Maidu Dancers and Traditionalists perform during Native American Day on the south steps of the California State Capitol. DWR/2017
California Native American tribal governments and tribal communities have sovereign authority over their members and territory and a unique relationship with California’s resources. California tribes and tribal communities, whether federally recognized or not, have distinct cultural, spiritual, environmental, economic, and public health interests and valuable traditional cultural knowledge about California resources.
DWR is committed to open, inclusive, and regular communication with tribal governments and communities to recognize and understand their needs and interests. We ensure effective communication and government-to-government consultation, creating a channel for tribal governments to provide input at all levels into the development of regulations, rules, policies, programs, projects, plans, property decisions, and activities that may impact tribal communities.
The inclusion of tribes and tribal communities throughout the decision-making process promotes positive, achievable, and durable outcomes. We work with tribal governments and communities to identify areas of mutual concern, develop partnerships, and consensus in water management. We’ve created numerous forums to ensure tribal perspectives on land, water, and cultures are considered.
DWR's Office of the Tribal Policy Advisor is the central point of coordinated communication and consultation with California Native American tribes to ensure proactive and meaningful consultation. This includes dedicated communication and outreach such as meetings, workshops, and advisory committees. We strive to continue effective collaboration and informed decision-making where all parties share a goal of reaching a decision together with common values such as:
Note: You may request documents listed below but not currently on this page by contacting us at tribalpolicyadvisor@water.ca.gov.
Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) is a collaborative effort to identify and implement water management solutions on a regional scale that increase regional self-reliance, reduce conflict, and manage water to concurrently achieve social, environmental, and economic objectives
IRWM Funding Area Information
Supplemental Materials
The historic passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014 set forth a statewide framework to help protect groundwater resources over the long-term. Many California groundwater basins include overlying Tribal lands; for this reason, DWR has strongly encouraged Tribal engagement early and throughout the groundwater sustainability agency formation and groundwater sustainability plan development and implementation processes. DWR is committed to a robust, collaborative and transparent Tribal engagement process that provides for meaningful government-to-government consultation, information sharing, and opportunities for input.
DWR promotes engagement with Tribes by providing outreach and engagement guidance to local agencies implementing SGMA and holds SGMA Tribal Advisory meetings to collaborate with Tribes. DWR also engages with Tribes who have Tribal trust lands in medium- and high-priority groundwater basins with an invitation to elect to join the airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey project in California’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins, where data collection is feasible, to assist local water managers as they implement SGMA to manage groundwater for long term sustainability.
The documents listed below were created by DWR's Groundwater Tribal Advisory Group to provide general guidance to water agencies regarding how and when to engage with Tribal governments.
Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) covers lands within the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley watersheds. This large geographical area includes the ancestral territories of numerous California Native American Tribes. We are committed to a robust, collaborative and transparent Tribal engagement process that provides for meaningful government-to-government consultation, information sharing, and opportunities for input. The CVFPP planning process aims to incorporate the interests, needs, and concerns of Tribes culturally and traditionally affiliated with the CVFPP planning area.
Delta Conveyance Tribal Engagement
Tribal engagement is an important component of every major project led by the State of California, providing an opportunity for government-to-government consultation, and collaboration and coordination between Tribal leaders and project proponents. Guided by the Governor’s Executive Order B-10-11, the Department of Water Resources Tribal Engagement Policy, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and state policies regarding consultation with California Native American Tribes, the Delta conveyance planning process includes significant Tribal engagement. This includes engagement with California Native American Tribes on Tribal Cultural Resources in accordance with the requirements of CEQA (Sections 21080.3.1, 21080.3.2, 21082.3 of the California Public Resources Code), commonly referred to as Assembly Bill 52 requirements.
The Tribal Water Summit brings together Tribal, State, and Federal leaders to discuss water issues and strategies for preserving Native water rights and providing for the sustainable management of California's sacred waters. The next Tribal Water Summit will take place on April 11-13, 2023 in Sacramento.
You may request maps listed below but not currently on this page by contacting us at tribalpolicyadvisor@water.ca.gov.
DWR, Tribal representatives from across the state and southwest, along with federal, state, and local agencies will gather in Sacramento on April 11–13 to discuss California water issues and strategies towards watershed resilience at the fourth Tribal Water Summit.
Within the State of California, Tribes and underrepresented communities face many challenges accessing clean, affordable water supplies such as groundwater – especially during droughts. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is offering technical assistance services to Tribal and underrepresented communities to help address these challenges and su ...