As California prepares for more intense droughts and greater climate variability, understanding how much water is available, used and stored is increasingly important. A new policy brief from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) highlights how modern water accounting can support groundwater recharge, strengthen drought resilience and track environmental benefits.
The findings reinforce the importance of work underway in the Sacramento region. Developed by the Regional Water Authority and regional partners, the Sacramento Regional Water Bank’s Water Accounting System establishes consistent rules for tracking groundwater deposits, withdrawals and balances, accounting for water that moves to neighboring basins and rivers, and supporting long-term groundwater sustainability.
RWA and the Sacramento Groundwater Authority helped fund the PPIC research.
Read the PPIC brief here and learn more about the Water Bank’s Water Accounting System here.