Barrera Joins State Water Plan Committee

CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera has joined a state advisory panel to help shape a new, multi-year water plan for California — a plan that will provide both clear water supply targets and benchmarks to ensure both action and accountability.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the California Water Plan 2028 and the stakeholder advisory committee on Feb. 25.

Meetings attended by Barrera and the other members of the panel will be convened by the state Department of Water Resources for public meetings beginning in April.

“It’s an honor to participate in discussions that will help set the course for California’s long-term prosperity,” Barrera said. “Few issues are as vital as ensuring that we have the water needed to keep our communities strong and our economy growing.”

The formal kickoff of the California Water Plan 2028 sets into motion the first phase of a focused, multi-year effort to modernize the state’s water planning process. Under last year’s Senate Bill 72, the state will work towards a target of 9 million acre-feet of water supply by 2040. (A single acre foot of water — what would be needed to cover an acre of surface area with one foot of water — is equivalent to 325,851 gallons.) State officials will examine supply, conservation, recharge, and storage strategies to achieve the plan’s goals.

The advisory committee on which Barrera is serving includes representatives of both agricultural and urban water suppliers, business, tribal, labor, environmental, and local government, among others.

State officials will focus on data, supply targets, and key actions in their work on the California Water Plan 2028. A new project website, CaliforniaWaterPlan.com, will ensure transparency and public access throughout the process.