DWR Publications

All About Water 1991 (PDF, 19.61 MB)

Description: An AIMS style teacher's guide containing 26 hands-on lessons integrating science, math, language arts, geography, art, music drama and health. The major themes addressed are Systems and Interaction, Energy, Stability and Scale and Structure. Water topics include where water comes from, water cycle, ground water, water pollution and conservation. A storyline can be used to connect the lessons using puppets and scenery.

Boundaries of Public Water Agencies, San Joaquin Valley 2008 2008 (PDF, 7.78 MB)

Description: The Department of Water Resources provides a detailed map of public water agencies and their boundaries within the San Joaquin Valley.

California Drought: An Update 2008 04/01/2008 (PDF, 28.50 MB)

Description: The purpose of this report is to update an earlier Department report on drought published on 2000, with special emphasis on advances in drought-related research. To this end, the report features contributed articles from climate scientists whose research covers a wide range of drought and climate change or variability topics. The report also provides updates on hydrologic conditions and selected resource management subjects since publication of the Departments 2000 report.

California Strategic Growth Plan: Flood Control, Water Supply & Conveyance 2007 2007 (PDF, 573 KB)

Description: Last year, the Governor and Legislature initiated the first phase of a comprehensive Strategic Growth Plan (SGP) to address California’s critical infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. In November 2006, the voters approved the first installment of that 20-year vision to rebuild California. The infrastructure package included water and flood measures in Propositions 1E and 84. These measures provided $4.9 billion for flood management and approximately $1 billion for integrated regional water management including wastewater recycling, groundwater storage,conservation, and other water management actions. In January 2007, the Administration proposed an additional $5.95 billion to augment the existing funding for the SGP through 2016. These new investments in water management will address population growth, climate change and ...

California Water Facts Card 02/01/2004 (PDF, 271 KB)

Description: This wallet size card provides conversion factors for water on one side and California water facts on the other side. The water facts information includes a variety of annual totals, such as the highest and lowest annual runoff.

Central Basin Judgment 1991 (PDF, 3.89 MB)

Description: Central and West Basin Water Replenishment District, etc., vs. Charles E. Adams, et al. case no. 786,656 Second Amended Judgment, May 6, 1991

Coastal Branch 07/01/1998

Description: The Coastal Branch is the largest water development project undertaken by the Department in the past decade. The publication discusses how the system of underground pipelines, tunnels, and pumping plants serves water users in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

This publication is not available electronically. To inquire further, please contact:
Publications Clerk at (916) 653-1097 or imr-publications@water.ca.gov.

DWR News Fall 1996 09/01/1996 (PDF, 4.10 MB)

Description: Articles: After Forty Years From Controversy to Cooperation Home Stretch for the Coastal Mission Impossible Different Times Picotrial - At the End of the Line

DWR News People Fall 2005 09/01/2005 (PDF, 4.76 MB)

Description: DWR NEWS/People magazine was created with the Winter 2004 edition, and is a combination of DWR NEWS magazine and DWR People newsletter. This quarterly magazine contains information about DWR activities and employees.

DWR News People Spring 2004 03/01/2004 (PDF, 3.59 MB)

Description: DWR NEWS/People magazine was created with the Winter 2004 edition, and is a combination of DWR NEWS magazine and DWR People newsletter. This quarterly magazine contains information about DWR activities and employees.

DWR News Spring 1995 03/01/1995 (PDF, 4.29 MB)

Description: DWR News magazine was a quarterly magazine containing information about DWR activities. In Winter 2004, it was combined with the DWR People newsletter to create the DWR NEWS/People magazine.

DWR News Spring 1998 03/01/1998

Description: DWR News magazine was a quarterly magazine containing information about DWR activities. In Winter 2004, it was combined with the DWR People newsletter to create the DWR NEWS/People magazine.

DWR Publications (Bulletin 170-98) 2000 (PDF, 2.85 MB)

Description: Bulletin 170 is an annual online guide to the Department of Water Resources’ publications. Every year, the Department issues technical bulletins, reports, and other publications documenting the measurement, protection, use, and management of California’s water resources. Bulletin 170-98 includes summaries of all bulletins, district/division reports, newsletters, and brochures issued during 1998.

