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California's Droughts, a Case Study

Parker Garrett

ENT300-02_FA23: Crit Thkg & Comm in ENSTU

Prof. Seth Gustafson

December 12th, 2023

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California's Droughts, a Case Study

Introduction/Background

Drought is defined as a period of time when an area experiences drier than normal

conditions. This includes but is not limited to, low rainfall, shortages of water (Drinking and

natural water spaces), increased wildfires (which California also has a history of), and

record-high temperatures. California is no stranger to drought and the numerous problems it

brings along with it. Over the years, California has experienced an increased level of droughts

due to climate change. Three of the most notable droughts have happened in the last hundred

years, 1928 marks the first major drought on record in California which became the basis for

early reservoir planning. In 1987 there was a drought that lasted until 1992, this drought occurred

when most reservoirs had already been constructed in California but even then a drought water

bank was started in 1991 to combat the lack of water in the state. The most recent of the three

occurred from 2012-2016 and was the most well documented, showcasing the detrimental effects

drought has on agriculture, the public, and the environment (USGS California Water Science

Center). These documented effects are important to look at when considering stakeholders and

policies pertaining to the matter. California is an agricultural state that uses mass amounts of

water, during times of drought and during drought recovery, the multibillion-dollar revenue

stream starts to trickle down. California water is also sought after by others, specifically

mountain spring water by bottled water companies. While California suffers the effects of

drought these bottle companies are drawing from mountain springs and municipal water stores,

affecting not only the people who need that water in the state but the surrounding environment as

well. The environmental impact from droughts can and has devastated ecosystems, threatening
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California's well-renowned diverse landscapes due to the drought as well as the consequential

draining of water from the area as humans try to combat the drought. The general public is also

heavily affected by drought, perhaps not at such a great financial cost as the entire agricultural

industry but lack of clean drinking water, increased price of water, and increased wildfires

destroying homes and businesses is just as important to look at. California, after having gone

through this numerous times before, has put several policies into place in order to protect itself

from drought. With a heavy reliance on groundwater after topside resources have been depleted

it’s important to look at policies regarding water costs/availability, water cleanliness for the

environment as well as residents, and transparency regarding water usage/distribution by the

state. This case study will go over several stakeholders affected and policies put into place in

order to highlight what California has done to protect itself from droughts over the years.

Stakeholders

General public

The first stakeholder to look at, and perhaps one of the most complex issues considering

millions of different perspectives and needs, is the general public in California. During drought

and for a time after when looking at recovery the general public experiences a lack of clean

drinking water, increased price of water, and increased wildfires destroying homes and

businesses. According to Stanford, “Access to safe, affordable water is a necessity for human

health and well-being. But when droughts strike areas that are already water-stressed, water

providers are forced to enact measures to curtail water usage or invest in supplies from more

expensive sources, which can increase costs for consumers.”(Stanford University, 2023). This

brings up the problem of money, lower income households and communities are affected more so
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compared to higher-income and better-equipped communities. Wells that small communities rely

on are or already have dried up due to increased use brought on by the droughts while increased

water prices also drive them to find other means. The stakes are high for the general public,

water, money, and health are on the line. The government does take matters seriously and

implements water usage restrictions, though the public can do little other than try to use less

water. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “But many

Californians—68%—don’t feel that government is doing enough to combat the

drought.”(Stanford University, 2023). Much of what the public can do is water management

within their households so it's truly up to the government to handle the larger matters of

state-wide water conservation which will be looked at in the policy section of this study.

Farmers/Agriculture

California's agricultural sector is one of the nation's largest, a multibillion-dollar industry,

which means large amounts of water are needed to maintain production and it's within the state’s

economic interests to keep up with demand. The amount of water needed is difficult to obtain

with constant severe droughts like the ones in the past century and farmers are put on strict

regulations. Surface water shortages due to the drought drive farmers to rely on groundwater

wells but with that heavy reliance on groundwater, wells are drying up faster than ever. When

looking to the Public Policy Institute of California, “However, California farms rely heavily on

irrigation, and water availability is an enduring concern despite ongoing improvements in

irrigation efficiency. Climatic and regulatory constraints have limited surface water in recent

decades. Chronic overpumping of groundwater has dried up wells and damaged infrastructure,

prompting the enactment of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in

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2014.”(Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture, 2022). The depletion of main water

sources for the industry causes a domino effect, heavily pertaining to money. The industry makes

billions of dollars and naturally, that money declines when drought increases. Less water means

more money spent on obtaining water, less water for crops means fewer crops able to be grown,

and that money loss means less for workers which leads to job losses. An example of this is the

Russian River Basin’s money loss due to drought in 2021, “Across impacted regions, crop

revenue losses and increased pumping costs were estimated at $1.1 billion, with roughly 8,700

full- and part-time jobs lost.” (Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture, 2022). This

main form of income taking a hit amid a drought also means less money for drought relief

throughout the state.

Ecosystems

The effect of drought on ecosystems in California may be the most drastic as it has

nothing to do with money and everything to do with survival. Ecosystems are heavily affected by

droughts, and lack of water harms both plants and animals in any given area within California.

