Breaking Silos: Blueprint Executive Director Ewell Discusses How Collaboration Is Shaping the Valley’s Water Future

The water challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley do not fit neatly within the boundaries of a single agency, organization, or community. That was the central message delivered by Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley Executive Director Austin Ewell this week at the Groundwater Resources Association's 2026 SGMA Summit - Faces of Implementation, where he participated in a panel discussion titled "Breaking Silos: Cross-Sector Collaboration in Action."

During the discussion, Ewell highlighted the development of the Unified Water Plan for the San Joaquin Valley as a powerful example of what can be accomplished when a broad coalition of organizations work together toward a common goal. 

The Unified Water Plan is being developed through a unique partnership between the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley, the California Water Institute at Fresno State, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Each organization brings a critical piece of the puzzle: the Blueprint's regional stakeholder network and policy leadership, the California Water Institute's research and technical expertise, and Reclamation's federal resources, coordination, and long-term planning capabilities.

The Unified Water Plan was created in response to a growing challenge facing the region: a projected annual water supply gap of 2.5-3 million acre-feet by 2040. To address that challenge, the planning effort evaluated more than 800 potential projects across 16 groundwater subbasins and 42 Groundwater Sustainability Plans, creating a comprehensive roadmap for improving water reliability while meeting groundwater sustainability goals.

A key takeaway from the presentation was that no single groundwater sustainability agency, water district, or government agency can solve these challenges alone. The Unified Water Plan demonstrates that meaningful progress requires regional coordination, shared priorities, and sustained investment. As implementation moves forward, the Water Blueprint remains committed to bringing together agriculture, water agencies, local governments, businesses, environmental groups, community organizations, and state and federal partners to advance practical solutions that strengthen water reliability for the entire San Joaquin Valley.

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