California's Department of Water Resources has released a new planning document aimed at strengthening San Joaquin Valley water management and climate resilience amid intensifying pressures on communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. The plan builds on three recent DWR studies covering State Water Project adaptation, valley conveyance, and regional watershed conditions.
Decades of groundwater overdraft have contributed to land subsidence that is reducing the capacity of key state and federal canals to deliver water, making groundwater recovery a critical near-term priority. The plan promotes pilot projects that capture high flows during wet years and store water underground, offering combined benefits for flood protection, water supply, and ecosystem support.
To support local implementation, the plan calls for regulatory reforms that streamline groundwater recharge permitting and reduce administrative barriers, along with a new public dashboard to help identify recharge opportunities. Longer-term priorities include subsidence remediation and advancing water storage and conveyance projects.
The vision is positioned as a foundation for California Water Plan 2028 and reflects requirements under Senate Bill 72, which calls for water planning that is more integrated, target-based, and responsive to real-world conditions. It also acknowledges that some of the most effective San Joaquin Valley water management solutions may require land repurposing alongside infrastructure and policy changes.
Public comments on the vision can be submitted to sjvision@water.ca.gov through July 21, 2026.