Flood Warnings: Responding to California's Flood Crisis 2005 (PDF, 1.47 MB)

Description: While flooding has always been an unfortunate fact of life in many parts of California, the need for adequate flood management is more critical now than ever before. California’s Central Valley flood control system is deteriorating and, in some places, literally washing away. Furthermore, the Central Valley’s growing population is pushing new housing developments and job centers into areas that are particularly vulnerable to flooding. Yet, in recent years, funding to maintain and upgrade the flood protection infrastructure has sharply declined. Compounding these challenges is a recent court ruling, Paterno v. State of California that held the state liable for flood-related damages caused by a levee failure. Together, these factors have created a ticking time-bomb for flood management in California.

Hetch Hetchy Restoration Study 2006

Description: The restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley on the upper Tuolumne River has once again captured the public's imagination. In order to provide for an informed dialogue about this issue, the Resources Agency has objectively evaluated the many Hetch Hetchy Valley restoration studies produced during the past two decades. In so doing, the state also recognized the great value and benefit of providing a central clearinghouse of all Hetch Hetchy restoration work. Moreover, in conducting the study, the state provided a neutral, public forum to discuss issues related to Hetch Hetchy restoration, such as water supply and water quality, flood management, cultural resources, environmental impacts, energy generation, and recreation.

Hetch Hetchy Restoration Study Report (PDF, 12.30 MB)
Hetch Hetchy Restoration Study Appendices (PDF, 2.48 MB)

IEP - 1995.0728 Science Advisory Group Long Term Monitoring Review July 28, 1995 07/28/1995 (PDF, 24 KB)

Description: The Science Advisory Group is unanimous in its support for the long term monitoring components of the IEP. Monitoring activities, beginning in the 1960's have produced an invaluable set of observations to document changes in water quality, habitats, and populations of valued species. Although many complex problems remain unresolved, the Bay-Delta ecosystem is one of the best understood and most comprehensively studied estuarine ecosystems in the U.S. as a result of IEP. IEP data are the basis for the public's growing concern for the health of the Bay-Delta and its living resources; it has been critical in detecting the arrival of exotic species and in understanding their ecosystem-level effects; and it is the basis for environmental standards to protect this unique ecosystem.The IEP has made clear efforts in recent years to adapt.

IEP - 2002.0522 Science Advisory Group May 22, 2002 Review of Environmental Monitoring Program 05/22/2002 (PDF, 204 KB)

Description: A core element of the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) is the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), mandated by the State Water Resources Control Board to document the changing status of water quality and biological communities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and downstream embayments of San Francisco Bay. Sustained, uninterrupted operation of the EMP for over 30 years is a remarkable achievement that in many ways serves as a model of successful state-federal partnership in environmental monitoring, providing one of the longest and most valuable records of combined water quality-biological monitoring in the U.S. Members of the IEP Science Advisory Group (SAG), including outside specialists recruited for the EMP technical review, unanimously endorsed the Environmental Monitoring Program.

IEP - 2003.0807 EMP Response to 2002 IEP SAG Review 08/07/2003 (PDF, 1.53 MB)

Description: The IEP Science Advisory Group (SAG) provided an independent scientific review of the IEP Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) as part of this program’s 2001-2002 comprehensive programmatic review. Here, the EMP review core team (including Wim Kimmerer) provides a written response to the SAG review dated May 22, 2002. The core team is particularly thankful for SAG comments regarding the basis for the EMP. These comments led to an intense and productive exploration of program aims and the conceptual basis for the EMP sampling design, yielding a much improved basis for the program and sampling design. As its “primary recommendation,” the SAG called for the EMP to focus on rapidly turning data into useful products by increasing the program’s "human intellectual investment" and working with outside researchers.

IEP - 2004.1201 Long-term Fish Monitoring Program Element Review 12/01/2004 (PDF, 2.79 MB)

Description: In spring 2004, we initiated a review of the Interagency Ecological Program fish monitoring program elements on behalf of the IEP Management Team. These elements constitute a substantial portion of IEP’s overall monitoring efforts. They represent some of IEP’s longest standing monitoring elements (also referred to as surveys) collecting data used for decades by scientists and resource managers throughout the San Francisco Estuary. As requested, this is a programmatic review to assemble relevant information that can help in the ongoing management and implementation of IEP. In addition, IEP management expects to use this information in decisions about performing more in-depth reviews of program elements and in setting overall program priorities and resource commitments.

