California, Federal Government Agree to Water Management Plan

More effectively managing the water supply and capturing more rainwater during the wet season are priorities for the state.

Water flows down the spillway at Nicasio Reservoir after days of rain brought the reservoir to near capacity in Nicasio, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Dec. 23 an agreement with the Biden administration to regulate water supplies that serve up to 30 million residents.

“We know what the future has in store for our state: hotter hots and drier dries. That means we have to do everything we can now to prepare and ensure our water infrastructure can handle these extremes,” Newsom said in a statement. “Thanks to the support of the Biden–Harris administration, California is taking action to make our water systems more resilient and lay the groundwork for new capacity in the future.”