Agenda packet — Roseville City Council, April 1, 2026 (part 5 of 7)

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 36
meetings regarding current conditions and forecasts, and engagement in the American River Group (ARG) monthly meetings (see below for more information). Water Forum discussions with Reclamation related to seasonal and real-time planning and operations may consider implications of broader CVP operations on LAR targets and conditions. In addition, when regulatory processes regarding operations on the LAR relevant to the FMS are initiated, the Water Forum will engage to support the inclusion of FMS features and to ensure that American River interests are fully considered by Reclamation within the broader context of regulatory processes governing CVP operations. For example, the current FMS is referenced (in part) in the 2019 Biological Opinion on Long-term Operation of the CVP and the State Water Project (BiOp) issued by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries) and governs Reclamation’s operations, aﬀecting implementation of FMS flows, storage, and temperature management protocols. Future eﬀorts will be made to ensure that references to the FMS are continued in regulatory frameworks and that the information referenced reflects current understanding. In other words, as relevant regulatory processes and documents are updated, the Water Forum will work to facilitate the inclusion of references to the most recent FMS documentation and ensure shared understanding.

In 2021, the Water Forum and Reclamation signed an MOU to identify and implement communication and information sharing activities related to Reclamation’s operations on the LAR. Specifically, the MOU focuses on the implementation of key elements of the FMS (end-of-December storage, minimum reservoir releases, temperature management, etc.).

Since the signing of the MOU, Water Forum staﬀ and members have been meeting with Reclamation at regular intervals to share and discuss information related to the latest forecasts, conditions, and operations decisions.
8 Additional details related to the Water Forum’s expected engagement with Reclamation are provided in Appendix 3.

NOAA Fisheries: NOAA Fisheries is the primary federal regulatory agency responsible for protecting federally listed threatened and endangered anadromous species on the LAR.

The Water Forum will actively maintain working relationships with NOAA Fisheries representatives working on the American River operations to facilitate their understanding of FMS features and functions.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): The USFWS's work on the LAR focuses on protecting federally listed species, including guiding research, developing conservation

8 As of January 2024, aspects of that MOU have expired, and updates will need to be explored and pursued.

Specifically, the 300 TAF end-of-December planning minimum for Folsom Reservoir storage was established for a pilot period for calendar years 2020-2022. Current eﬀorts are underway to include a similar planning minimum in a forthcoming updated BiOp, but pending the outcome of those eﬀorts, continued engagement with Reclamation will focus on the implementation of FMS features as needed.

Page 739 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 37
actions, and partnering to restore habitats and recover species. The Water Forum will actively maintain working relationships with USFWS representatives working on the American River operations to facilitate their understanding of FMS features and functions.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW): CDFW operates the Nimbus Fish Hatchery on the LAR and leads many of the surveys and data collection eﬀorts focused on the health and status of fish in the LAR. The Water Forum will continue to coordinate and partner with CDFW on activities related to implementing the FMS.

State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB): The SWRCB is responsible for administering water rights in California and thus oversees the water rights permits and licenses held by Reclamation and other diverters on the American River. In addition, the SWRCB regulates water quality in the Delta. Some SWRCB actions impacting conditions on the LAR can include (but are not limited to) issuing temporary urgent change petitions (TUCPs) for Delta water quality (impacting CVP operations) and water right curtailment during drought emergencies, adopting flow standards for river systems, updates to the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan9, and otherwise regulating flows on the LAR.

It is the intent of the signatories to the WF2050 that the FMS will be permanently implemented, recognizing that over time the FMS will be refined to reflect updated understanding of the needs of the river. One way this can be implemented will be an updated SWRCB flow standard for the LAR. It is also the intent that there be flexibility (adaptive management) in the implementation of the FMS to reflect real-time ecological considerations.

The Water Forum will continue to be an active member of the American River Group (ARG), which oﬀers a monthly opportunity for LAR interested parties to convene and share the latest information related to reservoir inflows, reservoir and hatchery operations, river conditions, and fisheries status. Reclamation established the ARG as a working group to coordinate fishery and operational requirements for the LAR in 1996. Reclamation is the lead coordinator, bringing together those who have either a legislated or resources-specific interest in the operation of Folsom Dam and Reservoir and the LAR. The formal members include Reclamation, the Water Forum, and agencies with public trust responsibilities for fisheries resources in the LAR, which include USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, and CDFW. Members of the public and other agencies are welcome to attend ARG meetings and provide comments on matters under consideration by the ARG. Reclamation considers the information provided at ARG when making operational and management decisions regarding temperatures and flows necessary to sustain fish resources in the LAR.

4. Periodic Updates and Refinements to the FMS
The status of the FMS (eﬀectiveness and level of implementation) will be reviewed on a regular basis within the broader Metrics and Reporting eﬀorts of the Water Forum and the FMS will be

9 Also known as the Health Rivers and Landscapes Program.

Page 740 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 38
updated and refined when new data or tools, or new approaches that may have merit, indicate that revisions would improve contributions of the FMS to supporting the coequal objectives, and/or when processes to update relevant regulatory requirements are pursued.

Caveats and Assurances

1. Signatories acknowledge that, while minimum reservoir releases are a key feature of the FMS, flows above the specified minimum releases can provide important benefits for wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the LAR.

2. Signatories acknowledge that low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels have a significant impact on the health of salmonids, thereby negatively aﬀecting the benefits of the FMS.

Consequently, Folsom Reservoir complex management actions must take this factor into account to avoid unhealthy DO levels.

3. Signatories acknowledge that Folsom Reservoir storage levels in the spring are critical to the volume of cold-water pool available for the eﬀective implementation of the FMS during the rest of the year, and that management actions should be taken to preserve as much reservoir storage as feasible during this timeframe.

4. All signatories agree to recommend to the SWRCB an updated American River Flow Management Standard, developed by the Water Forum, that protects the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River. The recommendation will include requirements for Reclamation releases to the LAR.

5. The Water Forum will develop recommendations to inform transfer activity in the region, subject to agencies’ determinations of operational, regulatory, and contractual feasibility, to be as consistent with the FMS as possible and maximize the value of the transfer water for the health of the LAR.
a. Note: Current regulations include a commitment to implement certain aspects of the FMS, and water moved through a transfer agreement has the potential to oﬀer additional flows and/or temperature benefits to the LAR, pending operational constraints such as, but not limited to, timing of deliveries, infrastructure capacity, regulatory or discretionary actions by Reclamation.
b. Note: When transfers are arranged with Reclamation, purveyors can make requests or suggestions regarding how and when water is moved through the system; however, operational decisions are ultimately at the discretion of Reclamation and are subject to regulatory requirements.

FLOOD OPERATIONS
As the American River watershed experiences climate change, the characteristics of flood events are expected to change from those historically observed. In response to the changing hydrology, modifications to flood operations may be necessary not only to continue to provide the Sacramento region with needed flood protection but also to avoid compromising the Water

Page 741 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 39
Forum’s coequal objectives. Specifically, changes in precipitation patterns, shifting increasingly from snow to rain under climate change, are expected to result in a reduced snowpack and shifts in the timing and magnitude of flows into Folsom Reservoir. Consequently, if Folsom flood operations are not changed accordingly, lower reservoir storage at key times in the year could lead to reduced regional water supply reliability and increased river temperatures.

Current climate models consistently indicate that global temperatures are increasing and will continue to increase for years and decades to come (the summer months of 2023 and 2024 were both record-breaking years for heat). Regionally, warmer temperatures in the upper watershed will result in more precipitation occurring as rain instead of snow, leading to more intense and extreme conditions for both storms and droughts. These changes in precipitation patterns and temperatures are likely to result in inflows to Folsom Reservoir arriving earlier in the season than observed historically, and potentially at higher flow rates—particularly during severe storm events—stressing the existing flood operations and infrastructure at Folsom Dam and on the LAR.

High volumes of water arriving quickly at Folsom Reservoir with the rainstorm events, rather than slowly over the spring and summer as snowmelt, will make it harder to capture and store the runoﬀ for use in the drier months due to the relatively small size of Folsom Reservoir.

Enhanced operational flexibility for flood operations at Folsom Reservoir could help to mitigate the impacts of climate change on regional water supply and river temperatures by creating opportunities to store and capture increased amounts of reservoir inflows during flood seasons.

Operational flexibility refers to the ability to adapt and adjust the management of a reservoir to changing conditions and forecasts. It often involves real-time monitoring, forecasting, and communication with relevant authorities to make timely and informed decisions to protect downstream communities and infrastructure from flooding.

The goal of operational flexibility is to retain water in the reservoir for various purposes, such as water supply, hydropower generation, and ecosystem benefits, while maintaining the ability to manage the reservoir to regulate the anticipated inflow in a controlled and safe manner, thereby reducing the risk of flood-related damage. Operational flexibility involves making decisions about when to release water from the reservoir, how much water to release, and at what rate to make the releases, while considering factors such as weather forecasts, upstream inflows, downstream conditions, and the potential for flood-related damage. Future considerations for operational flexibility may need to include innovative approaches to reservoir management in order to address the challenges posed by climate change

10. 10 For example, a study at the time of signing the WF2050 agreement indicated benefits to reservoir storage by managing reservoirs based on hydrologic cycles rather than years (i.e., a new cycle starts when all the reservoirs in a system are full, not when a new water year begins).

Page 742 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 40
Guiding Principle

1. Support and advocate for enhanced operational flexibility within the American River watershed through improvements in infrastructure and procedures to increase flood protection for the Sacramento region and contribute to the coequal objectives.

Program Elements
Reclamation operations of Folsom Reservoir for flood control are subject to the conditions of the Water Control Manual issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which is the primary regulatory agency for flood operations at Folsom Dam

11. These two agencies are the primary
implementation agencies, as the flood operation at Folsom Dam is the dominant element for flood management in the Sacramento region. In addition, current Water Forum members, specifically the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) and the American River Flood Control District (ARFCD), both have active roles in flood management for corresponding facilities (infrastructure downstream of Folsom Dam) and their associated operation and thus are also implementing agencies related to flood operations.

The Water Forum will support implementing agencies’ programs, projects, and activities that are aligned with the WF2050 flood operations guiding principle of increased operational flexibility in the American River watershed, as described below.

1. Support for Projects, Programs, and Activities
The Water Forum will engage and support implementing agencies’ projects, programs, and activities as appropriate and feasible in pursuit of the flood operations guiding principle. Support can include (but is not limited to):
• Funding for technical analysis
• Staﬀ and/or consultant participation in project planning • Providing regional education and awareness
Staﬀ will monitor and track regional eﬀorts that align with the flood operations guiding principle, and, when there is an opportunity to add value through support, staﬀ will develop recommendation(s) for Water Forum contributions for consideration by the Coordinating Committee, the caucuses, and the Plenary. Relevant projects and programs may include enhanced hydrologic forecasting capabilities, new monitoring stations in the upper watershed, flood-managed aquifer recharge projects, enhanced FIRO at Folsom Dam, changes to structures and operations at selected upstream reservoirs, and nature-based solutions, among others.

Signatories support pursuing a Preliminary Viability Assessment of American River Watershed Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (Watershed FIRO) in partnership with Reclamation, USACE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and others, where

11 Water Control Manual will be updated as project to raise the dam to add 3 ft for freeboard is completed.

Page 743 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 41
appropriate and possible. Watershed FIRO oﬀers the potential for improved water supply reliability and temperature management through increased operational flexibility, resulting in increased water storage volumes at Folsom Reservoir by the end of the flood season. In addition, where feasible and with willing partners, Watershed FIRO may include elements of nature-based solutions and upstream reservoir modifications in the upper watershed to enhance the benefits and durability.

Signatories support the identification and implementation of excess flood water recharge when:
1) carried out within the region; 2) designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with appropriate environmental and engineering standards/requirements, and the FMS; and 3) consistent with and supporting the Water Forum’s coequal objectives. These concepts and opportunities will be explored and analyzed within the ARCAP .

2. External Advocacy for Improvements
Some opportunities for improving operational flexibility at Folsom Dam will involve addressing layers of jurisdiction and governance at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. The role of advocacy by the Water Forum (as a representative of broad local interests) can play an important part in the success of a given eﬀort. Opportunities for advocacy may include (but are not limited to):
• Communications with federal partners (i.e., Reclamation, USACE) • Advocacy at the federal level with specific messaging 12 Staﬀ will maintain awareness of opportunities for improvements to operational flexibility within the American River watershed, and as identified (with support from members and consultants), staﬀ will develop recommendations for Water Forum advocacy for consideration by the Coordinating Committee and the Caucuses, as relevant.

Caveats and Assurances

1. The Water Forum Signatories support pursuing a Preliminary Viability Assessment of American River Watershed Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations13 (Watershed FIRO) in partnership with Reclamation, USACE, NOAA, and others, where appropriate and possible.

2. The Water Forum signatories support the identification and implementation of excess flood water recharge when: 1) carried out within the region; 2) designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with appropriate environmental and engineering

12 The Coordinating Committee reviews talking points and briefing materials with the Executive Director to ensure proposed messaging adequately supports the coequal objectives and is representative of the caucuses’ interests. 13 Definitions of FIRO can vary, but generally includes expanding meteorological, watershed, channel condition, and environmental monitoring; advancing technology to enhance meteorological, watershed, channel condition, and environmental forecasting; and integrating data collection, management, display, and analysis capabilities into decision support systems related to reservoir operations.

Page 744 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 42
standards/requirements, and the FMS; and 3) consistent with and supporting the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

TEMPERATURE AND OTHER WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Temperature management improvements, including both operational and infrastructure improvements, will be critical under future conditions to help protect the health of the river and to support the coequal objectives. Key opportunities for Water Forum engagement related to operational temperature management activities primarily involve maintaining and updating the FMS, which includes setting storage targets at key times of the year, developing strategies for utilizing available tools for river temperature management, and exploring strategic partnerships and opportunities for engagement. Temperature management infrastructure improvements can be a crucial tool for further optimizing and protecting cold-water resources for the LAR.

Currently, the existing infrastructure for temperature management on the LAR includes temperature shutters on the power intakes at Folsom Dam (note that although the lower-level dam outlets are sometimes used to improve temperature conditions as a last resort, temperature management is not the primary purpose of those facilities). The temperature shutters at Folsom Dam enable water to be drawn from varying levels within the water column, oﬀering some flexibility in managing the cold-water resources. However, the existing shutters are decades old, require manual placement within the water column, and without undertaking the cumbersome task of separating (or “de-ganging”) individual panels within the shutters, the flexibility for selective withdrawal is limited. In addition, the shutters are known to leak cold water at lower elevations than intended due to design and structural limitations, which further limits their eﬀectiveness.

Improvements to the existing temperature shutters, as well as other temperature infrastructure projects, were proposed and/or studied in the LAR system over the last couple of decades, including a method to access cold water below Folsom Dam’s penstocks. The Water Forum has contributed to studies and discussions of some of these projects in the past and has been integral to advocating for improvements14. Current plans for updated temperature shutters on the Folsom Penstocks have been authorized by Congress.

The last 20 years of operations on the LAR have illustrated the challenges of maintaining suitable temperatures for resident salmonids even when Reclamation’s operation of Folsom Dam is consistent with applicable regulatory mandates. There are established thresholds for optimal fish health, which are specified as targets in various regulatory documents. Within these regulatory frameworks, optimal temperature targets are often coupled with options for exceeding them by varying degrees, based on their relative feasibility within a given year due to hydrologic

14 Areas of study have also included examination of opportunities to reduce heat gain across Lake Natoma, which presents additional challenges to temperature management on the LAR.

Page 745 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 43
conditions and CVP operations. In recent decades, temperatures have frequently trended towards or exceeded the upper ends of suitable habitat conditions. These challenges are expected to continue and will be exacerbated by increased ambient air temperatures and shifting hydrology predicted by climate change.

In addition to known challenges related to temperatures on the LAR, over the last several years, there has been a growing awareness and concern regarding low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in Folsom and Nimbus Dam releases, as well as associated DO levels at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and on the LAR. In the fall of 2023, at a time when Reclamation was releasing water from lower elevations in the water column to access colder water, DO levels were recorded in both Lake Natoma and the LAR below suitable thresholds for salmonid survival. The fish were essentially at risk of suﬀocating in the water. Over the course of several days, with access to Water Forum DO data collected at key locations on the LAR, Reclamation was able to implement careful and eﬀective infrastructure management actions to raise the DO levels to more suitable levels; namely, implementing the power bypass at Folsom Dam (i.e., releasing water from the lower outlets) and spilling water over the gates at Nimbus Dam (rather than through the penstocks). At this time, it remains unclear whether DO will continue to be a concern on the LAR and what actions will be most appropriate in response. However, infrastructure improvements to manage DO may need to be considered in the future, and options for aeration without bypassing power generation explored.

Given the current and projected temperature and DO challenges on the LAR, as well as the aging existing infrastructure, Water Forum support and advocacy for the continued enhancement of temperature and other water management infrastructure, along with considerations for future improvements, are imperative for contributing to healthier fisheries in the LAR.

Guiding Principle

1. Support and advocate for operational and infrastructure improvements within the American River watershed that contribute to more eﬀective water temperature management and other important water quality attributes on the LAR for anadromous salmonids.

