California Water Resilience Initiative

THE CALIFORNIA WATER CHALLENGE

There is an urgent need – and opportunity – for the private and public sectors to work together to reduce, reuse, and replenish water across California to ensure that the state’s communities, economies, and ecosystems are water-resilient in the face of climate change.
California faces a critical challenge - a growing disparity between water availability and demand.

• California is the most economically productive state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth-largest economy.
• The state is experiencing worsening water extremes, including drought and flood, as the climate changes.
• It is estimated that California may lose 10 percent of its water supply over the next 20 years.

In 2022, Governor Newsom released California’s Water Supply Strategy: Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future. The report puts forth strategies to close the gap between availability and demand by targeting investments in reducing, reusing and restoring water supplies with volume goals by 2030 and 2040.

The California Water Resilience Initiative (CWRI) is a corporate water stewardship initiative that complements these efforts.

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CALIFORNIA WATER RESILIENCE INITIATIVE

CWRI accelerates collective action in the private sector to enable a more water-resilient California, with the goal of reducing, reusing and replenishing one million acre-feet of water by 2030.

Our Goals:

CWRI aims to tackle the state’s water challenges and reduce water-related risks to business by creating resilient communities, economies, and ecosystems as the climate changes.

• Align Progress and Ambition: Coordinate with water planning, policies, and goals of the State of California.
• Increase Engagement: Increase corporate engagement and investment in water stewardship projects.
• Set the Direction: Maximize corporate investments toward high-impact projects.
• Lead Enabling Activities: Forge partnerships and inspire collective action to expand and accelerate water stewardship projects.
• Send a Demand Signal: Raise awareness locally and globally about the private sector’s commitment to water stewardship.

Our Focus Areas

Urban:

• Improve water efficiency in homes and businesses.
• Increase water recycling and stormwater capture.

Agricultural:

• Implement sustainable groundwater management.
• Promote regenerative agriculture.
• Support multi-benefit land repurposing. 
• Enhance irrigation and nutrient application precision.

Source Watersheds:

• Protect and restore streams, riparian areas, forests and meadows.

Innovation:

• Advance innovative financing for water.
• Increase corporate engagement in water policy.
• Leverage supply chain relationships for water sustainability.

Our Work:

On October 10, 2023, a coalition of businesses, state officials and non-profit partners helped launch CWRI in Sacramento, California. As CWRI evolves and expands, we look forward to providing additional updates regarding new projects and initiatives.

Join us in building a more water-resilient California. Together, we can make a difference for our communities and environment.
 

Join Us

Learn More:

Explore the materials below for more details about CWRI initial priorities and projects.