Home California Dodd’s Open and Transparent Water Data Act Signed into Law

Dodd’s Open and Transparent Water Data Act Signed into Law

by ECT

SACRAMENTO – A new law signed by Governor Jerry Brown will help California meet the growing demand for water supply reliability and healthy ecosystems. The law, known as the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, was authored by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and creates a transparent and universal platform for sharing water data across the state. In the midst of the most devastating drought in California history, this law will help move California towards a more effective water management system.

“The drought has exposed the need for a modern water information system to address the state’s water supply,” said Assemblymember Dodd. “California does not suffer from a lack of water data, but from a lack of usable water data needed to make smart decisions. This bill will create instant and accessible water information that will better enable water managers to cope with future drought conditions.”

“As California rapidly approaches a population of 40 million, with the world’s sixth largest economy, and in an era of climate change, we need to do a better job of measuring and managing the water we use,” said Lester Snow, Senior Advisor with the Water Foundation. “Only with long-term policy changes like the Open and Transparent Water Data Act of 2016 can we guarantee enough water for California’s farms, cities and environment.”

California has a number of databases containing information on hydrology, biology, water quality, the physical environment, and water use. Unfortunately, this information is not uniformly collected, easily accessible, or publicly shared. This has largely prevented water managers from making timely and science-based decisions to lead California into a more sustainable water future.

“This landmark legislation will be a game changer for managing California’s most precious resource for decades to come,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “California’s current water transfer market is inefficient and Assemblymember Bill Dodd’s legislation will create a fair, efficient and functional water marketplace with the power to ease the impact of drought and reduce water waste.”

“I would like to acknowledge Assemblymember Dodd’s leadership on this important aspect of water data collection and management. I also appreciate his willingness to continue working with the water community to refine and improve upon the proposal,” said Grant Davis, General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. “The value of creating a statewide clearinghouse is that it allows us to make informed decisions based on data that already exist but are currently out of reach.”

The Act passed the legislature last month on a bipartisan vote, and was supported by leading environmental, business and water management groups. The new law also requires the development of open-data protocols for data sharing, transparency, documentation, and quality control that will avoid misunderstandings, reduce disputes, and increase the effectiveness of management decisions.

Assemblymember Bill Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Lake, Solano, and Colusa Counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd.

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