Tapping Data to Solve California’s Drought

The Bay Area Council applauded legislation introduced this week (Feb. 2) by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) that would create an open, publicly accessible online clearing house for critical water data currently held by various state departments and agencies. What gets measured gets managed, and with the state’s water data open and accessible, state and local water agencies will be able to more easily make management decisions on water transfers and exchanges. “The state does not suffer from a lack of water data, but from a lack of usable water data needed to make smart decisions. The Open and Transparent Water Data Act (AB 1755) will create instant and accessible water information that will better enable water managers to cope with current and future drought conditions,” Assemblymember Dodd said. The Council’s water committee was closely involved in helping craft the bill, and looks forward to working with Assemblymember Dodd to improve California’s overall water management.

Said Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman, “California’s current water transfer market is inefficient. With the right market signals, water agencies and private capital will want to invest in conservation and improvement of our water delivery system. California leads the world in developing new and innovative technologies. It’s time to take the first step and invest in a better water information system.”

Read the Council’s press release applauding AB 1755>>

Read a fact sheet on California water data>>

To engage in the Council’s water policy work, please contact Policy Director Adrian Covert.