Program Elements
Reclamation and USACE are the principal parties responsible for infrastructure installation and management on both Folsom and Nimbus Dams. In addition, SAFCA has an active role in current eﬀorts to improve the temperature shutters at Folsom Dam15. Known key areas for future improvement include:

15 There are eﬀorts underway to design and implement updated, remotely controlled temperature control shutters at Folsom Dam.

Page 746 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 44
• Infrastructure at Folsom Dam to improve access to coldwater resources in Folsom Reservoir (i.e., temperature shutters, penstocks, and powerhouse) • Options to reduce heat gain across Lake Natoma
The Water Forum will support implementing agencies’ programs, projects, and activities that align with the WF2050 temperature management infrastructure guiding principle, as described below.

1. Support Projects, Programs, and Activities
The Water Forum will support implementing agencies’ projects, programs, and activities (as appropriate and feasible) in pursuit of the temperature and other water management infrastructure guiding principles. Support can include (but is not limited to):
• Funding for technical analysis
• Staﬀ and/or consultant participation in project planning • Providing regional education and awareness
Staﬀ will monitor and track regional eﬀorts that align with the temperature management infrastructure guiding principle. When there is an opportunity for Water Forum engagement, they will develop a recommendation for Water Forum contributions for consideration by the Coordinating Committee, the caucuses, and the Plenary. A current list of temperature management projects and programs is included in Appendix 4.

Signatories support the current eﬀorts to redesign and improve the temperature control shutters at Folsom Dam and will consider opportunities for Water Forum support and advocacy. Until improvements are made, signatories support the implementation of a power bypass at Folsom Dam in all years as necessary to provide suitable fall spawning temperatures for LAR resident salmonids, unless September temperature modeling indicates that 56°F or lower can be achieved at Watt Avenue on or before November 1st without the bypass.

2. External Advocacy for Improvements
Opportunities for improvements to temperature and other water management infrastructure will involve layers of jurisdiction and governance at the regional, state, and federal levels. The role of advocacy by the Water Forum (as a representative of broad local interests) can play a valuable and important part in the success of a given eﬀort. Opportunities for advocacy may include (but are not limited to):
• Communications with federal partners (i.e., Reclamation, USACE) • Advocacy at the federal level with specific messaging Staﬀ will maintain awareness of opportunities for improvements to water management infrastructure at Folsom and Nimbus Dams, and as identified (with support from members and

Page 747 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 45
consultants), staﬀ will develop recommendations for Water Forum advocacy for consideration by the Coordinating Committee16 and the Caucuses, as relevant.

Caveats and Assurances

1. Signatories support the current eﬀorts to redesign and improve the temperature control shutters at Folsom Dam and will consider opportunities for Water Forum support and advocacy. Until improvements are made, signatories support the implementation of a power bypass at Folsom Dam in all years as necessary to provide suitable fall spawning temperatures for LAR resident salmonids, unless September temperature modeling indicates that 56°F or lower can be achieved at Watt Avenue on or before November 1st without the bypass.

16 The Coordinating Committee reviews talking points and briefing materials with the Executive Director to ensure proposed messaging adequately supports the coequal objectives and is representative of the caucuses’ interests (see Program Area 5: Governance, Funding, and Administration).

Page 748 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 46
Program Area 2: American River
Corridor Health
The American River Corridor Health (ARCH) Program Area includes one area of focus for Water Forum activities and commitments:
• American River Corridor Health Program

AMERICAN RIVER CORRIDOR HEAL TH PROGRAM
The Water Forum commits to sustaining the American River Corridor Health (ARCH) Program to further improve, recover, enhance, and maintain the resources of the LAR corridor in service of the coequal objectives.

The ARCH Program builds on the success of the existing Water Forum Habitat Management Element (HME) program, as described in the first WFA. The ARCH Program is designed to take a multifaceted approach to support the coequal objectives by leading habitat and science eﬀorts for the LAR, as well as collaborating with partners to achieve a thriving river corridor and region.

Although many projects directly implemented under the ARCH Program focus on habitat, education, science, and decision-support activities, actions that support a robust and healthy river corridor also contribute to water supply reliability and economic vitality for our region.

Guiding Principles

1. Maintain a focus on the health of the LAR consistent with the coequal objectives.

All activities covered under the ARCH Core Program are in direct support of the Water Forum’s coequal objectives
.

These Core Program activities comprise most actions and projects under ARCH and meet specific criteria to:

Page 749 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 47
• Continue improvement, recovery, enhancement, and maintenance of LAR corridor natural resources17 by leveraging Water Forum funding to maximize available local, state, and federal grant funding.
• Lead implementation of native salmonid habitat and multi-benefit18 natural resource projects within the LAR corridor.
• Support study and implementation of actions that improve flow and temperature conditions, and habitat quantity and quality for native species along the LAR corridor and broader region.
• Support public outreach and education associated with Water Forum eﬀorts on the LAR. • Advocate at the local, state, and federal level to support Water Forum eﬀorts on the LAR, including eﬀorts of Water Forum signatories and partners to support achieving the coequal objectives.

2. Leverage advocacy and partnerships in pursuit of shared goals.

Advocacy and partnerships contribute to the Water Forum’s ability to improve resource conditions in support of its coequal objectives. As opportunities arise and resources permit, the Water Forum participates in regional and potentially broader initiatives and eﬀorts in support of the coequal objectives. Actions and projects supported as part of the non-Core Program would meet specific criteria associated with eﬀectiveness, costs, and benefits, and nexus with the coequal objectives, including:
• Maintaining an awareness of relevant projects and programs (e.g., Regional Parks Natural Resource Management Plan advancement, Central Valley Project Improvement Act Science Integration Team (CVPIA SIT) strategy development, etc.) • Strengthening collaboration with American River Parkway and watershed partners (e.g., CDFW, Reclamation, NMFS, Regional Parks, Soil Born Farms, etc.) • Leveraging Water Forum funding where appropriate (e.g., cost-sharing grant-funded activities, such as temperature modeling, for mutual gains and decision support) • Identifying areas of advocacy and support for mutual gains to benefit the region (e.g., participating in advisory groups for partner projects, data sharing, outreach, etc.)

17 Consistent with applicable policies, goals, plans, guidance, and laws governing the resources, lands, and funding sources associated with ARCH Program work (including but not limited to the American River Parkway Plan and Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP), CVPIA Anadromous Fish Restoration Program guidelines, etc.). 18 Multi-benefit projects are defined as those that do not focus on a single corridor resource, and intentionally include elements to serve multiple needs, including recreation, education, multiple species, etc.

Page 750 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 48

3. Continue a commitment to adaptive management of Program activities.

Consistent with current practice, the ARCH Program will continue to incorporate “adaptive management” actions into its Program and project planning, not only to maintain the status quo but also to continually improve outcomes associated with the work of the ARCH Program.

Adaptive management and assessments of “lessons learned” will continue to occur at diﬀerent intervals appropriate to the action being evaluated (i.e., salmonid project design assumptions are revisited on an annual basis based on fishery, hydraulic, and geomorphic data collection and analyses, whereas adaptive management associated with hydrologic changes influenced by climate change would be evaluated on a longer timescale).

Current best practices of adaptive management for the ARCH Program include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Monitoring and evaluation of the corridor health project eﬀectiveness • Review of existing assumptions and new data and analysis of hydrologic conditions in the watershed and region, and hydraulic conditions in the river corridor • Synthesis of information gleaned from Water Forum-led and collaborative partnerships regarding fishery and other resource conditions
• Continuous coordination with state and federal agencies to ensure programs and planned activities are responsive to changing resource conditions associated with growth and climate change, updated agency guidance, and maximizing funding opportunities, etc.

Adaptive management activities support flexibility in addressing emerging issues and responding nimbly to changing conditions as additional scientific information and funding become available, as well as accommodating climate change and resource needs within the region. A continued robust program of coordination, advocacy, and funding for science, monitoring, and decision support activities is needed to support the coequal objectives through adaptive management.

Adaptive management is currently associated with ongoing WF2050 program areas, specific projects, and responses to emerging needs (i.e., implementation of the DO pilot study or review of the FMS during the ongoing BiOp Reconsultation process). However, the scale of adaptive management is expected to expand or contract over the term of WF2050 and can be easily scaled to accommodate potential new program areas or activities necessary to support improved outcomes, improved understanding associated with changing resource conditions over time, and adaptations needed to align with principles of the broader WF2050.

4. Ensure resource protection in compliance with applicable regulations.

Consistent with the original WFA and standard practice since its signing, individual projects undertaken by Water Forum members or the Water Forum itself will conduct all necessary

Page 751 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 49
project- or program-specific environmental compliance documentation and consultation, as well as any required project-specific mitigation, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

5. Work in a manner that acknowledges changes in the nature and magnitude of human and societal eﬀects on the natural resources of the LAR.

The Water Forum does not work in a vacuum. While our work can be highly technical and often focused on implementation, there are practical realities of working on an urban river corridor that is also designated as a federal and state Wild and Scenic River. Acknowledging the tension that exists between the river’s ecological importance as a habitat for corridor species and human use of the Parkway as a recreational amenity and for other purposes is important.

The Water Forum is aware of and will continue to work to understand what challenges our members and partners face in addressing broader issues related to illegal camping19, fire risk, waste management, safety, pollution, and other human dimensions of resource management on the Parkway, within the policy guidance and framework of the County of Sacramento, as landowner and manager of the Parkway.

Program Elements
The ARCH Program has grown in scope and size since the signing of the first WFA, new entities are involved in WF2050, and resource discussions and planning are more complex due to continued growth, changes in the nature and magnitude of human usage of the Parkway, and pressure exerted by the accelerated eﬀects of climate change on resources addressed by our coequal objectives. Thus, additional implementation considerations and processes will be considered for the term of WF2050, as described below
.

1. Water Forum ARCH Program Planning Matrix (Appendix 5) The Water Forum’s work in support of a healthy river corridor is ongoing and can be easily scaled to accommodate available funding sources, the capacity for work on the Parkway and within the region, and to meet existing and emerging decision-support needs for river operations.

Maintaining a list of ongoing and potential projects and broader potential program areas that may address emerging issues, that are at varying levels of feasibility (ranging from concepts/ideas for the future to shovel-ready designs), allows the organization to seize funding and coordination opportunities as they arise and respond to changing resource conditions and guidance.

Building on past experience and success, a robust program of developing and conveying information to inform river operations decision support and planning, analysis, design, implementation, and monitoring of projects will support continued improvements, maintenance, scientific understanding, and coproduction of data associated with the health of the river

19Lack of aﬀordable housing and legal shelter space both contribute to illegal camping on the parkway, along with other factors.

Page 752 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 50
corridor and its resources. Outreach and education associated with habitat, decision support, and science and monitoring activities will also continue to be an important element of the ARCH Program.

See Appendix 5: ARCH Program Planning Matrix for a “living” list of habitat, science/monitoring, decision support, outreach, and ongoing educational activities, or under consideration, in support of the coequal objectives during the WF2050 term. The Matrix is utilized for annual and long-term work planning and is current at the time of WF2050 signing; however, it is expected to be a living document.

2. Engagement, External Communications, and Advocacy
To support continued advocacy and member engagement after WF2050 is signed, a framework or process will be developed to provide members with the necessary information regarding the ARCH Program (i.e., upcoming projects, priority partnerships) for use in external communications and advocacy. This could include program- or project-level talking points or briefings planned on a seasonal or annual basis for Water Forum-led initiatives. There are a range of venues available for Water Forum collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.

Page 753 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 51

Program Area 3: Regional Water Supply
Sustainability
The Regional Water Supply Sustainability (WSS) Program Area includes five areas of focus for Water Forum activities and commitments:
• Surface Water Management
• Groundwater Management
• Demand Management
• Dry-Time Actions
• Land Use Decisions
Additionally, the WSS Program Area includes a description of regional projects designed to support the coequal objectives and advance the principles of the Program Area.

SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT
Regional demands for surface water are expected to increase under future conditions due to projected regional growth and the availability of ample regional surface water entitlements.

However, the uncertainty in surface water availability due to climate change and the associated changes in hydrology must be carefully weighed when planning to support the Water Forum’s coequal objectives under future conditions.

Folsom Reservoir is projected to be at critically low levels more frequently due to the loss of snowpack and earlier inflows to the reservoir, as well as the challenges these conditions will present for current operational practices. These changes will threaten the regional municipal and industrial (M&I) intakes and produce lower flows on the lower American River. Analyses of climate change impacts on river temperatures relative to the needs of fish show that, without action, the survival of salmonid populations will be severely threatened. The region will need to examine new approaches related to surface water management on the American River to protect regional water supply reliability and to maintain a salmonid population under climate change.

Page 754 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 52
Conditions on the LAR are largely governed by the operations of Folsom Reservoir, managed by Reclamation, as it responds to demands within the broader CVP . Over the past 10 years (2014- 2023), regional M&I diversions from the American River have accounted for an average of approximately 11% of the annual unimpaired inflow to Folsom Reservoir. This ratio can vary significantly depending on the hydrology of the given year; in wet years, regional demands are relatively less significant compared to the total runoﬀ, and in dry years, they account for a greater proportion.

There is considerable diversity among the regional water purveyors in terms of supply portfolios, locations of diversions, types of entitlements, and amount of growth projected, as summarized in Table 1. This diversity presents a variety of opportunities to support the coequal objectives through surface water management. Additionally, each purveyor has unique constraints that may limit their flexibility regarding surface water diversions.

Page 755 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 53

Table 1. Water Forum Purveyor Water Production (2014-23) Purveyor
Water Production1
2014-23 Average (AFY)
SW GW Total
El Dorado Irrigation District 31,930 0 31,930
Placer County Water Agency 26,680 80 26,760
City of Folsom 18,2002 0 18,200
City of Roseville 28,000 220 28,220
San Juan Water District — Consotrium3 32,960 4,240 37,200 San Juan Water District - Retail 11,460 0 11,460
Citrus Heights Water District 9,720 1,720 11,440
Fair Oaks Water District 6,900 2,520 9,420
Folsom (Ashland) 1,100 0 1,100
Orange Vale Water Company 3,780 0 3,780
Golden State Water Company 5,470 5,050 10,520
Carmichael Water District 4,780 3,470 8,250
City of Sacramento 68,460 21,200 89,660
Sacramento Suburban Water District 8,020 22,530 30,550
California-American Water Company 2,610 24,580 27,190
Sacramento County Water Agency 15,080 22,470 37,550
Totals 242,190 103,840 346,030

1. Production data as collected and distributed by the Regional Water Authority includes treated retail water used within each respective service area.

2. Includes non-potable water deliveries to Willow Hill Reservoir.

3. Includes areas served by the San Juan Water District, which provides retail and wholesale supplies. Values shown reflect the sum volumes for San Juan retail, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Ashland (Folsom), and Orange Vale.

WF2050 establishes principles for surface water management implemented through the elements of the agreement, including commitments contained in Purveyor Specific Agreements (PSAs).

Page 756 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 54
Guiding Principles
Water Forum activities related to surface water management will support Water Forum’s coequal objectives by aligning with the guiding principles below. Notably, there are other principles specific to certain agreement topics (e.g., demand management) that are relevant to surface water diversions but are stated within their respective areas of focus. In addition, it is acknowledged that there is an inherent tension between the coequal objectives, and when considered in isolation, they can be interpreted as being in conflict. The Water Forum aims to prioritize its objectives equally, recognizing the need to manage our water resources holistically.

1. Prioritize alternative supplies to supplement surface water from the American River system during dry conditions, providing flow and water quality 20 benefits for the LAR.
a. Pursue opportunities for increased groundwater pumping to allow surface water to remain in the LAR.
b. Pursue opportunities for increased diversions from the Sacramento River as an alternative to surface water from the American River system.

2. Ensure that surface water commitments are balanced with regional eﬀorts to achieve groundwater sustainability.
a. Prioritize surface water diversions in wet conditions to allow groundwater recharge.

Program Elements

1. Purveyor Specific Agreements
Within water Purveyor Specific Agreements (PSAs), individual commitments are articulated based on the Unimpaired Inflow to Folsom Reservoir (UIFR) as an annual metric of hydrologic conditions within the American River watershed. A UIFR of 400 thousand acre feet (TAF) or lower will define the driest conditions. A UIFR between 950 and 400 TAF will define the drier conditions.

A UIFR between 950 TAF and 1,600 TAF will be considered normal conditions. And, a UIFR of 1,600 TAF or greater will be considered to reflect wet conditions. While 1,600 TAF is not considered a formal definition of what constitutes a “wet year” or “wet conditions” on the American River, it was utilized in the original Water Forum agreement as a basis for surface water commitments. It is expected that additional analysis and discussions will be conducted as part of ARCAP to explore and define other potential criteria that could guide regional operations in wet conditions.

Purveyor commitments were developed based on the surface water guiding principles and the unique opportunities for each purveyor. An important feature of the commitments, particularly for diverters of American River water, includes the establishment of the projected future level of diversions that would be expected to occur in normal conditions. This projected future level of diversion forms the basis for commitments in drier-than-normal hydrologic conditions.

Page 757 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 55

2. Engagement with Reclamation
The influences of Reclamation’s operations on the coequal objectives are much greater than the influences of regional surface water diversions, particularly related to the health of the river. The Water Forum will continue to engage with Reclamation to support the coequal objectives. Details related to the Water Forum’s strategy for engagement with Reclamation are included in Appendix

3. 3. Regional Projects and Programs
Regional projects and programs described below have been identified as aligning with the coequal objectives and supporting the WF2050 surface water principles and elements. These projects have conceptual endorsement from the Water Forum (see Governance, Funding, and Administration, page 114), and are at varying levels of development and analysis. It is expected that these projects will continue to be discussed and assessed within the Water Forum to better understand the potential benefits and impacts.

