From the Department of Water Resources:
As climate extremes become the new normal, DWR is using science, investments, and partnerships to strengthen readiness and protect Californians. Collaborating for Climate Resilience: The Power of Science and Partnerships is DWR’s contribution to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment. The report highlights how DWR advances science-driven decision-making through four focus areas: create a culture of climate expertise, build community capacity, pursue innovative infrastructure solutions, and respond to public safety emergencies.
Together, these efforts improve the way water is managed throughout the state.
Create a Culture of Climate Expertise
Having a climate-literate workforce is essential as DWR tackles California’s growing climate challenges. By investing in employee development, advancing new technology, and collaborating with outside water management experts, DWR strengthens its ability to meet California’s climate goals. Staff across the department, including engineers, modelers, scientists, Tribal specialists, and others, apply climate knowledge to critical issues including flood management, groundwater sustainability, ecosystem resilience, regional assistance, and water supply.
Build Community Capacity
Building climate resilience also means giving local communities the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to make informed decisions about their water future. DWR provides scientific, financial, and technical assistance to support local water management efforts, while working to reduce barriers to participation and ensure community perspectives help shape solutions. Education is another part of this important work. For more than 10 years, DWR has partnered with the Water Education Foundation to train nearly 1,000 teachers to bring climate science into their classrooms, reaching more than 250,000 students. These efforts help communities better understand climate risks and prepare the next generation to address California’s water challenges.
Pursue Innovative Infrastructure Solutions
Infrastructure is more than traditional engineered systems, like reservoirs and levees. It also includes data, natural infrastructure, and social networks that support water management. As warmer temperatures reduce snowpack and shift more precipitation from snow to rain, nature-based solutions like meadow restoration and groundwater recharge help boost climate resilience by enhancing water supply, reducing flood risk. Other nature-based solutions can help communities adapt to the impacts of sea level rise. Recognizing that data is the backbone of science, DWR works with its partners to collect and share data that tracks trends and informs decision-making to manage water infrastructure.
Respond to Public Safety Emergencies
Climate change has intensified floods, droughts, wildfires, and other emergencies that threaten California’s communities and infrastructure. DWR is strengthening its ability to anticipate and respond to these events through investments in monitoring, forecasting, and emergency response capabilities. Working alongside local, state, and federal partners, the department uses scientific information and technical expertise to support emergency planning, improve situational awareness, and help protect lives and property when disasters occur. These efforts are helping California become better prepared to respond to extreme events while reducing risks to communities.
Integrating and Transforming California Water Management
The report underscores a central theme: Preparing for climate change requires more than individual projects or programs. DWR’s investments in science advancements, community partnerships, and collaboration across sectors are strengthening California’s climate readiness and capacity to adapt to challenges and changes.
DWR prepared its report as part of California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, a collection of nearly 70 reports and research products. The Assessment helps fill informational gaps to help guide meaningful climate adaptation and support on-the-ground action. DWR is proud to have contributed to every Climate Assessment since the first was released in 2006. The full Assessment can be viewed at climateassessment.ca.gov.
