Regional Collaboration
A Solid Foundation For the Future
Guided by the idea that agencies can accomplish more together than separately, local water providers began a two-year process to combine existing efforts and create a unified approach to regional water issues.
The Water Forum Agreement
The Water Forum Agreement is an historic regional commitment to meet two co-equal objectives: to provide a safe and reliable water supply to support the region’s economy and to preserve the environment of the American River.
Reached in 2000, after several years of collaborative negotiations, the agreement contains seven elements–categories of complementary actions that are necessary for a solution to work. These include:
• Increased surface water diversions
• Actions to meet customer needs while reducing diversion impacts in drier years
• Support for improved pattern of fishery flow releases from Folsom Reservoir
• Lower American River habitat management
• Water conservation
• Groundwater management
• Water Forum Successor Effort
The landmark agreement provides a foundation for collaborative solutions and a process to resolve future conflicts between the Water Forum’s diverse stakeholders.