RiverArc
The RiverArc project emerged from the 2000 Water Forum Agreement negotiations and was envisioned as a means to protect the river, its flows, and habitat from growing threats while also supporting water supply needs for planned regional development. Planning for the RiverArc Project has continued to evolve over the last 25-years but the concept has remained the same: to strategically shift existing water supply diversions from the American River to the much larger Sacramento River without adversely aﬀecting other water users. RiverArc is seen as an adaptive management strategy that provides a foundational, regional approach to addressing the growing impacts of climate change in the American River watershed and supports the coequal objectives.

RiverArc design includes construction of water treatment and transmission facilities to deliver Sacramento River water supplies to the region upon implementation. The facilities are planned to include the utilization of an existing raw water intake on the Sacramento River that is fitted with state-of-the-art screens to protect fish, a raw water booster pump station, a pipeline to deliver raw water for treatment, a water treatment plant, and two treated water delivery pipelines, one to western Placer County and one to northern Sacramento County.

The RiverArc Partners, which currently include Placer County Water Agency, the City of Sacramento, the City of Roseville, and Sacramento County Water Agency, are currently working through the environmental analysis and technical studies required for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement. The RiverArc Partners anticipate presenting a public draft Environmental Impact Report in 2026. This planning work has been funded by a $5.1 million California Wildlife Conservation Board Streamflow Enhancement grant, demonstrating the importance of RiverArc’s anticipated benefits to California.

Page 758 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 56
Sacramento Regional Water Bank:

The Sacramento Regional Water Bank (Water Bank) is a project being developed by approximately 20 local water purveyors through the Regional Water Authority (RWA). The goal of the Water Bank is to expand conjunctive use, thereby increasing water banking operations throughout the region to: (1) Improve long-term regional reliability and provide statewide water supply opportunities when possible; and (2) Support healthy ecosystem function on the lower American River.

The Water Bank objectives are to:
• Increase groundwater recharge during wet conditions using available surface and recycled water supplies.
• Reduce reliance on surface water during dry conditions by using previously banked groundwater.
• Contribute to healthy ecosystem function, including on the lower American River • Contribute to water reliability of water agencies in the region with no or limited access to groundwater.
• Maintain the quality of surface water and groundwater. • Contribute to CVP operational flexibility by reducing reliance on Folsom Reservoir during dry conditions.
• Consider and advance mutually beneficial opportunities to partner with entities outside the region on operational collaboration and/or investment in the Water Bank. • Generate revenue for investment in infrastructure and other projects/programs to improve regional water supply reliability, resiliency, and aﬀordability for participating agencies.
• Generate revenue (through water transfers and exchanges) to reduce financial barriers to conjunctive use for participating agencies.

The Water Bank consists of a system of groundwater wells, pumps and pipelines that allow local water agencies to fill and then pump out water reserves stored underground to primarily serve local water needs. It is anticipated that up to 65,000 acre-feet per year of water can be recharged (or stored) by local water agencies during wet periods of and up to 55,000 acre-feet per year of water can be extracted by the same agencies during dry periods. Environmental documentation for the Water Bank is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026, and the project will be implemented at that time.

Page 759 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 57
Ongoing conversations within the Water Forum are expected to include details related to groundwater recharge during wet conditions and reduced reliance on surface water during dry conditions. These conversations are likely to occur within the ARCAP working group.

Caveats and Assurances

1. The ability for any individual purveyor to implement the surface water diversions principles will depend on their respective opportunities and constraints.

2. On a five-year cycle, purveyor signatories will coordinate with the Water Forum staﬀ to provide data and assumptions to be reported in their Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs), including demand projections, current and planned supplies, and drought planning scenarios. Water Forum staﬀ will compile regional data and assumptions for presentation to the Water Forum membership for review and discussion.

3. Nothing in the agreement is intended to call for the reduction or forfeiture of existing surface water entitlements. Signatories to the agreement will honor this principle in state and federal entitlement proceedings directly related to WF2050. It is recognized that there may be broader state and federal entitlement proceedings where signatories may have diﬀerent interests, such as the SWRCB water rights proceeding for the Bay-Delta. Signatories agree to work in good faith through the Water Forum with the objective of developing a consensus recommendation for how state and federal entitlement proceedings should aﬀect those agencies that store and divert American River water. All signatories will make good faith eﬀorts to ensure that recommendations are consistent with both coequal objectives. a. The LAR is considered to be fully appropriated by way of the existing declarations of full appropriations, the responsibilities of the California Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, and the realities of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. For more detailed information, see Appendix 6. The Water Forum will not be pursuing amendments to the existing declaration of full appropriation.

4. Recognizing that the majority of LAR surface water supply originates in the Upper American River Watershed, signatories support eﬀorts above Folsom Reservoir to enhance and restore watershed health, creating a resilient headwater for water supply and ecosystem benefits on the American River.

5. The Water Forum did not evaluate new reservoirs in the analyses used to inform the WF2050 negotiations. Notwithstanding any provision of this agreement, any proposal for the Water Forum to support or oppose a new reservoir shall be approved by the Plenary, with at least 30-day notice to each Water Forum representative.

6. Signatories acknowledge that the parties to the Healthy Rivers and Landscape (HR&L) Proposal will be obligated to meet tributary program requirements for the American River, if approved by State Water Resources Control Board along with associated agreements. In addition, there are Water Forum members who have also made flow commitments

Page 760 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 58
pursuant the American River Terms for Ecosystem Support and Infrastructure Assistance Needs (ARTESIAN) Agreement21.

7. Signatories are encouraged when invited to support (where possible) purveyors’ rates and fees necessary to implement projects and programs insofar as they are consistent with the WF2050 guiding principles and in support of the coequal objectives. The Water Forum will provide learning and engagement opportunities on water aﬀordability and related best practices, and signatories will work to better understand associated challenges and opportunities (see Governance Program Element– Community Outreach and Engagement for more information).

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
The region’s water providers are expected to continue expanding their reliance on groundwater due to climate change, the potential for groundwater to serve as a backup supply during increasingly dry conditions, and projected regional growth and economic considerations. Water providers and groundwater management agencies have made significant investments in protecting the quality and quantity of groundwater to protect the viability of this local water supply and to comply with State regulations. Local water providers have expended intense eﬀort to demonstrate that local groundwater subbasins will comply with SGMA. SGMA will continue to require local management actions and reporting.

Historically, most local water systems were either supplied by surface or groundwater, but not both. Over time, some of the previously surface-water-fed systems have added groundwater to their supply mixes to increase resilience. Many of the traditionally groundwater-supplied systems have added surface water supplies to either replace contaminated groundwater or to replenish their groundwater aquifer through in-lieu recharge. The use of direct groundwater recharge (also known as injection) is a relatively recent addition to local management actions and is relatively rare in the region. “Conjunctive use,” “groundwater banking,” and “aquifer storage and recovery” are terms used to describe eﬀorts to manage both surface and groundwater supplies in a manner that complements each other.

Table 1 (presented above in the Surface Water Management Section) lists local water providers and their recent mix of surface and groundwater supplies.

WF2050 intends to establish agreed-upon principles to leverage and enhance the collective resources of its signatories to support the coequal objectives and groundwater sustainability while avoiding duplication of eﬀort.

21 The ARTESIAN Agreement contains commitments for certain RWA members to obtain funding to complete groundwater infrastructure projects and provide contributions to environmental outflow with or without adoption of the HR&L. The ARTESIAN Agreement governs the rights and obligations with respect to the administration of state funding provided for in the Funding Agreement Between the State of California (Department of Water Resources) and the Regional Water Authority - Voluntary Agreement Early Implementation for the American River, executed on July 21, 2023.

Page 761 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 59
Guiding Principles
Water Forum activities related to groundwater management will support the coequal objectives by aligning with the guiding principles below.

1. Recognizing that the regional GSAs have primary responsibility for managing regional subbasins, the Water Forum will facilitate coordination and collaboration while avoiding duplicative eﬀorts.
a. Facilitate dialogue and the exchange of information between Water Forum signatories and groundwater managers to increase the understanding of groundwater conditions and trends, support inter-basin coordination, and promote eﬀective regional groundwater management.
b. Promote and facilitate the application of the latest scientific and data-driven insights in groundwater evaluations and planning.

2. Support conjunctive management of regional groundwater basins with surface water supplies to enhance water supply reliability and provide flow and water quality 22 benefits to
the LAR.
a. Prioritize groundwater use in dry conditions to allow surface water to remain in the LAR.
b. Facilitate increased surface water diversions during wet periods to support groundwater recharge, in a manner that protects the river system.

Program Elements

1. Regional Coordination and Information Sharing
The Water Forum will work cooperatively with regional groundwater management organizations23 to inform Water Forum members about groundwater conditions and trends, including GSP implementation and Sacramento Regional Water Bank operations. Activities and products to include:

1. An annual meeting on groundwater conditions and GSP implementation status.

2. Key groundwater indicators and data are synthesized and displayed on the Water Forum webpage for quick access to current conditions and project status. This feature will provide a comprehensive overview of regional groundwater conditions, incorporating information from the regional groundwater subbasins and the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. This information has value not only to Water Forum members but also to the public, including regional decision makers, land-use agencies, and policy analysts.

Information to include:

22 Including temperature, DO, and other characteristics. 23 GSA, water banking participants, and other organizations who use groundwater.

Page 762 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 60
a. Subbasin groundwater condition mapping with water quality and water level monitoring information.
b. A list of groundwater management actions planned by GSAs and their respective status.
c. Annual volumes of water stored, extracted, and transferred as reported by the Sacramento Regional Water Bank.

The Water Forum will coordinate with regional groundwater organizations to facilitate collaboration on eﬀorts when there is alignment in planning and implementation activities.

Water Forum activities will include:

1. Sharing data and information (climate change, water demand, or otherwise) with regional groundwater management organizations when there is alignment in planning and implementation needs.

2. Maintaining open dialogues between Water Forum staﬀ and consultants and groundwater management organizations to seek opportunities to provide ecosystem benefits through groundwater management actions.

2. Support Actions: Technical, Facilitation, and Public Engagement The Water Forum has a long history of successfully helping local groundwater managers

24. Upon
request from groundwater management organizations and with the approval of the Water Forum Plenary, the Water Forum will assist local groundwater management organizations. Examples of possible Water Forum support actions are listed and described below.

Technical: Gathering or interpreting data or conducting analyses (e.g., performing CALSIM runs to validate GSP modeling).

Facilitation: Structuring and holding conversations within and between GSAs and other interested parties. For example, in 2020, the Water Forum convened negotiations with the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority and other local entities to determine the structure and funding of the South American Subbasin GSP .

Public Engagement: Sharing the status of our region’s groundwater management eﬀorts with key audiences (e.g., tailored communications for Water Forum signatories who desire a region-wide perspective; public support to groundwater managers for grant requests).

3. Purveyor Specific Agreements
Within the PSAs and the conditions outlined within the surface water management program element, each of the purveyors has outlined opportunities to implement the groundwater

24 One of the most recent examples was Water Forum staﬀ and consultant technical and facilitation support for the Cosumnes Subbasin during the preparation of their GSP in 2018.

Page 763 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 61
management guiding principles. These opportunities include descriptions of in-lieu recharge activities and direct recharge, among other opportunities.

Caveats and Assurance

1. The Water Forum will work to understand better and communicate the opportunities for, and impacts of, increased surface water diversions in wet conditions.

2. Signatories acknowledge the importance of continued data collection and analysis to improve understanding of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) and surface water– groundwater interactions and commit to ongoing dialogue within the Water Forum as these topics are explored in the context of SGMA requirements and ARCAP analyses (as relevant).

DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Demand management refers to a range of actions aimed at managing the consumptive use of water, including improvements in water use eﬀiciency and eﬀorts to ensure that demand does not exceed available supplies. These actions can be deployed at the regional, purveyor, and household levels. As the region prepares for continued growth and the impacts of climate change, demand management is a valuable tool in our regional toolbox to reduce surface water diversions from the American River (which has the potential to improve reservoir storage, cold water pool, and river flows) and to reduce demands (which improves regional water supply reliability, including groundwater sustainability and climate resilience).

Climate change in the American River watershed is expected to cause greater volatility in surface water availability between hydrologic year types. To partially address this increasing uncertainty in the availability of surface water supplies, particularly in dry and critical conditions, reduced surface water reliability will be oﬀset (in part) by increased groundwater production and demand management. Demand management can contribute to improved water supply reliability while leaving more water to support the health of the river. Moreover, reuse, grey water, and water recycling can reduce the need for surface water diversions. Such measures have already been implemented at varying scales within the region, with expected expansion in the future.

Continued engagement and coordination with Reclamation (as the owner and operator of Folsom Dam) will be critical to increase the likelihood that regional demand management and other related actions will result in targeted improvements to the health of the LAR.

It is important to note that water providers in California have more stringent state requirements for water conservation than existed 20 years ago, which bring greater operational and financial obligations. The new regulatory framework adopted by the SWRCB in 2024 (Making Conservation a California Way of Life) establishes agency-specific water use objectives for urban water purveyors in California, which will have varying impacts on regional purveyors. WF2050 incorporates these new requirements.

Page 764 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 62
Guiding Principles
Water Forum activities related to demand management will support the Water Forum’s coequal objectives by aligning with the guiding principles below:

1. Support appropriate and reasonable demand management actions that help purveyors meet their regulated water use objectives, including actions that can improve water supply reliability and provide ecosystem benefits in the LAR, while also supporting regional groundwater sustainability.

2. Facilitate dialogue and the exchange of information between Water Forum signatories to promote awareness and understanding of regional water use trends and standards.

3. Seek ongoing opportunities for engagement, coordination, and agreements to promote the use of conserved water to support the coequal objectives.

4. Support actions that contribute to tree canopy health and avoid actions that exacerbate urban heat island eﬀects.

5. Promote access to water necessary to support living landscapes across all socio- economic conditions and encourage low-water use and the use of native vegetation.

Program Elements
To implement the Demand Management principles listed above in support of the coequal objectives, the Water Forum will commit to the programs, actions, and activities below.

1. Regional Coordination and Information Sharing
Water Forum members commit to ongoing communication and collaboration on the implementation of demand management. The various mechanisms and venues where this communication and collaboration will occur are provided below.

Water Forum staﬀ will obtain information regarding regional demand management that Water Caucus members have annually reported to the State and will synthesize the data to provide a regional overview of the status of implementation and water use trends. This information will be shared with Water Forum members in various venues and formats, as described below. Water use information shared with the Water Forum members will be built on existing reporting requirements.
• Water Forum will convene an annual meeting for Water Forum members focused on demand management and regional water use trends. Topics include regional water use trends (based on purveyor production data), the status of implementing demand management actions identified in agency PSAs and reported to the SWRCB, and the hydrologic outlook for the current year, with implications for regional water supplies and river needs. Optionally convene an additional meeting, as needed. • Post progress towards meeting state-mandated water use objectives on the Water Forum webpage for quick access. Provide a “one-stop shop” for regional demand management progress, incorporating information from purveyors, DWR, and SWRCB.

Page 765 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 63
• Provide updates on purveyors’ approaches to meeting state-mandated objectives25, including information on the relative eﬀectiveness of various actions and programs (as available).
o Purveyors and Water Forum staﬀ will collaborate to consider opportunities for quantifying and tracking water conserved through ARCAP or other mechanisms. • Purveyors intend to provide Water Forum members with a 30-day review period for their respective Draft UWMPs before the plans are adopted. This 30-day review period is expected to be built into the other required public review cycles and is not intended to be additive.
• Maintain open dialogues between Water Forum staﬀ, members, and RWA to seek opportunities to support LAR health through demand management actions.26 • Host a semi-annual meeting with interested Water Forum members, RWA staﬀ, and agency water conservation staﬀ to review and discuss current and planned regional eﬀorts related to demand management. Water Forum members will have the opportunity to provide input on regional strategies and messaging for consideration by the agency's water conservation staﬀ.

2. Implementation of Priority Demand Management Actions Each Water Forum purveyor has developed and will continue to refine its portfolio of demand management actions to meet regulatory requirements. In choosing the timing and level of eﬀort for potential actions, purveyors consider their opportunities and constraints to weigh potential eﬀectiveness.

The Water Forum has compiled a non-exhaustive list of demand management actions that have the potential to benefit LAR health and support water supply reliability, and these actions are summarized in Appendix 8. Implementation of the actions will help support the coequal objectives.
• Water purveyors will consider implementing the demand management actions listed in Appendix 8.27

25 State mandated objectives (including outdoor water use) broadly become more restrictive over time and relevant updates and information will be presented across the urban water use categories. 26 RWA implements their Water Eﬀiciency Program (WEP) as a regional program which was created to help water providers in the greater Sacramento region work together to help their customers use water eﬀiciently and meet relevant water use eﬀiciency regulations and requirements. WEP activities have included public outreach campaigns, rebate programs, school education and research studies. In addition, RWA’s WEP has been highly eﬀective in attracting grant funding to increase water eﬀiciency in the region and has secured $15 million in funding since the start of the program in 2003.
27 As noted in Element 1 (Regional Coordination and Information Sharing), Water Forum’s annual reporting on demand management information will include a summary of actions and measures implemented within the region, along with progress towards meeting mandated water use objectives.

