|
Congratulations to the San Joaquin Valley lawmakers who won their races last week! After a long 2026 legislative session and an election season, we hope you and your teams have an opportunity to recharge before the work of the 2027 session begins.
Looking ahead to the next legislative session, few issues will be more consequential to California’s future than water. Safe, affordable, and reliable water supplies are foundational to our economy and to our quality of life – supporting family farms, businesses, communities, public health, and the environment. Yet without strategic action, the San Joaquin Valley faces a structural water shortfall of approximately 2.5 million acre-feet, with as many as 1 million acres of farmland potentially retired over the next 20-30 years. A Water Blueprint economic impact analysis found that up to 85,000 jobs, $782 million in annual tax revenue, and $7.2 billion annual farm revenue are at risk.
But there is a path forward. In 2027, lawmakers must meet the moment and prioritize regional, complementary strategies to secure California's water by advancing local projects that capture and store surplus local water, developing infrastructure to capture surplus water in the Delta and move it to areas where it is needed, and restoring conveyance capacity and improving major water delivery system performances.
These solutions will require sustained leadership and coordinated investment at the local, state and federal levels. No single agency or water user can meet the challenge alone. The Water Blueprint looks forward to working with our San Joaquin Valley lawmakers in the year ahead to advance a practical, Valley-wide water agenda that protects our communities, strengthens California’s economy, and secures a more reliable water future.
| 
