1. California Water Issues and Wetlands
Good sources: aquifornia.com

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. Loss of Wetlands Early 1600’s  220 million acres in US
>50% have been destroyed
~59 million acres lost
91% lost in CA

16. 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

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