Page 766 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 64
• The Water Forum, through its decision process, may modify the list of demand management actions as information on their eﬀectiveness becomes available.

3. Purveyor Specific Agreements
All purveyors are committed to adhering to the relevant conservation and water use eﬀiciency regulations. At the time of signing, key requirements are associated with the 2024 “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulations, Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 related to irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water, and the Model Water Eﬀicient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) which encourages low-water use and native landscaping for new development.

Within each PSA, purveyors will outline their anticipated approach to comply with water conservation regulations, including opportunities to improve landscape irrigation, install native and low-water-use vegetation, or take other actions that are identified as meeting agencies’ specific needs. The descriptions include current programs as well as the approach to future conservation. These projections will be understood by signatories to be preliminary in nature and subject to change and are included to provide a reference point as water use trends and practices evolve over the life of WF2050.

4. Engagement with Reclamation
Water Forum strategies and mechanisms for coordination with Reclamation are expected to shift over time as circumstances and opportunities evolve and climate change alters our regional hydrology, presenting new and potentially unforeseen challenges.

Demand management actions have the potential to increase the flexibility of the CVP system if they result in reduced diversions, particularly during drier periods. Reclamation has acknowledged this potential connection and the value of demand reduction during these times.

As part of its ongoing work with Reclamation
28, the Water Forum will promote the benefits of
regional demand management actions to influence operations and agreements that are favorable to the coequal objectives.

Over time, this coordination could seek potential agreements with Reclamation that acknowledge the quantities of conserved water and provide stronger dry-year protections than currently exist with the end-of-year planning minimum. Future agreements should also include provisions to protect purveyor water rights and to emphasize the role the Water Forum has played in decisions concerning Folsom Reservoir storage and releases.

28 The Water Forum’s ongoing work with Reclamation is expected to include implementing and improving the Flow Management Standard; developing various agreements with Reclamation; and providing real-time operational guidance.

Page 767 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 65
Caveats and Assurances

1. All signatories acknowledge that the requirements related to water purveyors’ water use eﬀiciency and demand management have become increasingly stringent since the signing of the original WFA and are continuing to evolve.

2. All signatories acknowledge that the purveyors must consider the costs and benefits of demand management actions (monetary, ecosystem, quality of life, etc.).

3. All signatories acknowledge that water rates have impacts on aﬀordability and equity.

4. All signatories recognize that conserving water provides multiple benefits (if properly targeted, implemented, and managed) and commit to implementing demand management actions in a manner that strives to support both coequal objectives, with considerations for improvements to landscape irrigation eﬀiciency and installation of native and low-water-use vegetation.

DRY-TIME ACTIONS
Balancing the coequal objectives has proven challenging in all years on the LAR, particularly in relation to river temperatures, for which seasonal targets are exceeded in nearly all years. During dry conditions, these challenges become exacerbated, as providing a reliable regional water supply and protecting the health of the LAR may come into conflict, particularly when water supplies become more constrained. The frequency and severity of dry conditions are expected to increase in the future, multi-year droughts are expected to occur more frequently, and dry years are expected to be drier. Careful planning in anticipation of, and diligent coordination and strategy during, dry conditions will be required to ensure that both coequal objectives are supported. “Dry-Time Actions” are the actions provided below that are designed to be taken during dry conditions. Planning and preparation for dry conditions, as well as opportunities to build resilience in wetter times, are also important and are discussed in other sections of this document.

It is essential to acknowledge that Reclamation, as the owner of Folsom Dam and Reservoir, which it operates as part of the statewide CVP , plays a crucial role in the ability of any regional actions to reliably support the Water Forum’s coequal objectives. As such, the Water Forum’s ongoing engagement with Reclamation is always important, but crucial in dry times.

Other topics related to dry times discussed by the working groups have included specific principles and elements related to regional commitments in dry conditions (surface water, groundwater, and demand management). The guiding principles and elements below include additional language that is helpful for commitments specific to dry times.

Page 768 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 66
Guiding Principles

1. Prioritize alternative supplies29 to surface water from the American River system in dry conditions to support LAR health.

2. Work collaboratively to develop consistent messages and strategies for engagement with Reclamation and the State in dry conditions.

3. Strive for consistent regional messaging to the public on water conservation and best practices during dry conditions.

4. Convene interested parties to conference about balancing coequal objectives during defined dry times.

Program Elements

1. Purveyor Commitments for Managing Surface Water Diversions The PSAs include an important program element for implementing Dry Time Actions, which is shared with the Surface Water Management area of focus. As stated in the Surface Water Management program element, the PSAs include specific commitments based on the UIFR (summarized in Tabl e 2).

29 Alternative supplies to the American River surface water could include groundwater, Sacramento River water, as well as reservoir reoperation transfers that would release water from storage upstream of Folsom Reservoir, and other supplies that would make additional water available to support conditions on the LAR.

Page 769 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 67
Table 2. WF2050 Description of Operations
Agency Normal Conditions
(UIFR > 950 TAF)
Drier Conditions
(950 >UIFR >400 TAF)
Driest Conditions
(UIFR < 400 TAF)
El Dorado
Irrigation District
• Use American River supplies to
meet up to 50% of its forecasted
5-year total potable demand
• Potentially provide transfer water
for conjunctive use to improve
groundwater conditions
• Implement the conservation
measures required by its adopted
Drought Action Plan
• Limit use of American River
supplies to meet up to 70% of
forecasted 5-year total potable
demand
• Potentially provide transfer water
for conjunctive use to improve
groundwater conditions
• Implement the conservation
measures required by its adopted
Drought Action Plan
• Limit use of American River
supplies to meet up to 75% of
forecasted 5-year total potable
demand
• Potentially provide transfer water
for conjunctive use to improve
groundwater conditions
Placer County
Water Agency
• 155,000 AFY (total of water rights
permits and CVP contract)
• 155,000 AFY from the American
River
• Replace up to 47,000 AFY (27,000
AFY for PCWA and 20,000 AFY for
City of Roseville) of water through
reoperation of Middle Fork Project
reservoirs
• Conference with stakeholders on
how available water should be
managed
• Likely reduction in deliveries (50%
reduction in irrigation water, 20%
reduction in treated water)
City of Folsom • Current 5-year UWMP projections
will serve as the basis of
diversions
• Reduce surface water diversions
up to 10 percent or as required by
the City’s Water Shortage
Contingency Plan, whichever is
greatest
• Reduce surface water diversions
up to 20 percent, as required by
the City’s Water Shortage
Contingency Plan, or as required
by any mandates issued by the
State of California, whichever is
greatest
City of Roseville • Diversions would be defined by
the most recent UWMP’s 5-year
projected demand
• Diversions would decrease
linearly from normal levels to the
driest conditions
• Reduce surface water diversions
from normal diversions by 20%

Page 770 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 68
Agency Normal Conditions
(UIFR > 950 TAF)
Drier Conditions
(950 >UIFR >400 TAF)
Driest Conditions
(UIFR < 400 TAF)
SJWD
Consortium
• SJWD will divert and the SJWD
Consortium will use 38,603 AF
within the current SJWD
wholesale service area
• SJWD will divert and the SJWD
Consortium will use a decreasing
amount of surface water from
38,603 AF to 30,882 AF within the
current SJWD wholesale service
area
• SJWD Consortium will reduce its
surface water demand by
additional conservation (up to
20% or as required by the
Districts’ Water Shortage
Contingency Plans) and use of
groundwater
• SJWD will reduce its diversion to
30,882 AF for use within the
current SJWD wholesale service
area
• SJWD Consortium will reduce its
surface water demand by
additional conservation (up to
20% or as required by the
Districts’ Water Shortage
Contingency Plans) and use of
groundwater
Sacramento
Municipal Utility
District
• Entitlements total 30,000 AFY,
though the maximum diverted in
the last 10-years is around 6,100
AFY (2013)
• Cosumnes Power Plant (CPP) will
need to operate during drier years
to meet critical local and regional
electrical demands.
• Need to operate the CPP could
increase in drier years due to dry
year reductions in hydroelectric
supply or potentially higher
temperatures leading to increased
use of air conditioning
• CPP will need to operate during
driest years to meet critical local
and regional electrical demands
• Need to operate the CPP could
increase in driest years due to dry
year reductions in hydroelectric
supply or potentially higher
temperatures leading to increased
use of air conditioning
Golden State
Water Company
• Continue to use its pre-1914
appropriative right from the South
Fork of the American River
• Coordinate with City of Folsom
and Reclamation for pre-1914
appropriative surface water rights
• Coordinate with City of Folsom
and Reclamation for pre-1914
appropriative surface water rights

Page 771 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 69
Agency Normal Conditions
(UIFR > 950 TAF)
Drier Conditions
(950 >UIFR >400 TAF)
Driest Conditions
(UIFR < 400 TAF)
Carmichael
Water District
• Future diversions from the
American River may increase
during normal and wet years by
1,500 to 3,000 AFY for storage into
the groundwater basin
• Implement water conservation
measures to reduce demand by
10% or as required by the
District’s Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
• Where possible, prioritize
groundwater use to ensure
suﬀicient flows in the lower
American River
• Implement water conservation
measures to reduce demand by
10 – 20% or as required by the
District’s Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
• Comply with State Water
Resources Control Board’s water
rights orders for diversion
limitations or curtailments
• Where possible, prioritize
groundwater use to ensure
suﬀicient flows in the lower
American River
City of
Sacramento
• Diversion up to 200 MGD so long
as the flow bypassing the
diversion at the Fairbairn Water
Treatment Plant (FWTP) is greater
than the Hodge Flow Criteria,
otherwise diversions will conform
with Hodge Flow Criteria and
corresponding diversion rates
• City water diverted at FWTP in
drier conditions in accordance
with the foregoing limitations
could be used anywhere within
the City’s authorized POU as it
exists now and in the future
• Diversion up to 200 MGD so long
as the flow bypassing the
diversion at the FWTP is greater
than the Hodge Flow Criteria,
otherwise diversions will conform
with Hodge Flow Criteria and
corresponding diversion rates
• City water diverted at FWTP in
drier conditions in accordance
with the foregoing limitations
could be used anywhere within
the City’s authorized POU as it
exists now and in the future
• Diversions at FWTP to be no
greater than 155 cfs and not
greater than 50,000 AFY

Page 772 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 70
Agency Normal Conditions
(UIFR > 950 TAF)
Drier Conditions
(950 >UIFR >400 TAF)
Driest Conditions
(UIFR < 400 TAF)
Sacramento
Suburban Water
District
• Utilize contracts with neighboring
agencies (currently City of
Sacramento, and PCWA) to access
surface water and allow
groundwater to replenish
• Use groundwater to meet
customer demands in a
discretionary fashion to support
regional conjunctive use goals,
operational levels of service, and
the Water Forum coequal
objectives
• Use groundwater to meet
customer demands in a
discretionary fashion to support
regional conjunctive use goals,
operational levels of service, and
the Water Forum coequal
objectives
California
American Water
• Use surface water as it is available
through purchase water
agreements with the City of
Sacramento, PCWA, SCWA, and
SSWD
• Use groundwater to meet
customer demands in a
discretionary fashion to support
regional conjunctive use goals,
operational levels of service, and
the WF coequal objectives
• Use groundwater to meet
customer demands in a
discretionary fashion to support
regional conjunctive use goals,
operational levels of service, and
the WF coequal objectives
East Bay
Municipal Utility
District • Diversions are from the Sacramento River
• Proposals do not include specific diversions based on defined hydrologic conditions • Proposals articulate contributions to the coequal objectives beyond American River diversions Sacramento County Water
Agency

Page 773 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 71

2. Cross-Caucus and Internal Coordination
Cross-Caucus and Internal Coordination is a key program element within the American River Flows and Operations (ARFO) Program Area. The description of the topics and activities focuses on the implementation of the FMS. To ensure common understanding and general awareness of the hydrologic outlook, as well as the implications for related WF2050 commitments, updates on the current UIFR projections will be included in the Cross-Caucus meetings.

3. Engagement with Reclamation
Engagement with Reclamation is understood to be critical to the success of the WF2050 agreement and is described in several areas of focus (as it relates to the specific activities). A broader description is provided in Appendix 3.

In dry conditions, Water Forum members will enhance internal coordination to develop specific and consistent messages for engagement with Reclamation to: ensure implementation of the FMS, promote the benefits of the Water Forum dry-time actions, and the value of leveraging Water Forum commitments to support the coequal objectives.

4. Regional Conferences in Dry Times
Water Forum signatories acknowledge that during certain dry times, there may be insuﬀicient water to support Water Forum’s coequal objectives, and special provisions will be necessary for water management.

During dry time Regional Conferences, all signatories agree to:
• Meet regularly to confer on managing available water supplies to best serve the coequal objectives.
• Consider actions and strategies (beyond managing water supplies) to address the specific challenges posed by these conditions.
• Develop consistent messaging related to the need for water conservation, encompassing both the coequal objectives (not just individual available supplies). Agreed-upon messaging will be utilized region-wide to promote consistent understanding and awareness of the current situation30.

Regional Conferences can be triggered under the following conditions and circumstances:
• The March-November UIFR is less than 750 TAF in any given month, based on the most recent Bulletin-120 (released February-May).
• Folsom Reservoir storage is projected to drop below 200 TAF at any time in the future, according to the 50% forecast.
o The projection could be either:

30 Agencies will still develop individual messaging for their specific situations and requirements, as necessary.

Page 774 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 72
 Provided by Reclamation
 Made by Water Forum staﬀ or consultants over any future time frame (note:
the ability to forecast will dictate the time frame; in other words, with a valid forecast that shows future storage <200 TAF, then Regional Conferences would be triggered)
Other circumstances may also warrant Regional Conferences and are described below.

Either of the circumstances described below requires confirmation from the Plenary31 before a Regional Conference may be called.
• The Water Forum Cross-Caucus identifies that current dry conditions warrant a Regional Conference.
o Cross-Caucus discussions on the potential for Regional Conferences will consider real-time conditions, including reservoir storage, river flows, river temperatures, forecasted operations, regional water supplies and infrastructure, state or federal declarations, etc.
• The Water Forum Executive Director, in consultation with the Coordinating Committee, identifies that current dry conditions warrant a Regional Conference.

Caveats and Assurances

1. Water is essential for public health and sanitation, as well as for economic stability and quality of life. Water agencies have a fundamental responsibility to provide all customers with reliable access to safe, clean drinking water. This fundamental responsibility may constrain the breadth of Water Forum related actions purveyors are able to take during extreme drought.

2. Water agencies in California manage water shortages in accordance with their individual Water Shortage Contingency Plans (WSCPs), which are developed and updated every five years as part of their UWMPs, in compliance with California Water Code requirements.

3. Signatories acknowledge that dry times present exceptional challenges for the health of the LAR, and actions should be pursued to protect the fish that rely on river flows and temperature.

LAND USE DECISIONS
Water Forum signatories include several entities with land use planning responsibilities and water purveyors with water planning responsibilities. Water Forum signatories recognize the benefit of coordination between water resources planning and land use decision-making.

31 Plenary confirmation for Conferencing can be conducted via a special session, to be scheduled outside the regularly schedule meetings, as needed.

Page 775 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 73
While coordination between water planning agencies and land use decisions is required by State law and regulation, and land use decisions rest solely within the purview of the local authorities, the Water Forum can organize and disseminate regional data that informs the nexus between water supply and land use. To that end, WF2050 aims to outline the Water Forum’s role in promoting awareness of the coequal objectives as they relate to land use.

Guiding Principles
The core principles below shape the Water Forum’s approach to fostering a regional understanding of water supply-land use considerations, particularly as it relates to supporting the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

1. The Water Forum has a regional vantage point on water use and supply and a connection to the coequal objectives that is not highlighted through existing mechanisms or requirements.

2. Land use authority rests solely within the purview of the appropriate government jurisdiction, and the Water Forum can play an important role by keeping members and others informed of water supply trends by synthesizing data on regional water use and supply. This data is not intended to suggest Water Forum advocacy (for or against) any land-use decisions.

3. The Water Forum recognizes the challenges in any projections given the uncertain and shifting nature of future land use, water supply, and water use trends, and is committed to clearly articulating such limitations.

Approach
Existing California state laws and local procedures are in place to link land-use decisions and water supply. These include:
• Senate Bills (SB) 221 and 610, adopted in 2001 and in place as of January 1, 2002 (e.g., water supply assessments)
• Water supply information requirements are outlined in Chapter 881 of the California Water Code
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process
• UWMPs (the source for water supply projections)
• GSPs
• “Can and will serve” letters from water purveyors and related requirements that include analyses of impacts of single-year and multiple-year droughts, intended to foster a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of water supply and reliability • MWELO

Page 776 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 74
The Water Forum recognizes that collating and synthesizing existing data at a regional scale (drawn from the above sources) can contribute to the understanding of the region’s cumulative water supply and demand picture among members and others. The WF will rely on UWMPs, Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessments, and GSPs in the region, as well as dry-time actions included in member PSAs and other relevant water supply planning documents, to shape its synthesis of water supply and demand trends. These data sources will include demand and supply projections for the proceeding 20- to 25-year period, to be updated on a five-year cycle.

Additionally, the Water Forum will track longer-term water supply trends to account for changing climate change projections and trends; significant shifts in water or land use; changes in water supply opportunities, etc. This will be done through the ARCAP Framework and work plan (see Appendix 2).

