Future Water Needs for Wetlands

The California Water Plan Update, Bulletin 160-93, (Department of Water Resources) includes the estimated future water needs for existing wetlands, wetlands that have been recently acquired, and the water supply increases required by the CVP Improvement Act of 1992. A corresponding rise in wetland water use is likely to follow implementation of State and federal policies to increase wetland acreage. Most newly acquired wetlands will include the water rights associated with the property; in these situations there consequently would be a transfer of water from one use, most likely agricultural, to wetlands. Increases in wetland acreage are based on available acquisition and restoration funding as well as private incentive programs.

One goal established for the Central Valley by the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture is to restore 120,000 acres of former wetlands. Another goal stated by the Resources Agency is an increase of 30 to 50 percent by 2010. This could be an increase of approximately 225,000 acres statewide. Enhancing existing wetlands could also result in an increase in water needs for wetlands. The CVHJV goal for the Central Valley is to enhance 291,555 acres of existing wetlands.

Although the exact acreage that will be either acquired or enhanced is unknown, water needs for wetlands will increase as California begins to restore and protect the State's historic wetlands.

Back to California Wetlands

Back to California Natural Resources

Back to the California Homepage

Web author: deanne@ceres.ca.gov