1. Prepared for: California Water & Environmental Modeling Forum
CA Water Plan Update 2018 Managing Water Resources for Sustainability – Sustainability Outlook
Prepared for: California Water & Environmental Modeling Forum
April 22, 2019

2. California Water Plan Update 2018 Focus & Features
CA Water Today -- accomplishments -- challenges & drivers
Understanding sustainability
Actionable recommendations
Sustainability Outlook to track progress & adapt
Investment strategy & funding scenarios
You have just heard about the overall features of the 2018 Update. My talk is to focus on our progress around what we are calling the sustainability outlook. As is says here the outlook is intended as a method or framework to track progress and adapt as needed as we journey towards sustainability…..

3. Sustainability Requires Consistency with Values
The combined effect of actions and projects within watersheds and groundwater basins is consistent with societal values, while fostering trust and promoting equity.
The Sustainability Outlook is a method to track our progress at achieving our intended outcomes organized around four societal values.

4. The Sustainability Outlook Demonstrate Return on Investment
Sample Value
Sample Intended Outcome
Public Health & Safety
Sample Sustainability Indicator
An adequate water supply for domestic needs, sanitation, and fire suppression
Number of public water systems (population served) not in compliance with drinking water standards
This is a example at a high level for understanding of how this methodology works by nesting the various outcomes under the four societal values and finally getting to indicators which will allow us to measure the progress toward those outcomes. One thing we saw when we started to look at possible indicators was that scale is critical. At a statewide scale for example some indicators do not provide meaningful information. However this same indicator may provide valuable insight at the correct regional or local scale.
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5. Sustainability Requires Tracking & Adaptive Management
It is part of a journey toward sustainability. It helps us with evaluating our effectiveness of our actions and takes into consideration that our societal values will change over time……

6. Indicator Screening Process
One of our supporting documents is titled “Sustainability Outlook Indicator Descriptions and Methodology and will be posted with the Update. In this document we start with a definition of each of the societal values. I think for todays audience I want to give a flavor of some of the indicators under each societal value. There is much work to be done and for all of you looking for opportunities for further research to assist there is need for further work in identifying indicators with supporting data to be able to track our progress.

7. Indicator Screening Process
Criteria for screening: • Representative • Data Viability • Cost • Longevity • Supportive of Decision Making

8. Data Viability
Note that we have data types from I to IV. Type I is adequate data readily available, Type II data available but maybe not geographically complete or further analysis is needed to ues, Type 3 is usually non-continuous or piecemeal data to Type IV No data collected

12. Public Health and Safety
Public health and safety is defined as prevention of, protection from, and mitigation of events that could harm or injure people. Events that can pose a risk of harm or injury include accidents, outbreaks, illnesses, crimes, and disasters (natural or man-made). The vision for this societal value is that all Californians are protected from public health and safety threats and emergencies.
The intended outcomes that represent Public Health and Safety include:
A reliable water supply for domestic needs, sanitation, and fire suppression;
Reduced number of people exposed to waterborne health threats such as contaminants or infectious agents;
Reduced loss of life, injuries and health risks caused from extreme hydrologic conditions, catastrophic events and/or system failures (including infrastructure).

13. Public Health and Safety
PHS 3: Number of Public Water Systems Not in Compliance with Drinking Water Standards
Scale:
Statewide
Data Sources:
State Water Board DDW
Data Availability:
Type I
Metric:
Population served by public water systems and number of MCL violations by public water systems
Screening Status:
Basic
Representative of Outcome:
High
Data Viability:
Medium
Cost:
Medium-High
Potential Longevity:
Supportive of Decision Making:

15. Ecosystem Vitality
Ecosystem vitality describes the healthy functioning and lasting resiliency of diverse communities of interconnected aquatic, riparian, and wetland organisms across California. Ecosystem resilience is defined as the ability of an ecosystem to withstand or respond to disturbances without undergoing major or irreversible changes in identity, function, or structure. The vision for this societal value is for thriving ecosystems to exist throughout the state.
The intended outcomes that represent Ecosystem Vitality include:
• Maintained and increased ecosystem and native species distributions in California while sustaining and enhancing species abundance and richness;
• Maintained and improved ecological functions and processes vital for sustaining ecosystems in California; and
• Achieved designated beneficial uses for water bodies throughout the state.

