By Ashlee Casey
April 24 marks the 25th anniversary of the Water Forum Agreement. While the story of how the Water Forum came together has been told many times, it deserves reflection on how a diverse group of business leaders, citizens, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2000 focused on the region’s water future. This visionary coalition recognized the Water Forum as crucial to securing a reliable water supply and protecting the lower American River’s environment for years to come.
Over the past 25 years, the Water Forum has set an example for collaborative problem-solving. By coming together to support each other’s priorities, the diverse group of stakeholders facilitated significant infrastructure projects, improved salmonid habitat in the lower American River, developed an improved pattern of flow for the fisheries (the Flow Management Standard), built a culture of trust, and enabled quick responses to crises like drought, all without resorting to gridlock or litigation.
Water Forum 2050
As we celebrate this milestone, Water Forum members are focused on shaping the next chapter: Water Forum 2050. This updated agreement will address new and evolving conditions:
- Climate Change: With hotter, drier periods punctuated with more intense rainfall, water storage, particularly at Folsom Reservoir, is under increased pressure.
- Environmental & Fisheries: Ongoing threats to salmon and steelhead populations require continuous habitat enhancement and careful management of water flows and temperatures.
- Groundwater Management: The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) now guides local groundwater management, taking the place of many components in the original agreement.
- Water Supply: The risk of “dead pool” conditions at Folsom Reservoir highlights the need for more diversified water supply portfolios.
- Water Conservation: New state regulations require significantly more demand management.
- Regulatory Pressures: Growing state regulations present increased challenges and costs for local water providers.
- Water Affordability: Rising costs and reduced water demand put pressure on water affordability, requiring cost-effective solutions.
Water Forum 2050 will reaffirm the coequal objectives of water supply reliability and environmental stewardship. It restructures the agreement into four program areas: American River Flows and Operations, American River Corridor Health, Regional Water Supply Sustainability, and Governance, Funding & Administration.
These sections build upon elements from the original agreement, adapting them to meet the region’s evolving needs. For instance, the American River Corridor Health section includes habitat management, and the American River Flows and Operations section integrates the Water Forum’s Flow Management Standard. Governance, Funding & Administration introduces a new path for the Water Forum’s continued success.
American River Climate Adaptation Program
A significant new initiative under Water Forum 2050 is the American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP). This program aims to provide reliable, regionally developed water to support the lower American River and local communities. One of ARCAP’s goals is to increase Folsom Reservoir’s storage during low-water conditions, which would lower river temperatures—beneficial for fish and wildlife—while also reducing the risk of “dead pool” conditions at Folsom Reservoir. ARCAP is an example of a proactive solution for both water supply and ecosystem health.
As the challenges of water management continue to grow, Water Forum 2050 provides an opportunity to modernize the original agreement and ensure it remains relevant. Stakeholders share a vision of resilience, where the region’s environment and economy are sustainable, and communities have access to reliable, safe water even during prolonged droughts.
Water Forum 2050 provides an opportunity to modernize the original agreement and ensure it remains relevant. Stakeholders share a vision of resilience, where the region’s environment and economy are sustainable, and communities have access to reliable, safe water even during prolonged droughts.
Ashlee Casey
Water Forum 2050 is not about providing all the answers but creating a framework for collaboration. This agreement will help stakeholders work together to address emerging issues, build mutual understanding, and take collective action. The goal is to secure more investment in resiliency programs, improve the region’s competitiveness for water management grants, and ultimately strengthen our approach to water and environmental stewardship.
The renewed Water Forum 2050 will serve as a model for collaborative and adaptive water management so that the Sacramento region can weather the uncertainties of the future. We look forward to sharing the draft agreement this summer and coming together once again to sign a new agreement in the fall, continuing the legacy of working together toward our shared objectives for the next 25 years.
Ashlee Casey is Senior Engineer/Executive Director (Interim) for the Water Forum.