IEP - 2006.0505 Delta Smelt Review-Science Advisory Group Report 05/05/2006 (PDF, 78 KB)

Description: On April 13/14, the IEP Science Advisory Group (SAG) met with IEP staff to review the current IEP effort monitoring and studying delta smelt. The purpose of this meeting was to examine current sampling programs and strategies with regard to their utility and value towards understanding what factors influence the health, i.e. the abundance, of delta smelt populations, and hence towards managing water project operations in the Delta that affect delta smelt. This report summarizes the key findings that the SAG believes deserve the most attention by IEP, including: 1. Delta smelt review epitomizes what IEP can and should accomplish.; 2. The power of collaboration; 3. Existing monitoring program needs to be continued with wome critical re-evaluation; 4. Use of data in management actions; 5. It's more of a POD than just a delta smelt issue.

IEP - 2006.0505.2 Science Advisory Group Report on the SAG's 2005-2006 Programmatic Review of IEP's Delta Smelt Program 05/05/2006 (PDF, NA)

Description: This document is comprised of two distinct but interrelated parts: (1) An independent review by the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) of the Interagency Ecological Program’s delta smelt work that includes the SAG’s recommendations for improving the work and; (2) The IEP’s draft response to the findings and recommendations contained in the SAG Report. The SAG Report appears in its unaltered original font and formatting and the IEP draft responses to each recommendation are shown in bold. Cited references appear at the end of this document. The purpose was to examine current sampling programs and strategies with regard to their utility and value towards understanding what factors influence the health, i.e. the abundance, of delta smelt populations, and hence towards managing water project operations in the Delta that affect Delta Smelt.

IEP - 2008.0404 Moving the Interagency Ecological Program Into the Future, CALFED ISB, April 4, 2008 04/04/2008 (PDF, NA)

Description: As part of its mandate to oversee the quality and use of Science in the Bay-Delta system, the CALFED Independent Science Board (ISB) has been conducting a broad review of the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP). The goal of this effort is to promote innovation in and modernization of the program as well as integration with efforts outside of the Delta. Most importantly, the ISB feels strongly that on-going planning efforts such as Delta Vision and the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan must begin incorporating monitoring and research in general, and the IEP specifically, into their strategic planning. We encourage you, as IEP Directors, to engage with Delta Vision, BDCP and the CALFED Science Program in this regard.

IEP - 2008.0717 Response to CALFED ISB report "Moving the IEP into the Future" 07/17/2008 (PDF, 1.53 MB)

Description: This is a response to a April 4, 2008 letter to the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) Directors regarding the CALFED Independent Science Board's (ISB) recommendations for the Future. Some of the ISB's recommendations are related to activities the IEP already performs, or that it could accomplish through its existing governance structure and funding sources. These include expanding data analysis and publications capabilities; increasing integration and collaboration with other monitoring and research programs within and outside the Delta; strategically analyzing current monitoring efforts, including protocols and locations; and increasing periodic, independent review of program elements and assessing the program's response to those review. Other ISB recommendations are beyond the current IEP scope and the BDCP may be able to help.

Lines of Equal Depth of Water in Wells Unconfined Aquifer San Joaquin Valley Spring 2010 04/01/2012 (PDF, 2.65 MB)

Description: Map of 10 ft. contour lines of equal depth of groundwater levels of selected wells in the San Joaquin Valley, CA for Spring 2010. Well measurements were collected from January to May 2010 by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and cooperating water agencies and entered in DWR's Water Data Library (www.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/). The resulting point data were plotted in ArcMap 9.3.1 and contoured using Spatial Analyst at 10 ft. contour intervals. DWR produces a groundwater elevation contour map for the San Joaquin Valley annually in the spring. Maps for previous years may be found on the DWR Groundwater Information web page (www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/). Historical groundwater level data for individual wells may be found on the Water Data Library web page.

Lines of Equal Elevation of Water in Wells Unconfined Aquifer San Joaquin Valley Spring 2008 10/31/2008 (PDF, 2.85 MB)

Description: Map of 10 ft. contour lines of equal elevation of groundwater levels of selected wells in the San Joaquin Valley, CA for Spring 2008. Well measurements were collected from January to May 2008 by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and cooperating water agencies and entered in DWR's Water Data Library (www.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/). The resulting point data were plotted in ArcMap 9.3.1 and contoured using Spatial Analyst at 10 ft. contour intervals. DWR produces a groundwater elevation contour map for the San Joaquin Valley annually in the spring. Maps for previous years may be found on the DWR Groundwater Information web page (www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/). Historical groundwater level data for individual wells may be found on the Water Data Library web page.

