California faces serious funding gaps in five key areas of water management-including safe drinking water in small, disadvantaged communities; flood protection; management of stormwater and other polluted runoff; aquatic ecosystem management; and integrated water management. These gaps amount to $2 billion to $3 billion a year. But bold efforts by state and local leaders can pave the way to sustainable solutions for California’s critical water resources.

This research is supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the California Water Foundation, an initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund.

Technical Appendices
Appendix A. The Legal Framework
Appendix B. Estimates of Water Sector Expenditures, Revenues, and Needs
Appendix C. State General Obligation Bond Spending on Water
Appendix D. Using the Water Fee Model to Assess Funding Alternatives
Appendix E. Local Ballot Measures to Fund the Water System

Data Sets
Data Set: State General Obligation Bond Spending on Water
Data Set: Local Water-Funding Ballot Measure

External Resource
Hastings Law Journal, Vol. 65: p 1603, Paying for Water: The Legal Framework