16. Ecosystem Vitality EV 6: California Stream Condition Index Scale:
Statewide
Data Sources:
State Water Board Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP); CWP Update 2013
Data Availability:
Type I
Metric:
California Stream Condition Index
Screening Status:
Basic
Representative of Outcome:
High
Data Viability:
Cost:
Medium
Potential Longevity:
Supportive of Decision Making:

18. Healthy Economy
A healthy economy would include stable, positive, and responsible economic development; strong commitments to the long-term health of people and the environment; government encouragement of job-creating investments; and removal of excess regulations that may throttle economic development. The vision for this societal value is that California has a healthy economy and that all Californians have opportunities for economic prosperity.
The intended outcomes that represent Healthy Economy include:
• Reliable water supplies of suitable quality for a variety of productive water uses are based on a reliable supply;
• Consideration of economic risks and rewards on floodplains, rivers, and coastal areas;
• More benefits from economics activities;
• Reduced likelihood or occurrence of significant social disruption following a disaster.

19. Healthy Economy
HE 9: Socioeconomic Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise Impacts
Scale:
Regional
Data Sources:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); California Ocean Protection Council
Data Availability:
Type I
Metric:
Social Vulnerability Index and acreage of coastal land impacted by sea level rise
Screening Status:
Basic
Representative of Outcome:
High
Data Viability:
Medium-High
Cost:
Medium
Potential Longevity:
Supportive of Decision Making:

21. Opportunities for Enriching Experiences
The vision for this societal value is that all Californians have opportunities for enriching experiences to add greater value or significance to their lives.
The intended outcomes that represent Opportunities for Enriching Experiences include:
• Preserved or enhanced culturally or historically significant sites and communities, including continued and enhanced access to water and land used for cultural practices, such as sacred ceremonies;
• Preserved and increased natural areas with aesthetic or intrinsic value (including viewshed );
• Continued and enhanced access to resources that support education and learning;
• Continued or enhanced recreational opportunities in waterways, reservoirs, or natural and open spaces.

22. Opportunities for Enriching Experiences
OEE 3: Number of School Districts Using Water and Environmental Curriculum in K-12 Programs
Scale:
Statewide
Data Sources:
California Department of Education; DWR Project WET; Water Education Foundation
Data Availability:
Type II
Metric:
Number of School Districts
Screening Status:
Basic
Representative of Outcome:
High
Data Viability:
Medium
Cost:
Potential Longevity:
Supportive of Decision Making:

24. Sustainability Requires Tracking & Adaptive Management
It is part of a journey toward sustainability. It helps us with evaluating our effectiveness of our actions and takes into consideration that our societal values will change over time……

25. Update 2018 Watershed-Scale Pilots Outlook is Aggregate of Regional Sustainability
Applying Sustainability Outlook locally
Proof of concept & scalability of indicators
Local/regional perspectives on impediments to sustainability
Place-based solutions for governance, regulations & funding
Initiated pilot projects in partnership with:
California Forward
Pacific Institute
Water Foundation
Sonoma County Water Agency
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
This prompted us to look at various pilots at a local/regional scale that could provide insight on how we might apply this methodology. These pilots have yielded some valuable lessons learned and will provide us with insight on our next efforts……

26. Next Steps
Continue applying Sustainability Outlook at logical scales
Refine the intended outcomes and the indicators
Collect needed data to answer the question of progress toward the intended outcomes.
1 this could include additional pilot efforts, 2 We still may see better measurements of the outcomes and indicators which would track the progress. 3 Data is lacking on several of the indicators we have identified.

27. Ways to Access Water Plan Information
Visit the Water Plan Web Portal
Subscribe to Water Plan eNews

28. Questions & Comments Lewis Moeller, PE lewis.moeller@water.ca.gov
Statewide Integrated Water Management
CA Department Water Resources 28