Water Allocation
WATER ALLOCATION
5-10 minute reads
Are Markets an Easy Solution to California’s Groundwater Problems?
Trust in water markets must be earned
This blog post summarizes a report outlining critical consideration for whether local groundwater markets are an appropriate water management tool in a given basin.
This op-ed in a local Bakersfield publication presents an introduction to water markets in California. It argues that while water trading might play a valuable role in water allocation, it does not come without risks.
“With markets increasingly viewed as a preferred (or even the only) solution to water challenges, faith in market efficiency must be tempered with a firm grasp of the larger physical and institutional context for water.”
Unincorporated Drinking Water Districts Fact Sheet – Kings Sub-Basin
Unincorporated Drinking Water Districts Fact Sheet – Kaweah Sub-Basin
Roundtable on Protecting Drinking Water in Groundwater Markets
This factsheet has information about the Kings sub-basin in regards to size, numbers, vulnerability, quality, drought impacts, conservation, data, and reporting.
This factsheet has information about the Kaweah sub-basin in regards to size, numbers, vulnerability, quality, drought impacts, conservation, data, and reporting.
Summary of a Roundtable on Protecting Drinking Water in Groundwater Markets in Visalia.
10-30 minute reads
Trading Sustainably: Critical Considerations for Local Groundwater Markets Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
This executive summary from UC Berkeley lays out critical considerations for establishing water markets under SGMA, including groundwater pumping limits and allocations, trading rules, and monitoring systems. The full report can be found under the same name, below in the “greater than 1 hour reads” section.
1 hour reads
Saving Troubled Water Systems Requires Flexible Solutions, Not Mandates
California’s five-year drought highlighted the struggles faced by small water systems. Legal and policy solutions are in the works, but they must remain adaptable to meet the needs of small communities.
Greater than 1 hour reads
Trading Sustainably: Critical Considerations For Local Groundwater Markets Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
Addressing Institutional Vulnerabilities in California’s Drought Water Allocation
The report talks about the concept of local groundwater markets. It also provides legal, institutional, and physical context for local groundwater markets. The report presents tradeoffs of having a local groundwater market based on transfers of groundwater.
This research brief links to two reports. Part 1 covers how the State Water Resources Control Board responded to drought responses. Part 2 states different ways to improve water rights administration and oversight for future droughts.
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