The California Water Science Center states that “During times of drought, vegetation is visibly

dry, stream and river flows decline, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall, and the depth of

water in wells increases. As drought persists, longer-term impacts can emerge, such as land

subsidence, seawater intrusion, and damage to ecosystems.”(California Water Science Center).

Wildfires due to the drought also destroy entire forests while lack of water makes putting them

out harder than ever. In the event of a serious drought, the troubles humans face are typically

addressed before thinking of the effects it can have on ecosystems, “Water allocations for river,

wetland, wildlife, and fish restoration projects can be reduced or stopped altogether during
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severe drought.”(California Water Science Center). The long-term effects of multiple droughts

over the years have started to weaken the environment's recovery. Five years of drought with a

two-year recovery going straight into another drought with humans trying to survive off of the

same resources the ecosystems are struggling to maintain is bound to have consequences.

California Department of Water Resources

Drought in California cannot be discussed without discussing the Department of Water

Resources. The Department of Water Resources has taken detailed documentation of droughts

throughout California’s history and has been dealing with them since its creation in 1956, though

the creation of the department was due to extreme flooding in northern California at the time.

(California Department of Water Resources) The DWR has been criticized for lack of

preparedness in cases of drought, in May of 2023 the State Auditor determined that the DWR has

overestimated the states water supply during droughts and does not account for climate change

when looking at their forecasts. The report states, “Large numbers of California’s residents and

much of its agriculture depend on DWR’s effective management of the State Water Project.

Although researchers project that climate change will significantly challenge the project’s

operations, DWR has not developed a comprehensive, long-term plan for the State Water Project

that meets best practices for proactively mitigating or responding to drought—particularly more

frequent or more severe future droughts.” (Report 2022-106 Department of Water Resources).

Though there have been massive advancements during the 19th century, the DWR is currently

lacking in its abilities to keep up with climate change and its more severe droughts. This can be

seen as droughts have gotten worse over the years and the demand for water increases with the

increased agricultural sectors as well as an increasing population.

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Bottled water companies

Another stakeholder to look at is bottled water companies that seek to profit off of California

mountain springs. With California already suffering through drought, having the limited water

available taken to be sold elsewhere is detrimental to the available water in the state. This

exploitation of water can be best seen in the “Nestle” (North America) case starting in 2015.

Multiple water rights complaints were filed against the water bottle company and the State Water

Resources Control Board conducted a water rights complaint investigation. The SWRCB was

notified of the complaints which included “-diversion of water without a valid basis of right,

unreasonable use of water, injury to public trust resources, and incorrect or missing reporting, all

regarding Nestlé’s diversion of water from springs at the headwaters of Strawberry Creek in the

San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) for bottling under the Arrowhead label. Many of the

complainants emphasized their concerns about the impacts of Nestlé’s diversions during

California’s recent historic drought.”(California State Water Quality Control Board. Nestlé).

Public comments were taken from 2017-2018 and in April of 2021 Nestle was presented with a

cease and desist order preventing them from further damaging the creek/surrounding area.

Further monitoring of California's water being used in bottled water, especially during droughts

when the state has a limited supply, can be found in the mandatory “Bottled Water Report”

created by the Department of Public Health. This is open for public viewing and must contain

where the water was sourced, plainly worded definitions and guidance on specific terms,

description of the treatment process, FDA recall information, contact information (Of the

company), and information regarding levels of unregulated substances (California Department of

Public Health).
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Policy

Human Right to Water (Assembly Bill 685)

The first and foremost policy to look at when talking about California droughts and the

lack of available water is the act that made California the first state to recognize water as a

human right (UC Berkeley, School of Law). That act is the “Human Right to Water (Assembly

Bill 685)”. This policy was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on September 25 2012

and states, “It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being

has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption,

cooking, and sanitary purposes.” (Kristin). This policy protects the public and forces all relevant

state agencies to consider this policy when looking to alter anything that may infringe on what it

states. This was a big step for California, considering its history of droughts and lack of water, it

is pertinent to the survival of everyone in the state that water be considered a human right. This

act allows all citizens access to a sufficient amount of clean and affordable water, which is vital

during droughts when water is so difficult to manage.

Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water

Another policy to consider when looking at California’s drought problem is one that deals

with water conservation and reuse. The “Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water”

was adopted on December 11, 2018, and became Effective on April 8, 2019. This policy was put

into place not only to protect citizens but also the environment. It states, “The purpose of the

Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water (Recycled Water Policy, hereafter Policy) is

to encourage the safe use of recycled water from wastewater sources that meet the definition in

California Water Code (Water Code) section 13050(n), in a manner that implements state and
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federal water quality laws and protects public health and the environment.”(Board, Human Right

to Water). The benefit of using recycled water is the fact that it’s recycled and does not pull more

water from vital sources already straining under the weight of the state’s demand but there is also

the possibility of recycled water not being filtered properly and still being used. Fortunately, this

policy not only promotes the use of recycled water but also provides strict guidelines that must

be followed when using said recycled water.

