California Watershed Council

Council Purpose

The California Watershed Council was established by the Resources Agency and Cal/EPA to implement the Watersheds, CleanBeachesand Water Quality Act (AB 2534, Pavley, Chapter 727, Statutes of 2002).  This legislation established a new program, the Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), for the purposes of improving water quality, fisheries and habitat, water supply reliability, river corridor recreation, forest and fuels management, and hydropower management, for reducing flooding, and for controlling erosion and sedimentation.   It also required an MOU between the Agencies to ensure coordination with other programs and the establishment of a public stakeholder advisory process. 

The California Watershed Council was established on August 28, 2003to serve as the public advisory process required by AB 2534.  It is designed to recommend priorities and funding allocation needs for the new program, and also to advise the Secretaries on watershed programs and related issues such as funding opportunities, program effectiveness and efficiencies, regional partnership needs, technical assistance and capacity building for watershed groups and citizen volunteers, information exchange, and implementation of the California Watershed Strategic Plan. 

Timeline

The major focus in the first year will be establishment of new watershed programs, review of existing fund programs for better coordination/integration of program elements, improved data information access for program decision-makers and the public, and examination of other issues identified by the Council.  The Council will provide input to the Secretaries report to the Legislature on progress at implementing the legislation.

Council Workgroup Archives

Economics & Funding Data & Information Sharing Integrated Planning Education & Outreach Policy & Operations