As noted above, the approach is not intended to suggest that the Water Forum will take positions on, or imply support or opposition to, any land use developments. Instead, it is intended to provide members and others with an ongoing understanding of regional trends in both water supply and demand, consistent with the coequal objectives.

Program Elements

1. Region-Wide Supply and Demand Forecast
• The Water Forum will draw on existing data (UWMPs, GSPs, dry-time actions from PSAs, etc.) to compile an ongoing region-wide synthesis of actual and projected water demands and sources (initially through 2050). This timeframe is intended to be consistent with the UWMP planning horizon and not project so far into the future as to be overly speculative.

Opportunities for Water Forum review and discussion of draft UWMPs prior to adoption are described in the Demand Management program elements.
• This region-wide synthesis of projected supplies and demands is to be updated on a five- year basis (with a rolling 25-year time horizon) and will highlight diﬀerences between actual versus previously projected water demand forecasts. Annual updates would occur when data is available and relevant.
• This region-wide examination will make explicit the underlying assumptions shaping the diﬀerent data sources, highlighting both common and divergent assumptions, as well as any noteworthy information gaps.
• This region-wide overview is to be shared in an accessible manner (i.e., on the Water Forum website) and included in the 5-year Status Report to inform Water Forum members and others about regional trends in water demand and supply. • As needed, the Water Forum will provide analyses regarding longer-term (beyond 25 years) water supply trends to inform its understanding of possible longer-term trends and

Page 777 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 75
consequences for the coequal objectives. This work will be done within ARCAP as the program endeavors to understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. • The work will be coordinated with and built on eﬀorts and information from other Water Forum processes as relevant (e.g., ARCAP , demand management, etc.) to avoid duplication of eﬀort.
• Following the adoption of WF2050, the Water Forum will convene a working group32 comprising members of all four caucuses to develop an agreed-upon approach (e.g., data sources, format) for reflecting and updating actual and projected water demands and sources throughout the life of WF2050.
o The working group will identify information needs and sources, as well as the timeframe for projections (e.g., a rolling 25-year time horizon). Additionally, it will determine a method for displaying the information (format, dashboard, etc.) and integrate, as appropriate, the data with Water Forum metrics and other Water Forum processes.
o The working group will meet periodically to review and confirm its process for developing a regional perspective on water demands and supply, and recommend any necessary changes in approach.

Water Forum staﬀ are expected to collate and synthesize data. Any additional research or analytical needs identified by the working group would need to be discussed and confirmed with both the applicable water and planning agency staﬀ, as well as Water Forum members, to ensure that staﬀ burden and overall costs are considered and consistent with the Water Forum’s budget development and review process.

2. Education and Information-sharing
The Water Forum plays a valuable role in educating its members and others in the region about the coequal objectives. There are aspects in ARCH, for example, that speak to public outreach and education, and other areas within Section 5 that underscore the importance of learning and community engagement. This information-sharing is expected to be centered at plenaries, in the Water Forum’s 5-year Status Report, through an online dashboard, and via other outreach mechanisms described elsewhere in this document.

While the Water Forum as an entity does not have a role (formal or informal) in education related to specific land use projects, it can provide a useful venue for dialogue among its members. To that end, and consistent with the Water Forum Way, signatories are encouraged to use Water Forum processes to apprise other members of major land use projects, lawsuits, and other

32 This working group could be combined with the ARCAP working group or a separate group could be formed. After the Water Forum 2050 Agreement is adopted, the caucuses will decide if two groups would be more focused or if one will be more eﬀicient.

Page 778 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 76
activities relevant to the coequal objectives and the work of the Water Forum. These disclosures create an opportunity for Water Forum members to engage in further discussions.

Additionally, individual Water Forum members are encouraged to keep their respective partners, decision-makers, and the public apprised of Water Forum priorities, coequal objectives, activities, and interests by utilizing fact sheets and other materials developed by Water Forum staﬀ.

3. Water Forum Members' Right to Take Individual Positions on Proposed Land-Use Projects
All parties retain the right to support or oppose proposed land-use projects occurring within Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties, and nothing in this agreement is intended to limit that right.

However, consistent with the Water Forum Way, members are encouraged to use the Water Forum process early on to disclose, discuss, clarify, and, as possible, resolve issues related to land use that may be seen as having the potential to impact the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

Page 779 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 77

Program Area 4: Science, Monitoring, and
Decision Support
The Water Forum commits to continuing to develop and sustain a robust science, monitoring, and decision support program to further study, monitor, adaptively manage, co-produce, report and share relevant data, advocate for scientific rigor, and inform and provide eﬀective decision support for the ARFO, ARCH, WSS, and ARCAP program areas in service of the coequal objectives.

Guiding Principles

1. Continue the production and coproduction of scientific information to support eﬀective river corridor and watershed adaptive management.

The Water Forum has a reputation for producing reliable, credible, and rigorous technical information. The Water Forum will continue to co-produce and contribute information regarding corridor health and watershed conditions (through project-related data collection and analysis, as well as other ad hoc or emerging needs) to inform flow and operational discussions with ARG and Reclamation, and support decision-making on the LAR (through the analysis and implementation of the FMS).

The Water Forum will continue to review and advocate for the most appropriate data collection, metric tracking, analyses, and tools to inform adaptive management, thereby improving conditions in the river and supporting the coequal objectives. Building relationships and acquiring data that meets Best Available Science criteria from other entities to assist with science, monitoring, and decision support activities (such as Folsom temperature profiles or CDFW carcass surveys) allows the Water Forum to leverage operating and grant funding to produce actionable information, act as a liaison between interested party and state and federal managing agencies, and support decision-making and understanding of corridor resources and conditions at public venues such as the ARG and Lower American River Task Force (LARTF), and inform regional planning eﬀorts and regulatory processes such as the Reconsultation on the Long Term Operations of the CVP , and the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program (HR&LP).

Page 780 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 78

2. Monitor program and project activities according to appropriate scientific standards and intervals to continue informing adaptive management.

The Water Forum’s various programs and associated project work will continue to meet the highest standards for scientific data collection, tracking, analysis, and reporting. Standardized, peer-reviewed information and protocols will be utilized and incorporated where applicable.

ARFO and ARCH work on the river and within the watershed will continue to be monitored and documented, with the aim of collecting actionable data to inform adaptive management, metrics reporting, and decision support. The Water Forum frequently develops specific information for ongoing work on the LAR, particularly when other information is not available or supplied by other entities, and this will continue for project-specific actions. A description of the Water Forum’s current integration into broader regional and statewide adaptive management strategies, which include peer review, is provided below.

3. Communicate eﬀectively regarding project outcomes, public data, and information access associated with Water Forum programs.

The Water Forum conducts a substantial amount of project monitoring and special studies, developing information that supports planning and decision-making in the region, from technical memoranda to peer-reviewed publications. Sharing well-organized information through open data initiatives and clearinghouses, as well as the Water Forum website, conferences, and special events, will support the Water Forum’s reputation for producing reliable, credible, and rigorous technical information that can be shared publicly.

Providing easily accessible and interactive information related to the Water Forum's work for its members, the public, and educational programs is a key focus of this guiding principle. A detailed description of the role of website updates, data visualization, and a timeline for information sharing and updates associated with this principle can be found in the Metrics and Reporting section.

Program Elements

1. External Processes and Constraints That Directly Inform WF2050 Program Areas External entities and processes influence the work of the Water Forum, particularly for the activities of the ARCH and ARFO Program Areas. The Water Forum’s nexus with the oversight, reporting, guidance, and restrictions associated with various ARFO and ARCH-related regulatory processes and groups is detailed below.

Additionally, grant-funded eﬀorts for any Water Forum Program would include actions and schedules that are informed and constrained by funding agency priorities and cost-benefit criteria, approved grant scopes, and outside science and review processes that prohibit flexibility for changes in scope or priorities prior to or during the grant term.

Page 781 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 79

2. Support, Evaluate, and Integrate with Appropriate Scientific Partnerships and Eﬀorts The need to build and maintain data-sharing channels and supportive relationships on the American River Parkway and within the watershed requires the Water Forum to carefully consider data collection and analysis activities in relation to the mandated roles and needs of other agencies. The extent to which the Water Forum relies on other entities to conduct science activities eﬀectively supports or constrains progress towards its coequal objectives.

The Water Forum will assess the level of commitment to and investment in science-related activities that support decision-making, including an evaluation of how the Water Forum's eﬀorts and roles compare to those of other entities conducting data collection or science activities on the LAR (e.g., Regional Parks NRMP , ARPF, CDFW, etc.). Additionally, it will be important to consider how current Water Forum eﬀorts compare to other regional and partner eﬀorts, the EXTERNAL SCIENTIFIC AND PLANNING OVERSIGHT FOR ARFO and ARCH PROGRAMS ARCH - Central Valley Program Improvement Act, Science Integration Team (CVPIA SIT):

Structured Decision-making and Near-Term Restoration Strategy Guidance and Requirements: Reclamation and USFWS established the Science Integration Team (SIT) to use the Structured Decision Making (SDM) process as a science-based framework to identify priorities for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and green and white sturgeon. Water Forum staﬀ and technical consultants participate in the SIT and provide information that supports an understanding of LAR habitat and science eﬀorts and operations, to inform decision-support through continued evolution of the SIT SDM based on best available science and lessons learned. Water Forum staﬀ oversees planning and monitoring of habitat measures and special studies associated with CVPIA grant funds.

ARFO and ARCH - HR&LP: Planning, Design Review, Monitoring, Science Plan Oversight, and Habitat and Flow Accounting Processes: The HR&LP process includes several required venues and processes that are being put in place to ensure best available science is used to plan, implement, evaluate function, and monitor eﬀectiveness of habitat constructed to fulfill Voluntary Agreement (VA) commitments, and test VA Science plan hypotheses. Flow and habitat measures must meet strict criteria regarding timing, suitability, and eﬀectiveness for entities to receive “credit” for the actions. All habitat actions must also go through a third-party design review process prior to implementation and a review of As-Built Conditions. These processes represent a “feedback loop” to strive for best outcomes where best available scientific information is vetted and informed by the HR&LP process, and information developed by tributaries in the process of this work feeds back into the process. Water Forum staﬀ sit on the HR&LP Science Committee and are heavily involved in Science Committee eﬀorts associated with multi-tributary coordination, design review, habitat accounting, tributary monitoring, and reporting/tracking, as well as overseeing planning, implementation, and monitoring of habitat measures associated with HR&LP commitments, and ARFO activities associated with HR&LP flow commitments and accounting are occurring in close coordination with RWA staﬀ as the American River regional representative organization under the HR&LP process.

Page 782 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 80
usability and value of existing monitoring and data analyses, including its application to State and Federal agency decision-making, future use of peer-review or science advisory panels, level of certainty of future funding, nexus with upcoming programs and eﬀorts, and consider the need for a long-term, robust monitoring framework/program, decision support, and data management within the context of climate change on the LAR.

Due to various agency mandates such as those related to operations, river and fishery management, water supply, and groundwater planning, etc., for certain information, the Water Forum is often dependent on the actions of other agencies to collect the scientifically defensible data needed for decision-making. Data collected and used to monitor progress toward coequal objectives and guiding principles are described in the next section.

3. Metrics and Reporting
The metrics and reporting program element identifies appropriate information, data and metrics related to the work of the Water Forum, and details how the Water Forum will track and communicate progress on eﬀorts that support the coequal objectives and encompasses a range of activities covered under the ARCH, ARFO, WSS, GFA, and ARCAP guiding principles. This section provides the foundation and framework for ongoing analysis and synthesis to support monitoring and reporting for Water Forum’s activities and the success of WF2050.

Metrics will be utilized to track and provide transparency in reporting progress toward both coequal objectives and the agreement’s guiding principles. Metrics will leverage existing publicly available data, as well as information collected from programs, projects, studies, and outreach initiatives led and supported by the Water Forum.

Regular tracking and reporting by the Water Forum will provide an opportunity to share information about the value of the Water Forum’s presence and the organization’s role in the region. Monitoring informs adaptive management and decision-making, while reporting enhances the general understanding of water supply sustainability and river health, and helps build trust with interested parties.

Figure 5 provides an overview of the relationship between the coequal objectives, guiding principles, metrics, and reporting. The coequal objectives and the guiding principles of the agreement establish the foundation of what the Water Forum supports and pursues. Activities that span from collaboration to specific projects, as well as outreach and engagement, support how the Water Forum works to achieve its objectives and implement these principles.

Page 783 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 81
Figure 5. Coequal Objectives and Guiding Principles Relationships with Activities, Metrics, and Reporting

Types of Metrics
There are two types of metrics that are intended to be used in tracking the implementation of the agreement’s guiding principles: data-driven metrics and documentation metrics. In addition to these types of metrics, there is contextual data that is informative regarding the status of the coequal objectives but is not necessarily indicative of the success of the Water Forum. A description of the metrics is provided below, and a summary table of the metrics used in the Water Forum metrics and reporting program element, along with their respective categories and relevant program areas, is included in Appendix 9.

Data-Driven Metrics: Data-driven metrics encompass quantitative information derived from analyses of habitat availability (e.g., percentage of exceedance flows), river temperatures, changes in groundwater sustainable yield, and trends in hydrologic conditions. Data-driven metrics can also include quantifiable values related to funding, the number of individuals reached or engaged, and the number of participating organizations. Several categories help diﬀerentiate the focus of data-driven metrics. These categories include:
• Water Quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.)

Page 784 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 82
• Habitat
• Storage
• Funding
• Water Supply
• Other

The Other category is used to capture data-driven metrics that do not cleanly fit into a defined category, supporting flexibility in updates made to metrics over time as new information becomes available. A summary of these data-driven metrics is provided in Appendix 9.

Documentation Metrics: Documentation metrics are typically more qualitative and descriptive in nature. Several categories help diﬀerentiate the focus of documentation-driven metrics. These categories include:
• Accountability
• Benefits
• Partnership
• Process & Structure

Metrics that provide documentation of accountability are typically related to commitments to specific actions, documenting outcomes from meetings and briefings, and eﬀorts to provide clear communication and consistent messaging. Eﬀorts to enhance transparency and clearly communicate roles and responsibilities are also grouped under the category of accountability.

The benefits category is related to metrics that document opportunities, improvements, and evaluations of impacts or beneficial results. Partnership metrics document and describe collaborative meetings and engagement sessions as well as partnership opportunities. Process and structure metrics document specific processes and organizational or procedural structures. A summary of these documentation metrics is provided in
Appendix 9.

Contextual Data and Information: It is important to note that there are other data and information that represent contextual information related to the status or viability of the coequal objectives that are important for tracking and monitoring changes in conditions, understanding long-term trends, or normalizing Water Forum-collected data and analyses, such as: ambient air temperature, snow accumulation, salmon carcass surveys, Delta conditions, salmonid population and growth studies, upstream reservoir storage, and others. However, while these metrics are informative as to the viability of the coequal objectives, they are not necessarily indicative of the eﬀectiveness of the Water Forum’s eﬀorts. Relevant contextual data and information will be tracked within the Metrics and Reporting program element as is viable and informative for guiding Water Forum priorities. Data synthesized and communicated in this category will evolve over time based on the direction of the Plenary with the goal of providing a consistent basis of understanding on the conditions and trends related to the coequal objectives.

Page 785 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 83
Metrics Reporting and Timeline
Several reporting mechanisms will be used to document and communicate progress on supporting the coequal objectives and WF2050 guiding principles. The reporting mechanisms are listed and described below. Additionally, the metrics identified for inclusion in each respective reporting mechanism are detailed in Appendix 9.
• Annual Report
• Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report and Quinquennial Symposium • Plenary and Caucus meetings (regularly recurring meetings) • Water Forum website and Conditions/Data Dashboard
• Project-specific reporting (as needed)
The reporting mechanisms listed above will be relied upon throughout the year and follow a general timeline (Figure 6). To enhance member engagement and more eﬀectively communicate relevant information, an annual sequence is proposed that is closely tied to the availability of pertinent data and/or information, as well as relevant partner processes, key decision points, and actions throughout the year. Please note that project reporting will occur according to the individual project schedule.

Figure 6. Metrics and Reporting Timeline

Annual Report
Each year, the Water Forum will update and provide an Annual Report that describes the Water Forum’s priorities, updates, and progress on Water Forum internal operations and

Page 786 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 84
implementation of the WF2050’s guiding principles. Content will include updates and a reflection on the past year based on data-driven metrics, including funding, habitat, river temperature, storage, water supply, etc., as well as documentation metrics for communicating accountability eﬀorts and realized benefits. This report will be released annually in the first quarter and will reflect the activities and progress made by the Water Forum during the previous year. This report may include specific, agreed-upon reporting metrics to document a summary of progress made on ARCAP.

Five-Year Status Report
The Water Forum commits to developing a Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report that will synthesize information related to the status of eﬀorts supporting the coequal objectives and implementation of the guiding principles. The report will describe the progress made regarding the impact of program activities on a sustainable and reliable water supply, as well as their contribution to corridor health. The report will also describe the progress made through metrics that support accountability and document updates to processes and structures. Reporting may also consider and include information solicited from other agencies and entities, where applicable, appropriate, and where best available science considerations can be met

33. This
report will provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on trends that are more easily interpreted at a time step greater than one year. This report may include specific, agreed-upon reporting metrics to document a summary of progress made on the ARCAP Guiding Principles.

The Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report will be utilized internally to evaluate progress of the Water Forum’s work, but will also be compiled in a format that is easily shareable with and relevant to other interested parties and a wider public audience. The Five-Year Status Report will:
(1) comprehensively review progress towards meeting the coequal objectives and guiding principles; (2) highlight climate change impacts or other factors that may be impacting the work of the Water Forum, and (3) suggest any needed revisions or changes to WF2050 priorities and activities, or the annual work plan to address changing conditions. The Five-Year Status Report will be developed in coordination with the members and reviewed and confirmed by the Coordinating Committee. Upon completion, this report will be presented at a Plenary meeting for final approval before being shared publicly.

When developing the report, Water Forum staﬀ will strive to use language, graphics, and learning and engagement sessions that make both the data and any associated ramifications accessible

33 Although leveraging information from other agencies is advantageous, consideration should be given to using best available science and understanding the limitations associated with reliance on data collected by entities outside the Water Forum, that may have funding/staﬀ limitations and diﬀering management mandates that can aﬀect data quality, format, useability, timeliness, availability, and scientific defensibility.

Page 787 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 85
to an intended audience (Water Forum members and others) with varying degrees of expertise in the diﬀerent topic areas.

Quinquennial Symposium
Every five years, and following shortly after the release of the Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report, a Water Forum 2050 Quinquennial Symposium will be held to highlight how the work of the Water Forum supports improved water supply reliability, habitat and science, and operational decision-support needs for the LAR, and tracks metrics and adaptively manages activities in service of the coequal objectives. This symposium is meant to foster resource understanding among members and the public and oﬀers an opportunity for strengthening partnerships within the region.

Having the symposium occur on an interval that matches the Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report provides an opportunity to oﬀer an interactive and collaborative opportunity to discuss broader trends identified in the Five-Year Status Report and participate in visioning and development of ideas for adaptive management and next steps to address issues that are directly actionable by the Water Forum (programs/projects/funding) or indirectly actionable through advocacy and new or continued partnerships. Water Forum members will be actively engaged in the development and implementation of the Symposium.

Plenary Meetings
Plenary meetings are conducted on a quarterly basis and are focused on key areas of the Water Forum’s activities. Under the proposed schedule, during the first quarter, Plenary meetings will focus on the proposed Annual Budget and Work Plan, as well as the previous year’s Annual Report. In the second quarter, these meetings will focus on groundwater and the hydrologic outlook. In the third quarter, the focus shifts to water supply and demand, along with an update on the ARCH Program. The fourth quarter will discuss annual temperature management on the LAR. It is intended that the Plenary meetings will also provide an opportunity to highlight the eﬀorts of Water Forum member organizations and/or invite partners to share relevant information on projects or programs that provide mutual benefits toward the coequal objectives and guiding principles, as well as other topic areas as needed.

Caucus Meetings
Caucus meetings are held monthly, or as beneficial for the respective caucus. These meetings provide a venue to discuss areas of interest related to the Water Forum’s work for the respective caucuses: Business, Environmental, Public, and Water. The metrics topics discussed in these meetings will align with and be prepared for in advance of the quarterly Plenary meetings.

Page 788 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 86
Water Forum Website
The Water Forum website will be updated biannually and as needed to provide information synthesized by the Water Forum and illustrating its relevance to the coequal objectives (e.g., regional demand data, information from regional GSPs, REDD and snorkel surveys, peer- reviewed publications, and project-specific reports). Website information will be presented in a manner that is useful, timely, and accessible to those with and without in-depth knowledge of the system and the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

Real-Time Conditions and Data Visualization Dashboard
As funding becomes available, a robust data and information visualization dashboard will be developed and maintained, focused on Water Forum program areas, results, and synthesis of information, in line with Principle 3 of the Science, Monitoring, and Decision-support Program Area.

Leveraging new technologies and emerging platforms for sharing data (such as an interactive conditions and data visualization dashboard, Shiny apps, etc.) where the Water Forum’s work may be showcased and where members, the public, and partner agencies may access data, visualize status and trends, and interactively synthesize and interpret information is a focus area for future reporting eﬀorts. As part of this reporting mechanism, there is a commitment to improve, expand, and maintain an online dashboard that provides real-time updates on key indicators and benchmarks of water supply and river health to help inform flow and operation decisions and share the results of the work of the Water Forum in an easily accessible, interactive way for all users.

The dashboard will, as much as practicable, draw on existing data and ongoing data collection mechanisms associated with Water Forum programs, and will include linkages that are updated continuously to reflect real-time conditions from partner entities (such as CDEC), as possible, and other indicators like river flows, Folsom Reservoir storage, and water temperature; as well as habitat conditions or likelihood of presence/absence of salmonids based on lifecycle.

Additionally, the data dashboard will also synthesize physical, biological, hydrologic, and spatial data gleaned from past Water Forum project and program eﬀorts and will allow the user to interact with and visualize river science information, hydrologic data, regional water supplies and demands, and other program data and trends, and will act as an online repository for Water Forum’s relevant technical studies, monitoring reports, peer-reviewed publications, and data that has undergone quality assurance/quality control. The dashboard would also link to existing and emerging open data platforms where LAR fisheries and physical data are housed and available for the broader scientific community to utilize. The data dashboard will incorporate information for metrics as described earlier in this section and summarized in Appendix 9.

Page 789 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 87
Project-specific Reporting
Reporting of project progress and outcomes will be conducted according to the project-specific schedule. Metrics included in this reporting are anticipated to include funding data-driven metrics, as well as documentation of accountability eﬀorts, project benefits, and processes and structures.

Revisiting Metrics and Adaptive Management Needs
Metrics inform our understanding of the status of the coequal objectives and where future resources may be best directed as conditions change over time. Reporting focuses on the status and trends associated with metrics specific to the coequal objectives and Guiding Principles. This information can be used to identify changed conditions and decision points at which the Water Forum may need to shift its focus or adaptively manage its activities to anticipate and respond more eﬀectively to these changes. Updates to Water Forum activities will be documented in the form of Adaptive Management Actions that will be recommended in the Water Forum 2050 Five- Year Status Report and discussed at the Water Forum 2050 Quinquennial Symposium.

Anticipated changes can also be influenced by concurrent planning eﬀorts and partner projects and programs, which support the need for continued collaboration as Water Forum metrics are revisited and updated over time. Current (at the time of signing) planning processes relevant to the Water Forum’s work that should be considered in tandem with updates to the Water Forum metrics and reporting process include (but are not limited to):
• GSP updates
• UWMP updates
• Reconsultation/L TO
• HR&LP implementation
• CVPIA SIT Near-Term Restoration Strategy updates
• Regional Parks Natural Resource Management Plan and Monitoring Plan eﬀorts

Caveats and Assurances

1. The level of eﬀort and the scope of Science, Monitoring and Decision Support Program activities will be informed by emerging data needs, and science activities mandated by regional and/or statewide programs that may arise during the WF2050 term (i.e., the Statewide HR&LP Science Plan habitat accounting process, changing hydrology, new water supply regulations, etc.), and other emerging funding sources and requirements, as applicable.

Page 790 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 88
Program Area 5: Governance, Funding,
and Administration
The Water Forum commits to sustaining robust Governance, Funding, and Administration (GFA) for the organization, in service of its coequal objectives.

The structure of the organization builds on the success of the existing Water Forum and is designed to support the programs throughout the 25-year term of WF2050.

Guiding Principles
Guiding Principles are grouped into the following categories:
• General
• Governance
• Funding
• Administration
These guiding principles are crucial to maintaining the long-term integrity and eﬀicacy of the Water Forum as an interest-based organization. These principles serve as both a touchstone to guide our work and a scorecard to measure the extent to which an evolving governance approach is consistent with and likely to further these principles. Collectively, these principles work to instill confidence, both internally and externally, in Water Forum direction, decisions, and actions. Water Forum members (also referred to as signatories or member organizations) support and actively practice the principles outlined below.

General Guiding Principles

1. Commitment to The Water Forum Way
The Water Forum Way is an explicit set of mutual obligations that has guided Water Forum members’ engagement with one another since its inception. Members demonstrate adherence to the Water Forum Way through the following practices:
• Mutual gains approach and collaborative eﬀort to seek consensus and build trust;

Page 791 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 89
• Participating with an open-minded, respectful, and interest-based approach to all discussions;
• Working through challenges, search for and find balance across the Water Forum’s coequal objectives;
• Understanding Water Forum processes and interested parties; • Surfacing and seeking to understand and accommodate diﬀerences and interests among Water Forum members; and
• Working with diverse groups to enable voices to be heard and to have an opportunity to have a seat at the table.
• Demonstrating a commitment to becoming informed on the topics fundamental to engaging in eﬀective Water Forum discussions.

All members of the Water Forum, as well as staﬀ and consultants, commit to adhering to the Water Forum Way and hold one another accountable for reinforcing this practice.

2. Commitment to Bridging Diﬀerences in Perspectives, Experiences, and Resources Natural resource management and policy can be a place of conflicting and competing interests and resources, both within and across regions. An eﬀective Water Forum governance creates a platform for diverse Sacramento-region participants to have the hard conversations necessary to build consensus for the needed actions within the region and to advocate for its interests with others elsewhere. Water Forum members recognize that eﬀective governance is grounded in a process that holds at its core the following:
• Inclusive and active participation
• Governing processes that address potential inequities to achieve a more level playing field and hear all members’ perspectives
• Encourage novel thinking to address the coequal objectives • Mechanisms that foster timely decision-making (e.g., avoid gridlock or handing any one- party veto power, etc.)
• A “no surprises” policy that puts a premium on member candor and full disclosure on Water Forum-related issues
• Builds and tests for broad buy-in for any agreed-upon actions and decisions

3. Commitment to Open, Transparent Public Processes
The Water Forum is committed to acting in a manner that improves and strengthens public trust.

Water Forum members believe that as public agencies and representatives of diverse interests, it is imperative that our actions are open and transparent, and that we work diligently to maintain accountability and build trust in our work.

Page 792 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 90

4. Commitment to Understanding How the Work of the Water Forum Impacts Our Region’s Diverse Communities
Consistent with these principles, Water Forum members are committed to a governance approach that incorporates eﬀective and credible mechanisms to understand and consider how the diversity of perspectives and communities in our region intersects with the Water Forum’s work and priorities. We recognize that we “don’t know what we don’t know,” and strive to create a structure that fosters shared learning. To that end, the Water Forum embraces a governance structure and culture that fosters the following:
• Each caucus strives to bring diverse and traditionally underrepresented voices into its caucus and discussions.
• Discussions and learning sessions that help Water Forum members understand how their pursuit of the coequal objectives may have the potential to impact positively or negatively, the full range of individuals and communities within our region, and especially those who may have a nexus with historic and current inequities
• Identify and, as practicable, address barriers to full participation by communities and parties that Water Forum activities may impact. Consider forming partnerships with community groups to increase engagement among underrepresented groups and ensure their interests are represented in Water Forum deliberations. • Learn from one another and share eﬀective techniques to strengthen outreach and inclusion of communities and people traditionally on the periphery of Water Forum- related discussions. Look to state resources to support these eﬀorts and consult with diverse constituencies to advise on best practices.

The final Governance Program Element, Community Outreach and Engagement, addresses more specific strategies for considering how aspects of the Water Forum may intersect and impact diverse communities and constituencies.

5. Principles Require Practice
The Water Forum regularly applies the principles of our work through tools such as establishing meeting ground rules, addressing gaps in representation, and promoting transparency through disclosures. Consistent with these principles, Water Forum members are committed to a governance approach that builds on eﬀective and credible mechanisms to understand and consider how our region’s diversity of perspectives and communities intersect with the Water Forum’s work and priorities.

Page 793 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 91

GOVERNANCE
Governance Guiding Principles

1. Governance Scaled to Meet the Mission
The Water Forum’s governance structures (including budget, staﬀing, programs and representation) are appropriately scaled to the Water Forum’s mission and related tasks (as defined by the coequal objectives); while balancing the need for robust and inclusive learning, discussion, and decision-making with the reality of member resource and capacity constraints.

2. Governance Avoids Duplication of Eﬀorts
Water Forum governance is structured to complement, not replicate, eﬀorts undertaken elsewhere (within and outside the region) that have the potential to further (or impact) its coequal objectives.

3. Governance Supports Learning and Community Engagement Given its commitment to building a broad coalition for advancing its coequal objectives, the Water Forum will ensure that its governance structure includes ongoing and eﬀective mechanisms and opportunities to learn from one another and to educate and learn from external community groups that may be potentially impacted by Water Forum actions.

4. Clear Roles and Responsibilities for All Facets of the Water Forum An eﬀective governance structure clearly articulates roles and responsibilities for all facets of the Water Forum, including members, staﬀ, and consultants, as well as written charters for any established committees that describe their purpose, scope, participation, leadership roles, and decision-making protocols. It also incorporates a clear process to identify and learn about recruitment, which improves representation and onboarding and mentoring of new members, as well as ensures that current members understand the updated governance structure.

5. Eﬀective Leadership Fosters Productive Dialogue and Consensus Building The Water Forum is an organization that relies on the participation of individual member organizations in the Plenary and in interest-based caucuses. This governance structure relies on the active participation of its members and leadership to foster trust within and across caucuses, as well as between and among Water Forum members, staﬀ, and consultants. Any leadership for caucuses or committees is intended to facilitate representative, eﬀective, and eﬀicient communication, not replace the Water Forum’s consensus-based decision-making structure.

Governance Program Elements
Governance Program Elements are grouped into the following categories:
• Governance Structure
• Roles and Responsibilities

Page 794 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 92
• Water Forum Standing Committees and Working Groups
• Decision-Making
• Representing the Water Forum Externally
• Implementation Partners
• Community Outreach and Engagement
Program Elements–Governance Structure

1. Governance Structure
The Water Forum is a collaborative organization that strives to bring together diverse interests in the Sacramento region and American River watershed to create innovative solutions and, when needed, resolve conflicts to help achieve the coequal objectives. Figure 7 is an illustration of the Water Forum’s governance structure, outlining the organization’s members, various bodies, and the roles and responsibilities of participants.

Figure 7. Water Forum Governance Structure

2. Water Forum Signatories
WF2050 is a voluntary agreement that organizations signed to carry out actions in support of the coequal objectives. The signatories to WF2050 acknowledge that by signing, they commit to support, advocate for, and carry out all actions specified for them in WF2050, and any related Purveyor Specific Agreements (PSAs), the Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum, or any other implementing agreements, subject to the relevant caveats and assurances. All signatories to WF2050 have equal standing in the Water Forum.

Water Forum Plenary
Business Caucus
Environmental
Caucus
Public Caucus
Water Caucus
Coordinating Committee
Water Forum Staﬀ
ARCAP Working Group, ARCH Cross-Caucus Committee,
ARFO Cross-Caucus Committee,
and other committees as needed

Page 795 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 93

3. Membership
All signatory organizations are considered members of the Water Forum. Participation as a member is expected of entities that sign WF2050, including business, agricultural, and environmental organizations, community groups, water purveyors, and local governments. The Water Forum will continue the interest-based Water Forum Way process used successfully in developing and implementing the previous WFA.

Therefore, all Water Forum participants, acting as representatives of their signatory organizations, have the following general responsibilities:
• Commitment to the discipline of interest-based problem solving • Willingness to invest time and resources to carry out WF2050 responsibilities • Willingness to work collaboratively with others
• Commitment to an inclusive, fair, and transparent decision-making process • Commitment to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility considerations as part of Water Forum activities and deliberations Because the eﬀectiveness of the Water Forum will depend upon cooperation and collaboration among all participants, members will observe the following ground rules:
• Listen carefully and openly discuss issues with others who hold diﬀerent opinions • View a disagreement as a problem to be solved, not a battle to be won • Avoid stereotyping and personal attacks on any other representative • Avoid questioning or impugning the motivations or intentions of any other representative • Respect the integrity and values of other representatives • Honor commitments once made
Each Water Forum signatory organization may have multiple representatives participating in the Water Forum, but may designate only one signatory representative (and an alternate) to participate in formal decision-making actions (see Program Element – Decision Making, below).

Signatory organizations are also encouraged to name an alternate to fill in when the designated signatory representative is unavailable. Each signatory will inform the Executive Director in writing of their signatory representative and alternate.

4. Process for Adding New Members
The Water Forum will utilize the steps below to consider requests from organizations seeking to become new members of the Water Forum once WF2050 is adopted and being implemented.

New members can be considered at any time.

Page 796 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 94
• Any potential new member contacts the Water Forum Executive Director, an existing member organization, or caucus to express their interest in becoming a signatory. • Based on this interest, the Water Forum member or caucus can nominate the new potential member for consideration. This sponsoring member or caucus is responsible for describing the new member organization. The description outlines how and why the proposed member is aligned with and supports the Water Forum’s coequal objectives, member participation commitments, and responsibilities. The description is distributed to other signatories for their review and consideration.
• If any existing member(s) raises concerns about the proposed new member, the Executive Director – consistent with the Water Forum Way – will bring those members together with the new proposed member to discuss and attempt to resolve any existing conflict prior to their becoming a new member or identify a pathway to address the concerns constructively through future discussions.
• The new-member sponsor collaborates with the Executive Director to add the item to the agenda of a subsequent Plenary meeting, where the prospective member is present. After a discussion, the Plenary votes to accept the new member organization. If the decision to accept the new member organization is not unanimous, the decision-making process (outlined in Program Area 5: Governance, Funding, and Administration) is used to arrive at a final determination.
• Once approved, the new member organization signs WF2050, and their designee joins the appropriate caucus.

