How We View and Value Water in the Bay Region Kathleen Van Velsor. Environmental Planner- Sustainable Silicon Valley Water Summit, Dec. 7 th, 2009.

How We View and Value Water How We View and Value Water in the Bay Regionin the Bay Region

Kathleen Van Velsor. Environmental Planner- Sustainable Silicon Valley Water Summit, Dec. Kathleen Van Velsor. Environmental Planner- Sustainable Silicon Valley Water Summit, Dec. 77thth, 2009, 2009

Do you recognize this Do you recognize this water body?water body?

This one? This one?

This one? Or this one? This one? Or this one?

Orientation to Bay Area Orientation to Bay Area WaterWater

We have an estimated 400 watersheds We have an estimated 400 watersheds within the Bay Regionwithin the Bay Region before counting before counting groundwater basins and sub-basins:groundwater basins and sub-basins:

Each watershed has multiple land uses.Each watershed has multiple land uses. Degree of understanding of each watershed Degree of understanding of each watershed

varies.varies. Many have not had basic hydrologic analyses Many have not had basic hydrologic analyses

performed and water flows are not gauged.performed and water flows are not gauged. Some are well managed. Many have no Some are well managed. Many have no

comprehensive management regime.comprehensive management regime.

Orientation to Bay Area Orientation to Bay Area Water Water

We import more water than any other We import more water than any other hydrologic region of California.hydrologic region of California.

We are expanding our imported supplies.We are expanding our imported supplies. We are expanding water conservation and We are expanding water conservation and

recycling – creating new cooperative recycling – creating new cooperative networksnetworks

Bay Area WaterBay Area Water In many instances, our growth and water In many instances, our growth and water

consumption rates are on the same consumption rates are on the same trajectory.trajectory.

Many of the sub-regions are water Many of the sub-regions are water challenged. challenged.

Conflict among suppliers and users is Conflict among suppliers and users is commonplace.commonplace.

Heavy dependence on imported water Heavy dependence on imported water suppliessupplies

especially Delta-based and Russian/Eel River-especially Delta-based and Russian/Eel River-basedbased

Bay Area WaterBay Area Water Poor data on how much water we have on Poor data on how much water we have on

hand in the region – hand in the region – entitlements and how much we divert and entitlements and how much we divert and

pump.pump.

Supplied by roughly 100 water retailers, Supplied by roughly 100 water retailers, wholesalers, contractors (local, state, wholesalers, contractors (local, state, federal) to a range of land uses -- each federal) to a range of land uses -- each with their own governance with their own governance

Commercial/industrialCommercial/industrial Residential and mixed usesResidential and mixed uses Large landscapes and agriculturalLarge landscapes and agricultural

Frames Frames

Views of water are Views of water are framedframed by our common by our common understandings and misunderstandingsunderstandings and misunderstandings Water is cheap relative to other commoditiesWater is cheap relative to other commodities Our projected needs for water are accurateOur projected needs for water are accurate We are guaranteed a certain supply of water We are guaranteed a certain supply of water Water needs to become more expensive to be Water needs to become more expensive to be

reliablereliable Water is plentiful in the Bay Area– for the most partWater is plentiful in the Bay Area– for the most part Water generally comes from the tap (via Water generally comes from the tap (via

reservoirs)reservoirs) We don’t rely on local water or watershedsWe don’t rely on local water or watersheds Water supplies are fully protected from hazardsWater supplies are fully protected from hazards

FramesFrames Our groundwater supplies are not challengedOur groundwater supplies are not challenged Water experts will secure and protect Water experts will secure and protect

suppliessupplies There are secret supplies of water if push There are secret supplies of water if push

comes to shove -- the experts are holding comes to shove -- the experts are holding out on usout on us

Suburban communities and farmers waste Suburban communities and farmers waste water, but urban users do notwater, but urban users do not

Smarter, dense growth means less water Smarter, dense growth means less water consumptionconsumption

Distinct World Views of Water Distinct World Views of Water and Values Associated with and Values Associated with

ThemThem Bay Area water as Bay Area water as

coming from the coming from the tap tap (practical/reliable) (practical/reliable) through a pipe, through a pipe, channel channel (engineered) or (engineered) or water “temple” water “temple” (divine and (divine and engineered)engineered)

Distinct World Views of Distinct World Views of Water Water

Bay Area water as Bay Area water as Delta-sourced Delta-sourced

Distinct Views of Water Distinct Views of Water SourcesSources

Bay Area reservoirsBay Area reservoirs Bay Area water as Bay Area water as

local creeks, rivers local creeks, rivers and ground watersand ground waters

Sources in the Sources in the Sierras/No. Sierras/No. CaliforniaCalifornia Tuolumne, Tuolumne,

Mokelumne, Mokelumne, American RiversAmerican Rivers

Russian RiverRussian River Eel RiverEel River

Distinct World Views of Distinct World Views of WaterWater

Bay Area water as Bay Area water as ocean-derivedocean-derived Desalination as the Desalination as the

future of water future of water

Distinct World Views of Distinct World Views of WaterWater

Bay Area water as Bay Area water as conservation-conservation-derived and derived and reclaimed, recycled reclaimed, recycled and capturedand captured

Land use planning Land use planning as intimately tied as intimately tied to water resource to water resource planningplanning

Distinct World Views of Distinct World Views of WaterWater

Water as a supply Water as a supply for industry and for industry and commercecommerce

Water as an Water as an essential ingredient essential ingredient for habitat for habitat protection and protection and restoration; restoration; fisheries fisheries managementmanagement

Holistic approach to water resource Holistic approach to water resource management in the region? Is it management in the region? Is it

possible?possible?

As affected by a range of factors:As affected by a range of factors:Rate and styles of growth and Rate and styles of growth and developmentdevelopmentConservation of water resource Conservation of water resource lands and waterwayslands and waterwaysClimate changeClimate changeAbility to adopt decision strategyAbility to adopt decision strategyPolitics and socio-economicsPolitics and socio-economicsAvailability of talented Availability of talented professionals and citizen expertsprofessionals and citizen expertsAbility to cooperate and Ability to cooperate and incorporate distinct world viewsincorporate distinct world viewsAbility to incorporate other models Ability to incorporate other models of managementof managementTendencies to shoot the Tendencies to shoot the messengermessengerInvestments in styles of doing Investments in styles of doing business business

Objective assessment of water Objective assessment of water supplies, uses and projected usessupplies, uses and projected uses

Adequacies of existing water Adequacies of existing water resource management plansresource management plans

Integrating land use planning and Integrating land use planning and water resource managementwater resource management

Education about the wide array of Education about the wide array of water resources in the Bay Areawater resources in the Bay Area