California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
In an effort to address California’s water mismanagement, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) introduced Senate Bill 224, the Preventing Artificial Water Shortages Act.
The bill, introduced in the Senate January 27, would require the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to adopt a new water supply forecasting model and procedures that better address the effects of climate change by January 1, 2027.
Sen. Hurtado claims the outdated forecast data DWR currently relies on results in artificial shortages, increased costs, and significant impacts on families and farmers.
“Who benefits from outdated water policies that create artificial shortages? Not Californians. Just look at the 1000% increase the city of Coalinga had to pay,” Sen. Hurtado said. “SB 224 fights for transparency and against greed-driven mismanagement.”
In 2023 a California State Auditor report revealed critical failures in DWR’s reliance on outdated predictive models, inaccurate data collection, and insufficient transparency, which have fueled preventable shortages and inflated costs for Californians.
The bill also requires DWR to report to the Legislature the rationale for the department’s operating procedures specific to the previous water year increasing transparency on how the state’s water is managed.
For more information view the full text of the bill online.