If the Water Forum is updating WF2050, prospective member organizations can join the appropriate caucus to participate in discussions related to the update. The prospective member organization would only formally join the Water Forum once the new WF2050 is put forward for adoption, and they opt to sign on as a signatory.

5. Process for Onboarding New Members
When a new organization joins the Water Forum or a new representative of an existing member organization joins the Plenary, the Executive Director shall implement the Water Forum Mentoring Program. This Program immediately pairs up the new representative(s) with one or more caucus representatives (Caucus Mentors). When possible, Caucus Mentors will have at least four years of experience with the Water Forum. The Executive Director will provide briefings regarding WF2050 and the full range of Water Forum programs, expected time commitments for members, and related issues to ensure new members are prepared to engage eﬀectively. The Caucus Mentors will provide additional information and insight regarding caucus operations and interests. Caucus Mentors will also assist the Executive Director in introducing the new member to other Water Forum members outside of their caucus and join the new members at Plenary

Page 797 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 95
sessions. Caucus Mentors will actively mentor new members for the first year of their involvement as a Water Forum member.

6. Process for Handling Consolidations Among Existing Members In the event that two or more distinct signatory organizations already in the Water Forum merge into a single entity, the new entity will inform the Water Forum Executive Director of this change, and it will be considered a single signatory entity within the Water Forum. The new entity will identify its designated representative and alternate.

7. Process for Exiting Current Members
When a signatory organization voluntarily leaves the Water Forum, the Executive Director will request an exit interview with the exiting member to understand their reasons for leaving and share those insights, as appropriate, with the Coordinating Committee, caucuses, and the Plenary.

If a member organization is not meeting its stated commitments or its representative(s) are consistently failing to abide by Water Forum participation principles, the issue will first be discussed within the respective caucus. If the issue is not successfully resolved through caucus discussions, a caucus may refer the issue to the Executive Director, who will work with the member and the Coordinating Committee to successfully resolve any concerns to the satisfaction of each caucus. If necessary, the issue will be referred to the Plenary for further action, up to and including removal, in accordance with the decision-making process outlined in the Process for Renegotiation or Amendment Requests (see Administration Program Elements).

Program Elements–Roles and Responsibilities

8. Water Forum Plenary
Purpose: The Water Forum Plenary (Plenary) is the main decision-making and information- sharing body for the Water Forum and sets policy direction for staﬀ. The Plenary approves the annual Water Forum budget, business plan, and Water Forum program directions consistent with the Water Forum Agreement. The Plenary approves the charters of all formed Standing Committees and Technical Advisory Groups. Changes to WF2050 are within the purview of the Plenary unless the Plenary decides they need to be referred to signatory members’ boards for formal confirmation (see section on Changed Conditions and Amendments in Administration Program Elements).

Composition: The Plenary consists of representatives from the signatory organizations, and each signatory has equal standing in the decision-making process.

The Water Forum recognizes the benefits of the Plenary as a venue for facilitating information- sharing, coordination, and collaboration across a wide range of audiences. To that end, Plenary meetings are considered open forums for both members and non-members. There may be times, based on issues under discussion or particular situations (e.g., litigation or ongoing

Page 798 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 96
negotiations), where it is appropriate to limit Plenary meeting participation to signatories only.

Such a decision will be made by the Executive Director, in consultation with the Coordinating Committee.

Roles and Responsibilities: Roles and Responsibilities of signatory representatives include engaging in Plenary meetings consistent with the principles stated above.

Disclosures: The Water Forum has a long-standing practice of setting aside time in each meeting (e.g., Plenary, caucus, other) for disclosures. Representatives are encouraged to disclose information about their organization’s activities related to the coequal objectives that may be of interest to other participating organizations. These disclosures, typically made verbally at the start of Water Forum Plenary or committee meetings, are intended to keep one another apprised of upcoming communications, actions, testimony at hearings, etc. that may be related to or impact Water Forum activities and/or coequal objectives. For time-sensitive issues, members are encouraged to share disclosures in a timely fashion (e.g., by email or phone to the Executive Director and/or members, as appropriate) rather than waiting for the next available Water Forum meeting. The intent of disclosures is to support a “no surprises” policy among signatories, thereby enhancing collaboration, coordination, and trust among Water Forum members.

Schedule: Plenary meetings are expected to be held quarterly throughout the year; exact meeting times will be scheduled suﬀiciently in advance to facilitate participation by Water Forum members. The Executive Director, the Coordinating Committee, or a Plenary member may propose changes to the Plenary meeting schedule. The decision to change the meeting schedule shall be made by the Executive Director in consultation with the Coordinating Committee.

Plenary meetings are open and inclusive, with updates provided by Water Forum staﬀ on projects and programs being implemented to meet the coequal objectives.

Plenary decision-making processes are discussed in the Decision-Making Program Elements.

The process for Renegotiation or Amendment Requests can be found in the Administration Program Elements.

9. Water Forum Caucuses
Purpose: The Water Forum has four caucuses – Business, Environmental, Public, and Water – each of which coalesces diverse interests in the region with a common interest and drive to work collaboratively to further the coequal objectives. The purpose of each caucus is to provide a venue that primarily facilitates information sharing and discussion of issues of interest to the caucus, in an open and collegial framework that seeks to find alignment among the participating entities and enhance consensus opinion.

The Public, Business, Environmental, and Water Caucus members have each documented a specific Caucus Interest Statement that serves as a foundation for each caucus’s discussions and work in the WF2050 negotiation, in service of the co-equal objectives. The Caucus Interest Statement is used to explain the Caucus's values and goals for recruiting or orienting new

Page 799 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 97
members, as well as working with the other caucuses. The four Caucus Interest Statements are posted on the Water Forum website and are available for review by Water Forum members and the public. The Caucus Interest Statements can be updated or amended with agreement from caucus members. While caucuses make decisions related to their internal functions (e.g., naming representatives to committees, designating any internal caucus leadership, etc.), caucuses are not decision-making bodies related to Water Forum decisions unless the Plenary is unable to reach consensus (as described in the Decision-Making Section).

Composition: The Water Forum is structured into four caucuses, each centered around one of four main interest groups with a stake in the coequal objectives. These caucuses, described below, are tasked with representing the breadth of interests within their caucus, either through direct participation of entities within the caucus or through eﬀective outreach to aﬀected parties aﬀiliated with their caucus. Each caucus is committed to the Water Forum’s coequal objectives, while also contributing a distinct and broader focus through their participation. • Business Caucus – The Business Caucus includes representatives from organizations that have a strong interest in maintaining the Sacramento region’s economic health, growth, and urban competitiveness through the constant supply of reliable and cost-eﬀective water resources. Participants are motivated to support viable solutions for water conservation, a healthy American River Parkway, and conjunctive use of groundwater to / augment supplies and prevent unnecessary constraints on growth. • Environmental Caucus – The Environmental Caucus comprises organizations with a strong interest in protecting regional surface and groundwater Public Trust resources for all beneficial uses and users. The Environmental Caucus advocates for public access to pristine park and recreation spaces, programs that lead to the eﬀicient use of water resources, water-related climate adaptation actions, SMART growth within the Urban Services Boundary, and thriving conditions in and along the LAR and its tributaries for all aquatic and terrestrial species that utilize and live near the river, including water temperature, flows, and dissolved Oxygen levels necessary for the healthy lifecycle of Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and other sensitive aquatic species in the LAR. • Public Caucus – The Public Caucus comprises organizations that represent current and long-term public interests in water availability and aﬀordability, as well as public access to the LAR and Parkway, and communities that are underserved or underrepresented in current civic engagement. The Public Caucus comprises nonprofits, community organizations, land-use authorities, and general government entities. Within the context of the coequal objectives, the Public Caucus promotes the following:
o Redress inequities that result in uneven representation and participation in civic processes; the Public Caucus endeavors to fully represent the communities of the Sacramento region and therefore makes special eﬀorts to ensure robust public participation processes in Water Forum work eﬀorts.

Page 800 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 98
o Balance land planning eﬀorts with the sustained availability of water, given the impact of climate change on water supply.
o Implementation of water conservation, demand management, and nature-based solutions to ensure aﬀordable water rates, preservation of the environment, and adequate water supply.
• Water Caucus – The Water Caucus comprises water purveyors serving communities in the American River watershed and region, as well as non-purveyors, including RWA, El Dorado County Water Agency, and others. The Water Caucus members’ mission is to provide a reliable, safe, and long-term water supply for its customers and support for the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

New Water Forum members will work with the Executive Director and caucus leaders/points of contact to identify the relevant caucus to join based on their entity’s focus and interests. (See Elements 4 and 5 under Governance above for language regarding the process for approving and onboarding new members.)
Roles and Responsibilities: Caucus meetings are designed to facilitate communication within the caucus regarding issues pertinent to the Water Forum.

Each caucus may choose to elect leaders or points of contact to assist with communication and information-gathering within and between caucuses and/or Water Forum staﬀ. Additionally, having an individual (or individuals) selected to help the caucus clarify and sharpen its shared interests is extremely helpful and encouraged. Conversations in the caucus meetings are intended to foster brainstorming among members and generate ideas that can be shared in discussions across caucuses. Each caucus will decide how to handle confidentiality regarding caucus discussions.

Water Forum staﬀ and consultants typically participate in caucuses to stay abreast of and contribute to caucus deliberations. Staﬀ and consultants draw on these insights to help guide Water Forum discussions and activities, building collaboration across caucuses. In doing so, staﬀ and consultants are asked to use their discretion in sharing information across caucuses (e.g., not assigning comments to individual members nor with enough specificity to identify the commenter), and caucuses are encouraged to indicate to staﬀ and consultants sensitive issues that should be treated confidentially (i.e., not appropriate for sharing outside of the caucus).

Conversations among signatory representatives are encouraged, and nothing in this description is intended to limit individual Water Forum members from engaging in dialogue directly with other members.

Schedule: Caucus meetings are held monthly, or as needed (may be more or less frequent).

Caucuses may request Water Forum staﬀ/consultant support related to facilitation, technical presentations, etc.

Page 801 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 99

10. Water Forum Staﬀ
Purpose: Water Forum staﬀ are the “glue” that hold the Water Forum together and facilitate implementation of the five Program Areas and ARCAP. To that end, they act as key points of contact with members and non-members. The Water Forum is staﬀed by a range of professionals with expertise in water, biology, environmental, engineering, construction, communications, and other related disciplines. More details on Water Forum staﬀ roles in external communications can be found in the Representing the Water Forum Externally Program Element.

Composition: Water Forum Staﬀ includes the Executive Director, and technical leads/program manager(s) for the Water Forum Program Areas, and fiscal and administrative support staﬀ. At the time of signing, the Executive Director reports directly to the Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities, while other staﬀ report directly to the Water Forum Executive Director.

These positions and roles are subject to change based on the Water Forum's focus, available funding, and ongoing discussions with the Plenary and the City of Sacramento. • The Executive Director plays a vital role in working with member organizations, caucuses, and the Plenary to identify opportunities for collaboration and agreement-building across the various entities, as well as surfacing and resolving disagreements that may impede the pursuit of the coequal objectives. The Executive Director (in conjunction with other Water Forum staﬀ and consultants) carries out this role through a mix of one-on-one conversations with members, arranging for small within and across-caucus discussions, and conducting ongoing outreach to other implementation partners. The Executive Director provides regular updates on issues of interest to all facets of the Water Forum (Plenary, caucuses, relevant members, Coordinating Committee, etc.). • The River Corridor Health Program Manager is the lead in implementing a comprehensive habitat enhancement and science program for the Water Forum. These responsibilities include a range of activities, including technical oversight of design, permitting, construction/implementation, and monitoring of habitat projects; oversight of science and monitoring programs; development and execution of grant applications and funding; engagement with local, state, and federal agencies on external activities; and implementation of public outreach related to habitat projects. Additionally, the position serves as the lead on special internal and external projects to ensure consistency with the Water Forum's eﬀorts.
• The Water Resources Senior Engineer is the lead for several core areas of the Water Forum's programs including Flows and Operations, the FMS, engagement with state and federal agencies on regulatory processes (e.g., re-consultation of the Long-Term BiOp and the SWRCB Water Quality Control Plan update/Voluntary Agreement process), Surface Water, Groundwater, and ARCAP , other elements of WF2050. The role requires a high level of technical fluency to direct analysis (e.g., temperature modeling, climate change

Page 802 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 100
modeling) as well as excellent communication skills to translate findings and facilitate discussions with a diverse group of interested parties.

Program Elements—Water Forum Standing Committees and Working Groups The Water Forum utilizes standing committees and working groups to facilitate the achievement of WF2050’s program elements and annual priorities. Standing committees have a specific focus and work plan aligned with a major program area. For example, the Flows and Operations Cross- Caucus Committee, described below, focuses on critical technical and operational issues that aﬀect the American River during the water year. Water Forum signatory member representatives who serve on committees and working groups serve as eﬀective conduits to their respective caucuses. They provide perspectives from their respective caucuses and serve to gather input and share information back to their caucuses. Committee and working group members serve as either representatives of their respective caucuses and/or their organizations, as specified.

11. Coordinating Committee
Purpose: The Coordinating Committee provides fiscal oversight and guidance for the Water Forum staﬀ. This includes working closely with the Executive Director on the annual budget process and recommending a proposed budget to the Water Forum Plenary for approval. In doing so, the Coordinating Committee provides input on annual priorities and work plans, consistent with the priorities of the Plenary. The Coordinating Committee also considers recommendations and suggestions from the caucuses, standing committees, and working groups for inclusion in the proposed budget and when developing recommendations for Plenary consideration. Coordinating Committee members are expected to provide guidance informed by and consistent with their respective Caucus’s input.

The Coordinating Committee provides oversight and input into Water Forum strategic communications, on behalf of the Plenary. At the request of the Executive Director and any aﬀected signatory (if relevant), the Coordinating Committee will review public information releases, Water Forum comment letters, and endorsements prior to their release. The Coordinating Committee will include in its deliberations any aﬀected Water Forum members to get their input on any relevant communication. The Coordinating Committee, at the request of the Executive Director, will review Plenary meeting agendas, draft standing committee and working group charters, and other staﬀ-generated documents to be provided to Plenary members or directly to the general public.

The Coordinating Committee is responsible for discussing (e.g., identifying additional information needs, etc.) and forwarding to the Plenary for its consideration any formal requests to amend WF2050. This process is further described in the Administration Program Elements.

The Coordinating Committee, in conjunction with the City of Sacramento and with input from their respective caucuses, will contribute to the hiring and evaluation of the Executive Director, similar to the role of an executive committee or board. For example, the Coordinating

Page 803 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 101
Committee will contribute to an annual review. The exact format for providing input is to be determined in discussion with the City of Sacramento to ensure consistency with Human Resources policies and procedures. The Executive Director reports to the Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities or their designee.

The Coordinating Committee is responsible for accepting feedback from signatories of the Water Forum. This input will help inform priorities in the Water Forum’s annual work plan.

Composition: The Coordinating Committee comprises two representatives from each of the four caucuses and the Executive Director. These representatives are chosen by their respective caucuses. The format for Coordinating Committee meetings – whether open or closed to observers - will be determined by the committee members, with a preference for openness. This discretion allows representatives to discuss and consider sensitive topics as needed (e.g., legal or personnel matters), and to seek input from funders or other stakeholders on topics when appropriate.

Roles and Responsibilities: Coordinating Committee members will be responsible for sharing items that are ready for discussion beyond the Coordinating Committee with their respective caucus and for bringing the perspective of their caucus to the Coordinating Committee.

Coordinating Committee agendas will be shared with all caucuses in advance to identify relevant caucus interests and if others should participate in pending/upcoming discussions, and a standing agenda item will be added to each caucus’s monthly agenda to debrief the most recent Coordinating Committee meeting.

Meeting Schedule: The Coordinating Committee will meet monthly or as needed.

The Plenary will assess the eﬀectiveness of measures to address the Coordinating Committee's transparency and accountability following the first year of implementation of this agreement.

12. Flows and Operations Cross-Caucus Committee
Purpose: The Flows and Operations Cross-Caucus Committee (Flows & Ops) enables Water Forum members to coordinate with Water Forum staﬀ on issues related to the operations of Folsom Reservoir and implementation of the Modified FMS. Activities include dialogue to develop a recommended approach to current and forecasted reservoir operations and strategize for regional watershed and dam management advocacy. The approach will be informed by the best available and current data, including forecasts, reservoir operations, and flows on the LAR.

In their meetings with Reclamation and other regulatory agencies, Water Forum staﬀ will advocate for the position developed by the Flows & Ops Cross-Caucus representatives.

Representatives are often attending primarily on behalf of their organizations, but will indicate when they are taking a caucus-based interest in a topic.

Flows and Ops meetings will also include reporting on the UIFR, as well as pertinent Water Forum and/or member actions.

Page 804 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 102
Composition: Flows & Ops is open to any interested Water Forum member who has knowledge and interest in the real-time flows and operations of the LAR. Each caucus will inform the Executive Director of members who wish to be kept informed about Flows & Ops meetings and work.

