considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems

Types of Wetlands Freshwater Saline (Salty) Bogs, marshes, swamps, sloughs Saline (Salty) Salt marsh, tidal wetlands, tidal sloughs

Importance of Wetlands Flood control Filter water Recharge aquifers Prevent soil erosion Remove and store greenhouse gases Supports high biodiversity

Loss of Wetlands Early 1600’s  220 million acres in US >50% have been destroyed 1950-1970 - ~59 million acres lost 91% lost in CA http://www4.ncsu.edu/~tkwak/marsh.html

Wetland Loss and Hurricanes Katrina Example New Orleans in floodplain of Mississippi River inevitably floods Built elaborate system of levees to prevent flooding of communities from river Increases risk of flooding from ocean storms in the process Wetlands provide first line of defense against hurricanes Limit storms' access to the warm open ocean water that drives them Create a physical barrier to the floodwaters Lack of river flooding = less sediment and nutrients to wetlands Coastal wetlands are deteriorating and shrinking  makes ocean communities exposed and vulnerable Witnessed consequences in Hurricane Katrina Katrina Video

Wetland Conservation SF Bay Salt Marsh Video Santa Clara Valley Freshwater Wetlands Video