Council Priorities Reflected in Governor’s Draft Water Resilience Portfolio

Top Bay Area Council priorities for water and climate resilience were included in Gov. Newsom’s long-awaited draft Water Resilience Portfolio (WRP) released Monday (Jan. 6). Last April, Newsom ordered state environmental agencies to produce a portfolio of proposed actions to prepare California’s water system for the effects of climate change. In response, state agencies requested input from stakeholder groups across California, including the Bay Area Council. Funding for projects flowing from the WRP would come in part from a $4.75 billion climate resilience bond that Newsom has included in his budget proposal released today and that will go before voters in November.

The Council’s Water & Climate Resilience Committee urged state leaders to improve California’s water data systems, accelerate the use of recycled water, reduce permitting times for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration projects, speed up dam approvals, and to modernize California’s water transfer market, which were all included in the draft. The public has until February 7 to comment on the draft. The final portfolio will probably be released this spring. To engage in the Council’s water policy work, please contact Vice President Adrian Covert.