Open and Transparent Data Act (AB No. 1755)

The final policy this paper will look at is just as important as the previous two, if not

more so considering it is partly the reason data and information about water policy in California

is available. The “Open and Transparent Data Act (AB No. 1755)” was implemented on

September 23, 2016, notably during one of the biggest droughts California has ever seen. The

2016 drought is notable because it was the direct influence for this act, “The recent drought

reveals that California needs to integrate existing water and ecological data into an authoritative

open-access platform to help water managers operate California’s water system more effectively

and help water users make informed decisions based on water availability and allocation.”

(AB-1755 the Open and Transparent Water Data Act). The act itself requires the Department of

water resources and other such organizations to, “create, operate, and maintain a statewide

integrated water data platform that, among other things, would integrate existing water and

ecological data information from multiple databases and provide data on completed water

transfers and exchanges.” (AB-1755 the Open and Transparent Water Data Act). This makes it so

that there is transparency on water usage, pricing, and distribution within the state as well as

making it so that there is a collection of water data from multiple sources. This allows
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organizations, businesses, and citizens alike access to water data and information on what the

state is doing with the water that is in such high demand during droughts. Transparency is

especially important when it comes to state and government organizations in the eyes of citizens

so this act was very welcome.

Conclusion

California's drought affects everyone and everything in the state, measures are taken to

lessen the blow to humans and the environment but harsh effects are still felt throughout. Money

is a very large factor when it comes to talking about drought and the public can do little but

manage water to the best of their abilities while the government works to alleviate the weight of

water shortages. The ecosystems in California also take massive reoccurring hits during droughts

brought on by the drought itself and humans trying to survive the drought. In making water a

human right California has put the people first and showed that water is vital for survival. Then,

in making water conservation plans, Califonia promotes recycling water while also making sure

it is safe to use for people and the environment. Lastly, by making water data publicly available,

California has shown its organizations and people that it is open and honest with where the water

that everyone needs is going/how it’s being put to use. With the multitude of policies, it can be

said that California has dealt with drought for years and knows how to take care of its people

during times when water is scarce but more needs to be done sooner, especially by the

Department of Water Resources. A look into water management, allocation, and conservation

will be needed to further California's resistance to droughts.

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References

Board, California State Water Resources Control. Water Quality Control Policy for Recycled

Water | California State Water Resources Control Board. Retrieved October 17, 2023

from, www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/recycled_water/policy.html.

Kristin. “Human Right to Water (Assembly Bill 685).” River Network, 25 Sept. 2012. Retrieved

October 15, 2023 from,

www.rivernetwork.org/policy/human-right-to-water-water-code-section-106-3-assembly-

bill-685.

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. “The Human Right to Water Bill in California:

An Implementation Framework for State Agencies.” International Human Rights Law

Clinic, May 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2023 from,

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/Water_Report_2013_Interactive_FINAL(1).pdf

Kristin. “The Open and Transparent Data Act (AB No. 1755).” River Network, 23 Sept. 2016.

Retrieved October 18, 2023 from,

www.rivernetwork.org/policy/the-open-and-transparent-data-act-ab-no-1755-2.

“Policy Priorities for Managing Drought.” Public Policy Institute of California, Aug. 2021.

Retrieved October 18, 2023 from,

www.ppic.org/publication/policy-priorities-for-managing-drought.
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Bill Text - AB-1755 the Open and Transparent Water Data Act. Retrieved October 19, 2023

from, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1755

California Natural Resources Agency. (2021). Report to the Legislature on the 2012–2016

Drought. As Required by Chapter 340 of 2016 I, page 7. Retrieved October 1, 2023 from,

https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Water-Basics/Drought/Files/Publi

cations-And-Reports/CNRA-Drought-Report-final-March-2021.pdf

Policy Brief: Drought and California’s Agriculture. (2022). Public Policy Institute of California.

Retrieved September 29, 2023 from,

https://www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-drought-and-californias-agriculture/

Stanford University. (2023, January 18). Droughts increase costs for low-income households |

Stanford News. Stanford News. Retrieved September 27, 2023 from,

https://news.stanford.edu/2023/01/19/droughts-increase-costs-low-income-households/#:

~:text=Access%20to%20safe%2C%20affordable%20water,can%20increase%20costs%2

0for%20consumers

California Water Science Center. (n.d.). Drought defined | USGS California Water Science

Center. Retrieved October 1, 2023 from,

https://ca.water.usgs.gov/california-drought/what-is-drought.html#:~:text=During%20ti

mes%20of%20drought%2C%20vegetation,intrusion%2C%20and%20damage%20to%20

ecosystems
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Zeighami, A., Kern, J., Yates, A. J., Weber, P., & Bruno, A. (2023). U.S. West Coast droughts and

heat waves exacerbate pollution inequality and can evade emission control policies.

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37080-0

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www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2022-106/index.html.

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San Bernardino National Forest | California State Water Quality Control Board.

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www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/enforcement/complaints/ne

stle.html.

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https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/CDPH%20Document%20Library/FDB/FoodS

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