Lines of Equal Elevation of Water in Wells Unconfined Aquifer San Joaquin Valley Spring 2009 05/25/2011 (PDF, 2.66 MB)

Description: Description: Map of 10 ft. contour lines of equal elevation of groundwater levels of selected wells in the San Joaquin Valley, CA for Spring 2009. Well measurements were collected from January to May 2009 by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and cooperating water agencies and entered in DWR's Water Data Library (www.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/). The resulting point data were plotted in ArcMap 9.3.1 and contoured using Spatial Analyst at 10 ft. contour intervals. DWR produces a groundwater elevation contour map for the San Joaquin Valley annually in the spring. Maps for previous years may be found on the DWR Groundwater Information web page (www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/). Historical groundwater level data for individual wells may be found on the Water Data Library web page.

Lines of Equal Elevation of Water in Wells Unconfined Aquifer San Joaquin Valley Spring 2010 04/01/2012 (PDF, 2.63 MB)

Description: Map of 10 ft. contour lines of equal elevation of groundwater levels of selected wells in the San Joaquin Valley, CA for Spring 2010. Well measurements were collected from January to May 2010 by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and cooperating water agencies and entered in DWR's Water Data Library (www.water.ca.gov/waterdatalibrary/). The resulting point data were plotted in ArcMap 9.3.1 and contoured using Spatial Analyst at 10 ft. contour intervals. DWR produces a groundwater elevation contour map for the San Joaquin Valley annually in the spring. Maps for previous years may be found on the DWR Groundwater Information web page (www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/). Historical groundwater level data for individual wells may be found on the Water Data Library web page.

Middle School Water & Energy Curriculum 2004

Description: A curriculum analyzing water and energy use at home and at school.

Student Book (PDF, 1.03 MB)
Teacher Guide (PDF, 3.00 MB)

Problems of the Lower San Joaquin River Influencing the 1963 Salmon Run 01/15/1964 (PDF, 2.45 MB)

Description: Studies conducted by the Delta Fish and Wildlife Protection Study defined a problem relating to the upstream migration of adult salmon caused by flow reversal and pollution in the lower San Joaquin River area. Further studies are underway to solve this problem in the future. These studies indicated that during 1961 and 1962 flow reversal and pollution from cannery waste discharges did exist in the San Joaquin River during the September-October period when adult salmon are normally migrating. The salmon runs in all of the tributaries of the San Joaquin River were drastically reduced for each of these two years, decreasing from approximately 50,000 fish to under 3,000. Water development projects, which are perhaps the principal reasons for past declines, may well become the means for restoration of the salmon.

Review of the Bay Program by the Science Advisory Group 10/01/1999 (PDF, 49 KB)

Description: The SAG had several comments and recommendations for the IEP, with regard to the Bay Program: I. Fisheries and macroinvertegrate monitoring is extremely important and should be continued; II. Both people and funding resources have been diverted from the Bay program by competing demands for DFG expertise. This diversion of resources has been to the detriment of the program. A renewed commitment to the program is needed. III. The SAG identified 4 goals that have guided the program. These goals should be consulted frequently to make sure that the program is on focus. IV Data collection and enumeration of fishes has dominated the first 20 years of the program and this monitoring must continue, but the program must also evolve with increased resources for analysis and synthesis to explain the mechanisms behind the patterns observed.

SB 610/SB 221 Guidebook 10/08/2003

Description: Guidebook for Implementation of Senate Bill 610 and Senate Bill 221 of 2001 to assist water suppliers, cities, and counties in integrating water and land use planning. Prepared by the California Department of Water Resources

Director's Letter (PDF, 45 KB)
Guidebook (PDF, 961 KB)

SWP Delivery Reliability Report 2005 04/01/2006 (PDF, 6.29 MB)

Description: The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is issuing this report to update information presented in the first report of this series, The State Water Project Delivery Reliability Report 2002, which was finalized in 2003 after an extensive public review. A draft of the The State Water Project Delivery Reliability Report 2005 underwent a 30-day public review during November and December 2005.

SWP Delivery Reliability Report 2007 08/01/2008 (PDF, 3.77 MB)

Description: This report on water delivery reliability of the SWP represents the current state of water affairs and future delivery scenerios if no action is taken.

