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Urban Water Management Plan and Drought Contingency Plan
Western is embarking on a collaborative effort to develop a resilient, reliable and fiscally responsible Urban Water Management and Drought Contingency Plans that support our region’s long-term needs.
2020 Urban Water Management Plan
Urban Water Management Plans (UMWP) are intended to provide a guide to manage urban water demands efficiently and to provide long-term water resource planning to ensure adequate and reliable water supplies over a 20-year planning horizon considering normal, dry, and multiple dry years. The Water Code also specifies the contents and procedures for Western’s adoption of the UWMP. Western’s UWMP must be adopted and submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) before July 1, 2021.
2022 Drought Contingency Plan
The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has developed a Drought Response Program to improve its ability to assist states, tribes and local governments to prepare for and address drought in advance of a crisis. This Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing assistance to water managers to develop and update comprehensive drought plans.
Western received grant funds to develop a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) and has two years to complete this effort. Western’s DCP must be adopted and submitted to USBR prior to June 1, 2022 (pending confirmation).
Regional Drought Task Force
Western has invited regional community leaders representing diverse water needs and planning expertise to form an 18-month Drought Task Force (Task Force). The Task Force will inform the UWMP and DCP development by providing critical perspectives and advisement through the project duration.
View a list of Drought Task Force participants here.
Your voice is important. Get Involved.
Western is committed to reflecting the needs and values of our community in our water planning decisions. We encourage all Western customers to help inform the development of the Urban Water Management and Drought Contingency Plans.
Here’s how you can participate:
Subscribe for project updates
To receive periodic updates and reminders of upcoming opportunities to participate in plan development, subscribe to our project email list.
Review and comment on the plans
Once a draft of the complete Urban Water Management and Drought Contingency Plans have been developed, they will be made available for public review and comment for a minimum of 30 days. To be notified when the public comment period has opened, we encourage you to subscribe for project updates.
Drought Task Force Workshop Materials
Upon completion of each Drought Task Force workshop, a recording of the workshop and all workshop materials will be published.
Past Urban Water Management Plans
2015 Urban Water Management Plan
On June 1, 2016, Western’s Board of Directors adopted the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan.
This plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the California Urban Water Management Planning Act, Water Code section 10610 through 10656, and the Water Conservation Act of 2009, Water Code sections 10608 through 10608.64.
The plan provides significant information regarding Western's retail service area, specifically related to water demands and supplies, but also contains information on a regional basis related to demands and supplies within the 527-square mile service area. Western has used a specific method for determining its urban water use target pursuant to subdivision (b) of section 10608.20 of the Water Conservation Act of 2009.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Urban Water Management Plan and/or Drought Contingency Plan development or to request ADA accommodations for workshops or materials, please contact:
Melissa Matlock
Water Resources Specialist II
mmatlock@wmwd.com
Note: Any person with a disability or language translation request who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in meetings should direct requests to Western at least 48 hours prior to any public meeting.