San Joaquin Valley Water Coalition

San Joaquin Valley Water Coalition
Name	San Joaquin Valley Water Coalition
Formation	2019
Type	Nonprofit coalition
Headquarters	Fresno, California
Region served	San Joaquin Valley

San Joaquin Valley Water Coalition The San Joaquin Valley Water Coalition is a regional alliance of agricultural, municipal, and business organizations formed to influence water policy and resource management in California's Central Valley. It brings together stakeholders from Fresno County, Kern County, Tulare County, Madera County and Merced County to address disputes over Central Valley Project, State Water Project, and groundwater governance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The coalition engages with state agencies such as the California Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, and federal entities including the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

History

The coalition was organized in the aftermath of prolonged droughts that intensified conflicts among California Department of Fish and Wildlife mandates, United States Fish and Wildlife Service actions, and water deliveries under the Central Valley Project. Founding partners included regional chapters of the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the California Citrus Mutual, and municipal groups from Bakersfield and Fresno. Early activities involved coordinated responses to Delta smelt protection measures, disputes over San Joaquin River Restoration Program, and litigation connected to the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense Fund. The coalition has since participated in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission and filed amicus briefs in cases heard by the California Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Mission and Objectives

The coalition's stated mission emphasizes securing reliable irrigation for almond, cotton, vineyard, and dairy operations, supporting municipal supply for cities like Fresno and Modesto, and preserving groundwater recharge for aquifers beneath Kings County and Stanislaus County. Objectives include influencing implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, shaping regulations by the State Water Resources Control Board, and promoting infrastructure funding from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank and federal appropriation committees in the United States Congress. The group also aims to coordinate with water districts such as the Friant Water Authority, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, and Westlands Water District.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises agricultural trade associations, irrigation districts, city utilities, chambers of commerce, and agribusiness firms headquartered in places like Visalia and Delano. The coalition's governance model features a steering committee with representatives from the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California Cattlemen's Association, and regional water agencies including San Joaquin Valley Drainage Authority. Leadership has included former staffers from the California State Legislature and lobbyists with ties to the Department of Water Resources. The organization holds rotating meetings in venues such as the Fresno County Farm and Industry Building, and works with consultants formerly associated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Policy Positions and Advocacy

The coalition advocates for increased surface storage projects, expanded groundwater recharge, and regulatory frameworks that prioritize water deliveries for agriculture and municipal users. It supports investments in conveyance improvements linked to the State Water Project and opposes regulatory actions that would curtail water allocations tied to protections for species such as the Delta smelt, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout. The group lobbies statewide bodies including the California State Water Resources Control Board and federal lawmakers on appropriations committees in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate. Its policy papers reference technical reports from the United States Geological Survey, the California Energy Commission, and university research from the University of California, Davis and California State University, Fresno.

Major Projects and Initiatives

Initiatives have included support for groundwater banking projects coordinated with the Semitropic Water Storage District and proposals for new offstream reservoirs resembling sites studied under the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project. The coalition has backed pilot programs for managed aquifer recharge in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources and local water districts, and advocated for federal funding instruments administered by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It has also promoted infrastructure grants administered through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank and participated in multi-stakeholder forums with the Nature Conservancy and The Pew Charitable Trusts to explore voluntary water trading mechanisms.

Controversies and Criticism

Critics from environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Center for Biological Diversity argue the coalition prioritizes agricultural interests over endangered species protections and wetland restoration. Some water policy scholars at Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley have questioned the coalition's interpretations of hydrological models from the United States Geological Survey and the California Department of Water Resources. Legal challenges have involved coalition members in disputes over surface water diversions, groundwater overdraft claims, and compliance with the Clean Water Act as enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents also cite concerns raised by tribal governments including those represented by the Picayune Rancheria and Yokut leaders regarding impacts on cultural resources and ancestral waterways.

Category:Organizations based in California Category:Water resource management in California