Summary of Disaster Preparedness & Flood Protection Bond Act of 2006: Proposition 1E 08/01/2006 (PDF, 364 KB)

Description: The Disaster Preparedness and Flood Protection Bond Act (Proposition 1E) makes new investments for flood protection and stormwater management programs.

Summary of Water Management Elements in the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality & Supply, Flood Control, River & Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 Proposition 84 08/01/2006 (PDF, NA)

Description: The California Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act (Proposition 84) makes new investments for flood protection and water management programs.

The California Aqueduct 03/01/1999

Description: The history, features, and operation of the California Aqueduct are described. The main stem of the California Aqueduct consists of 385 miles of concrete-lined open canal and 59 miles of tunnels, siphons, and pipelines. It transports up to 3 million acre feet of water each year to SWP urban and agricultural users. It also includes information about biking along the California Aqueduct.

This publication is not available electronically. To inquire further, please contact:
Publications Clerk at (916) 653-1097 or imr-publications@water.ca.gov.

Using Future Climate Projections to Support Water Resources Decision Making in California 05/30/2009 (PDF, 3.87 MB)

Description: This paper presents several advances in using future climate projection information in water resources planning, such as an improved understanding of how well selected climate models represent historical climate conditions and refined methodologies for representing streamflows, outdoor urban and agricultural water demands, and sea level rise in planning tools. Twelve climate projections were used to assess the future reliability of California’s main water supply projects.

Water Conservation News Fall-Winter 2004-05 12/01/2004 (PDF, 3.19 MB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. This free newsletter is now published semi-annually by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Conservation News Spring - Summer 2004 05/01/2004 (PDF, 1.30 MB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. Beginning with this issue, this free newsletter is published semi-annually by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Conservation News Spring - Summer 2006 05/01/2006 (PDF, 984 KB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. This free newsletter is now published semi-annually by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Conservation News Spring - Summer 2007 05/01/2007 (PDF, 1.10 MB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. This free newsletter is now published semi-annually by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Conservation News Summer 2005 05/01/2005 (PDF, 5.29 MB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. This free newsletter is now published semi-annually by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Conservation News Winter 2004 2004 (PDF, 316 KB)

Description: Water Conservation News provides information on water use efficiency developments. This free newsletter is published quarterly by the California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.

Water Quality Conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 1970 - 1993 12/31/1996 (PDF, 11.71 MB)

Description: The upper estuary has been characterized as a dynamic system, changing as it responds to the intricate interactions of physical, chemical, and biological forces. This was reflected by the lack of a consistent long-term trend for most variables between 1970 and 1993. Among the physical variables that did demonstrate a trend, total exports, Secchi disk depth, and wind velocity increased over the period of record. The increase in Secchi disk depth was accompanied by a decrease in suspended and volatile solids. Among the biological variables that demonstrated a trend, chlorophyll a concentrations decreased in the southern and Suisun Bay regions, and diatoms decreased throughout the upper estuary.

Water Quality Conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta During 1995 08/31/1999 (PDF, 3.41 MB)

Description: Water year 1995 was a wet year, ending an eight-year period of predominantly dry and critically dry years. After a relatively dry fall, January and March precipitation was heavy and produced flooding in the Central Valley. By May 1, precipitation was 165% of average, and reservoir storage was 110% of average. Water quality for all Delta regions was within the historical range of values throughout the 1995 calendar year. Salinity and nutrient concentrations were lower than levels measured during the dry water years preceding the wet 1995 water year. Salinity intrusion was minor in the Suisun and San Pablo bays from October through December 1995, when Delta outflow decreased. Finally, dissolved oxygen concentrations were stable throughout the year at relatively high concentrations.

Water Quality Conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta During 1996 07/31/2001 (PDF, 5.88 MB)

Description: Water year 1996 was classified as a wet year with an average stream flow similar or somewhat above that in 1993. As in many recent years, snow pack water content was below average and precipitation was high early in the spring. Dilution associated with the high stream flow produced low nutrient and specific conductance, and high dissolved oxygen concentrations compared with drier years - especially the recent drought years 1987-1992. However, the pattern of highest nutrient concentration in the winter among seasons and in the south delta among regions persisted. Water quality conditions in 1996 were also characterized by comparatively higher Secchi disk depth than in the early 1970's. Further, even though 1996 was a wet year, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the Stockton Ship Channel was below the USEPA and RWQCB standards.

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