Agricultural Water Planning

Agricultural water suppliers are expected to comply with water planning and measurement laws, and to submit their Agricultural Water Management Plans (AWMP) to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five years as required by the California Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7). Agricultural water supplies are to report annually on aggregated water deliveries to farms.

The Water Conservation Act of 2009 contains several important provisions regarding agricultural water use. It requires agricultural water suppliers to measure the volume of water delivered to their customers, adopt a pricing structure based on the quantity delivered, and develop an AWMP. The Water Conservation Act of 2009 also directed DWR to develop and report to the Legislature a proposed methodology for quantifying the efficiency of agricultural water use.

Given the Delta Reform Act mandates to improve water supply reliability for California, reduce reliance on the Delta, and improve regional self-reliance, all water suppliers should demonstrate full compliance with State water efficiency and management laws, goals, and regulations to demonstrate reasonable and beneficial use of the state’s water resources.

Each chapter of the Delta plan includes strategies to achieve the goals of the plan. These strategies are general guidance on achieving the objective laid out in the plan and in the Delta Reform Act of 2009. Associated with these strategies are recommendations. The recommendations describe more specific and implementable actions to support the achievement of Delta Plan strategies. Strategies and recommendations may also have associated performance measures. Delta Plan performance measures track progress in achieving desired outcomes for the Delta Plan. Below are the strategies and recommendations associated with this performance measure.

Delta Plan Strategy

• Increase water conservation and expand local and regional supplies

Delta Plan Recommendations

• Implement Water Efficiency and Water Management Planning Laws
• Require State Water Project Contractors to Implement Water Efficiency and Water Management Laws
• Ensure Compliance with Reasonable and Beneficial Use
• Expand Water Supply Reliability
• Develop Water Supply Reliability Guidelines
• Revise State Grant and Loan Priorities
• Demonstrate State Leadership

Metric

• Percentage of AWMPs submitted to DWR on time. This will be evaluated every five years as AWMPs are updated.
• Percentage of AWMPs submitted to DWR that include a quantification of water use efficiency. This will be evaluated at least every five years as AWMPs are updated.

Baseline

• Fourteen percent of the required AWMPs (8 of the estimated 56) were submitted to DWR on time for the 2012 cycle. Thirty-seven percent of required AWMPs (35 of the estimated 95) were submitted to DWR on time for the 2015 cycle.
• Zero percent of AWMPs (0 of the estimated 56 required) submitted to DWR for the 2012 cycled included a quantification of water use efficiency improvements.

Target

• By 2020, 100 percent of AWMPs are submitted to DWR on time.
• By 2020, 100 percent of AWMPs submitted to DWR include a quantification of water-use efficiency.

Method

The Department of Water Resources reports AWMP submitted to them. They report both the date and completeness.

Data Source

2012 AWMP Report - Department of Water Resources

2015 AWMP Submittal Status Summary - Department of Water Resources

2020 AWMP Reports - Department of Water Resources

“The AB 1668 legislation required the quantification of WUE in AWMPs. However, the legislation states that DWR must accept an approved United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Water Conservation Plan in lieu of an AWMP, if submitted. A USBR Water Conservation Plan does not require the quantification of WUE, thus they are not included in the data graph below."

Agricultural Water Use Efficiency - Department of Water Resources

Farm Gate Delivery Data Submittal 2014-Present - Department of Water Resources

The Delta Plan