Water Quantity and Quality

Water is a controversial issue throughout California and the Sierras are no exception. The foothill/mountain area we cover is encountering increasing challenges in dealing with water quantity and quality issues. As water from the Sierras is a precious resource for the entire state, how these complex issues are dealt with has a great impact throughout California.

“California and water. The two always have been and always will be inextricably linked. No resource is more vital to the state's prosperity or steeped in more controversy…Proper management of the

quality and quantity of the state's "liquid gold" is critical to California's well-being…Yet the critical question of how -- or if -- the state's limited water supply can be stretched to meet future needs remains.”

from A Briefing on California Water Issues

Here are some resources from around the Web on Water Issues in California as well as Educational Materials for adults and children:

California Water Issues

A Briefing on California Water Issues (PDF file)
by The Water Education Foundation provides a short overview of the current key issues in California water.

“The mission of the Foundation is to provide impartial coverage of water issues to lead to a broader understanding and resolution of water problems.” In this briefing, they attempt to present the views of the three main interest groups -- agricultural, urban and environmental -- who have a stake in management of our water resources.

Troubled Water of the Sierra (PDF File)
This report, authored by Kerri Timmer for the Sierra Nevada Alliance, challenges California and Nevada to respond quickly and substantively to threats to future water supply from Sierra climate change and growth in the region.

The Water Fact Book: California Agriculture and Its Use of Water (PDF File )

“The California Farm Water Coalition offers this book as the guide to agricultural water use in the state. It provides a factual basis for agriculture's views on water use by combining the most current statistics available with information on industry programs and practices.”

California Water: How It's Used (PDF)
A brief fact sheet on water use in the state.

Water Education Materials

Water Smarts: A Homeowner's Guide to Mountain Ground Water

The booklet, produced in Jefferson County, Colorado focuses on groundwater issues in the fractured bedrock environment typical of the Sierra Nevada. Topics include ground water hydrology, water quality, wells, septic systems, water rights, and lifestyle impacts. Though the focus is on Colorado, the information is very relevant to the Sierras.

Wild on Watersheds
“Everyone lives in a watershed and everyone in your watershed is part of the watershed community.”

This site, sponsored by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, provides information on maintaining a healthy watershed.

Water Environment Federation Fact Sheets
Information on household hazardous wastes, watersheds, nonpoint source pollution, and other key water quality issues.

Resources for Educating Children

State Water Resources Control Board's Education and Public Outreach page
The Board has collected and reviewed curriculum materials that focus on watershed stewardship and monitoring, and have made an annotated bibliography of those materials available on this site.

Classroom Connection
A resource for elementary/secondary students and teachers from the Water Environment Foundation

Water Facts and Fun
from the Department of Water Resources

EPA's Drinking Water for Kids

EPA's Educational Resources