Roles and Responsibilities: The focus of Flows & Ops will be on implementing the FMS within the relevant regulatory framework.

Meeting Schedule: The frequency of the Flows & Ops meetings will depend on the needs of the given water year and could range from monthly to weekly (drought years will likely require heightened levels of coordination as compared to wetter years).

13. American River Corridor Health Cross-Caucus Committee Purpose: A standing group to inform the Water Forum members regarding prioritization of proposed projects, performance of implemented projects, and overall River Corridor Health programs. Water Forum members will have an opportunity to seek clarity on the approach and to provide input and guidance on program direction. Key information shared and discussed with the ARCH Cross-Caucus will also be reported out to the Plenary on an annual basis.

Composition: Representatives from each Water Forum caucus, Water Forum staﬀ, and technical consultants who are subject matter experts, temporarily, depending upon the subject and need.

The ARCH Cross-Caucus will be chaired by the Executive Director, in coordination with the Water Forum's technical staﬀ and consultants.

Roles and Responsibilities: The ARCH Cross-Caucus will provide input and guidance for the ARCH program area.

Meeting Schedule: The ARCH Cross Caucus will meet at least semi-annually, including to inform ARCH-related elements to be included in the annual work plan. The ARCH Cross-Caucus may schedule meetings as needed. All meetings will be open to observation by Water Forum members and will be hybrid meetings, allowing participants to observe remotely.

14. American River Climate Adaptation Program Working Group Purpose: This working group will inform and guide the activities of the ARCAP .

Composition: The working group will be co-convened with the Water Forum and RWA, will include two members from each caucus as primary representatives, and will be open to all Water Forum members
Roles and Responsibilities: Working group primaries will commit to making reasonable eﬀorts to attend all working group meetings and to review related materials prior to the meetings. The primaries will also be expected to act as representatives of their caucuses by reporting ARCAP progress to the caucus and providing feedback to the Working Group on matters aﬀecting the caucus. The ARCAP working group will be tasked with:

Page 805 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 103
• Reviewing and commenting on work products
• Providing input on program direction, scope, and pace • Deliberating, refining, and providing answers to ARCAP Questions

The Working Group decisions and recommendations will be developed by consensus and will be presented to the Plenary for approval.

Meeting Schedule: Meetings will be held monthly and supported by facilitation staﬀ, with the option of additional meetings as necessary.

15. Process for Establishing New Standing or Ad-Hoc Committees The action to initiate the formation of a new standing committee, ad-hoc committee, or working group can be initiated by the Executive Director, a caucus or caucuses, a member representative or organization, or the Plenary. The need for a new committee or working group can stem from a significant change in circumstances, resource or programmatic constraints, a need for the application of adaptive management, or other significant changes that are not being addressed by the Water Forum’s current structure.

The first step in establishing a new committee or working group is to develop a Charter. The Charter identifies the problem or issue to be addressed, why the problem or issue cannot be eﬀectively addressed within the Water Forum’s current structure, and how the needed resources and expertise will be applied from within the Water Forum’s existing resources. The individual or Caucus initiating the Charter will work with the Executive Director to prepare the draft document.

The draft Charter is circulated among the caucuses and the Coordinating Committee for review and discussion. Comments are reviewed and consolidated into a final draft, which the Coordinating Committee then reviews for any budgetary or programmatic considerations before being sent to the Plenary for discussion and action.

Program Elements–Decision-Making
Members of the Water Forum will continue to use the same collaborative form of decision– making used in the Water Forum since its inception. This collaborative process respects both the diversity and the legitimacy of the interests of all participants and is grounded in the Guiding Principles outlined above. The steps below will guide the Water Forum’s ongoing decision- making process, any disputes that arise among members, and any eﬀorts to change or amend WF2050.

16. Decision-Making Process
• The Water Forum is a consensus-based organization.
• The caucuses are encouraged to seek consensus to facilitate eﬀective decision-making at the Plenary.

Page 806 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 104
• The Plenary is the main decision-making body of the Water Forum and always strives for consensus, meaning all signatories are able to support a particular policy or decision under discussion. (Since its inception, the Plenary has reached a consensus on all decisions.) However, if, after full exploration and discussion of an issue or set of issues, the Plenary cannot come to a consensus agreement, the following process will be used:
o If one or more Signatory Representative(s) disagree with the majority of Signatory Representatives in the Plenary, this member may choose to “stand aside” and let the Plenary reach consensus without them. Within the Water Forum, this is still considered a consensus.
o If the Signatory Representative(s) who disagree with the rest of the Plenary cannot “stand aside,” then the “75% rule” will prevail. The 75% rule requires that 75% of the signatory organizations from each Caucus support a proposal for it to be considered a formal action of the Water Forum. The 75% consists of those signatory organizations present and voting within each caucus (primary or alternate Representative) or, in the event that neither the primary nor alternate is present, represented by a proxy (another member organization within the same caucus is granted permission by the absent organization to vote on its behalf).

Consideration of suggested revisions to WF2050 is subject to the above decision-making process, but WF2050 itself cannot be changed or modified without the expressed approval and consent of the signatories whose interests would be aﬀected by the change (see section below on Changed Conditions and Amendments to the Agreement for more detail).
• Designated Signatory Representatives may identify alternates to participate on their behalf in Water Forum meetings or Plenary sessions in instances of unavoidable absences.

However, it remains the responsibility of each Designated Signatory Representative to make the necessary time available to attend all Water Forum meetings and Plenary sessions as well as the various group and committee meetings, as appropriate. • Plenary Meetings of all Signatory Representatives will be held periodically throughout the year and are open to all Water Forum participants. Specifics on meeting frequency are included in the Water Forum Plenary Program Element.
• The Plenary shall, as necessary, appoint teams of Signatory Representatives to meet on a routine and/or ad hoc basis to: foster implementation of WF2050; finalize procedural agreements (if drafted); develop “trial balloons” regarding changed conditions; and propose options–for subsequent Plenary consideration–to resolve disagreements related to diﬀering interpretations of WF2050. These teams shall use the interest-based collaborative decision-making process described above.

Page 807 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 105

17. Dispute Resolution
A major function of a collaborative process, and a tenet of the Water Forum Way, is to prevent disagreements from escalating into full-fledged disputes. With proper facilitation and communication, most potential disputes can be resolved. However, no matter how sophisticated a collaborative process may be, disputes will inevitably arise. Some may arise out of the interpretation of specific provisions of WF2050. Others may result from concerns about non- compliance or diﬀering interpretations of the terms of WF2050.

It is essential that interested parties refrain from resorting to litigation as a first response to every perceived problem or transgression that falls within the purview of WF2050. Lawsuits can quickly destabilize the collaborative process, potentially returning all Water Forum participants to gridlock. Therefore, while not waiving any of their legal rights, all organizations represented in WF2050 agree to initiate alternative dispute resolution procedures, including mediation, before pursuing litigation.

Program Elements–Representing the Water Forum Externally While the heart of the Water Forum’s work is centered on communication and collaboration among its members and four caucuses, the nature of the Water Forum’s work requires frequent interaction with a range of external parties, including state and federal agencies, the media, and others.

The Water Forum, in the course of its regular work, implements a robust communications strategy that calls for a range of methods to reach a diverse audience. Typical Water Forum communication products include publications such as the annual plan and the Five-Year Status Report, which communicate the Water Forum's progress, priorities, and upcoming actions to external audiences. In addition, the Water Forum maintains a presence on social media platforms. The annual communication strategy as well as periodic reports will be developed in close collaboration with the Coordinating Committee and approved by the Plenary before public release.

Additionally, the Water Forum undertakes a robust outreach and engagement eﬀort to support the habitat enhancement work, as outlined in the American River Corridor Health program area.

This work, which provides critical habitat for salmonids, must also consider the other uses and values of the American River Parkway. For example, the Water Forum habitat team is conscientious as to how its work impacts neighborhoods, river access, and perceptions of enhancement projects. The Water Forum accomplishes this through project-specific outreach, as well as general outreach at venues such as the Lower American River Task Force (LARTF) meetings and engagement with organizations working along the river. (See River Corridor Health for additional information)
The Program Elements below are intended to set expectations and procedures for ensuring the Water Forum is represented externally in a transparent way, informed by its membership, and

Page 808 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 106
consistent with key aspects of the Water Forum Way, most notably the importance of clear communication and “no surprises.” They also address the mechanisms the Water Forum will use to ensure its deliberations are informed by external parties aﬀected by the Water Forum.

18. Role of Water Forum Members
Water Forum members have the responsibility of coordinating with the Executive Director on external communications that mention or attribute work to the Water Forum, including educational material, media releases, or public presentations, to ensure consistent and accurate representation. This responsibility is carried out by members during interactions with one another and the Water Forum staﬀ, and is practiced through Water Forum meetings (see Member Responsibilities on Page 74).

19. Role of Executive Director
The Executive Director serves as the primary external representative of the Water Forum. The Executive Director uses their discretion in representing Water Forum activities, policies, and perspectives with external groups and in public settings, as well as building and strengthening relationships with external partners to the benefit of the organization.

Working with Water Forum members and caucuses, the Executive Director will also seek to identify and foster outreach to and connections with a diverse set of potentially aﬀected parties to ensure (1) they are aware of Water Forum activities, and (2) that their perspectives inform relevant Water Forum discussions. These eﬀorts could range from conversations within established venues, such as conferences, to one-on-one engagements and focus groups.

Note: The role of the Executive Director relative to internal communications within and across staﬀ and Water Forum members is discussed on Page 80.

20. Role of the Coordinating Committee
The Coordinating Committee serves an important role in reviewing external communication materials (e.g., media statements, press releases, letters, etc.) to ensure consistent messaging that balances the interests of all four caucuses. The level of review and involvement depends on the product, topic, and level of controversy, but as a part of the regular work of the Water Forum, the Executive Director will engage with the Coordinating Committee and any potentially aﬀected members on the following:
• Consult in the development of proposed external messages that represent the Water Forum to the public, including news and print media, social media, video, signage, brochures, educational materials, and website content prior to release. • Confirm proposed external messages that represent the Water Forum in special settings, such as conferences, meetings with elected oﬀicials, or state or local agencies, prior to representing the organization’s interest or position on sensitive issues.

Page 809 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 107
• Review and refine comment letters on behalf of the organization, or to form cross-caucus working groups as needed to engage in complex or sensitive topics (e.g., re-consultation of the BiOp) that require a public statement (see additional detail in the section below). • Coordinate with individual Water Forum members and caucuses regarding external discussions on issues that may be relevant or important to those entities.

Recognizing the unique relationship the Water Forum has with the City of Sacramento, the Executive Director (in collaboration with the Coordinating Committee) will maintain close contact with the City of Sacramento on sensitive legal and administrative issues.

21. Requests for Engagement or Support
There may be times when the Water Forum is asked to engage in formal or informal discussions directly with various external partners or asked to endorse or provide input on a specific issue.

These requests may come with diﬀerent timeframes (e.g., a request requiring immediate response versus those that come with weeks or months of lead time) or in diﬀerent formats (e.g., a written statement, letter, or oral testimony). Requests may be generated by a member or non- member, as well as from Water Forum staﬀ.

The sensitivity of the requests will also likely vary, generally falling under one of two categories:

1. Requests with strong member concurrence
This type of request includes subjects that fall under the purview of the Water Forum or are consistent with WF2050 and are non-controversial. For example, a request by a Water Forum member to send a letter to the editor of a newspaper extending support for an action or project that is consistent with WF2050 (e.g., Folsom storage levels), and the statement can be issued with support from all interests.

2. Requests with low member concurrence or that are controversial

Page 810 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 108
This type of request includes subjects that may or may not be consistent with WF2050 or have the potential to be highly controversial due to the level of interest outside of the Water Forum. For example, being asked to submit testimony to, or negotiate with, state or federal regulatory agencies on issues that may aﬀect the coequal objectives but are not in WF2050 (e.g., litigation).

These requests often have a longer time frame for response and engagement.

The Executive Director, in discussion with the Coordinating Committee and aﬀected Water Forum members, determines a path for addressing the request based on timing/urgency and level of concurrence or divergence, as follows:
• The Executive Director meets with the Coordinating Committee and the member(s) most aﬀected or involved in the issue to coordinate and discuss the Water Forum's concerns and position in light of WF2050 and the coequal objectives. • The Executive Director develops an issue memo that lays out:
o purpose of the request and the interested parties
o recommended engagement to respond to the request
o ground rules and guideposts for the response
o outcome being sought
o areas that are not to be engaged in/negotiated
• The Executive Director will consult with the Coordinating Committee (and any aﬀected members) on the issue memo, who will then coordinate its review by and feedback from the caucuses. All feedback will be shared with the Executive Director, who will coordinate the completion of the issue memo with the author(s).
• Once completed, the Coordinating Committee will redistribute the memo to the caucuses and schedule the issue memo for discussion at a Plenary meeting, where the appropriate individuals will present the issue to the Plenary for discussion and resolution. • Once the engagement begins, the Executive Director and/or the individual(s) leading the Water Forum engagement will provide updates as warranted to the Coordinating Committee, aﬀected members, and the Plenary.
• As engagement progresses, changes in circumstances may arise that warrant adjustments to the Water Forum response. Changes will be brought back to the Coordinating Committee, caucuses, and, when appropriate and consistent with the commitment to disclosures as described elsewhere in this document, to the Plenary for agreement and authorization to adopt them into the Water Forum’s response. • The Water Forum may also ultimately not respond to or decline the request for engagement.

Page 811 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 109

22. Cross-Learning Among Water Forum Members
Water Forum members routinely engage in outreach activities with their various constituencies.

As a result, they have each developed practices and approaches that can inform engagement strategies aimed at furthering the Water Forum’s coequal objectives. These can include mechanisms for eﬀectively sharing technically dense information, communicating complex or controversial funding and budgetary needs, and reaching out to traditionally underrepresented or hard-to-reach communities and interested parties, among others.

Given this expertise, Water Forum members are encouraged to share these approaches with one another and create spaces for mutual learning. Water Forum members are also encouraged to partner with one another and Water Forum staﬀ to deepen the eﬀectiveness of outreach and engagement strategies.

Program Elements–Implementation Partners
The Water Forum’s work towards achieving the coequal objectives demands consistent cooperation and collaboration among its members. While much of this work is accomplished through the informal or ongoing eﬀorts of staﬀ and members, it is anticipated that, due to the integrated nature of many governmental and non-governmental organizations, there are opportunities for more formal partnerships or agreements.

To that end, the Water Forum's governance structure acknowledges the need for “implementing agreements” with other entities that work on and have influence over LAR conditions and activities related to, and/or furthering, the coequal objectives. Implementing agreements are intended to be consistent with WF2050 and provide more detail regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Water Forum in relation to our partners. Implementing agreements can be crafted between the Water Forum and its members, or between the Water Forum and non- members, such as state and federal partners like DWR, Reclamation, and USACE.

Implementing agreements can be developed, reviewed, and updated on a case-by-case basis.

Due to the wide range of activities covered by Water Forum members or partners, the structure of any implementing agreement is unique to the issues or topic and can change over time. For example, the Water Forum has an implementing agreement with Reclamation (2021) to inform operations at Folsom Dam. At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Water Forum also has an MOU with the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities that outlines roles and responsibilities for fiscal and administrative services.

The Water Forum will use the process below to introduce, consider, and enter into any formal agreements with other entities:
• Any Water Forum member, Water Forum staﬀ, or third-party entity may suggest the need for an implementing agreement with another Water Forum member or external entity. This expression of need should include a brief description of the need for and structure of the

Page 812 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 110
intended partnership, highlighting the benefit to the Water Forum’s coequal objectives and any resource obligations (staﬀing, funding, etc.). This description should be submitted to the Water Forum Executive Director.
• Once received, the Executive Director first refers the proposal to the caucuses and any relevant committees for discussion. Caucuses and committees are encouraged to consider both benefits and concerns, identify any additional information needs, and indicate, as warranted, whether the proposed partner agreement is necessary. • Once the caucuses and committees have had an opportunity to consider the proposal, the request is forwarded to the Coordinating Committee for its discussion. The Coordinating Committee will draw on input from the caucuses and committees to develop a recommendation for consideration by the Plenary.
• The Coordinating Committee is to forward all requests on to the Plenary for its consideration. The Coordinating Committee may, at its discretion, oﬀer an accompanying recommendation to adopt, modify, or reject the agreement. It may also forward it on to the Plenary without any recommendation.
• The Plenary will consider the request and make a final determination in accordance with its decision-making protocols, as described elsewhere in this agreement.

Any agreements developed will be included in the administrative record of the Water Forum (or appended to WF2050) and will be available upon request. The City of Sacramento is the legal entity that enters into agreements on behalf of the Water Forum.

Program Elements–Community Outreach and Engagement
The Guiding Principles in this section emphasize the
importance of implementing WF2050 in a manner that
encompasses the breadth of perspectives in the region,
engages with communities and individuals not typically
involved, and fully considers how WF2050 and its work
to further the coequal objectives may impact all
communities and constituencies. The best way to
accomplish this is to have representation from
underserved and historically underrepresented
community members on the Water Forum. This
emphasis on outreach, engagement, and transparency
is important not just in the context of the governance
and administration of the Water Forum but should be
viewed as an integral part of the Water Forum Way.

Water Forum will work to better
understand and will provide
learning and engagement
opportunities related to:
• Human dimensions of resource
management on the American
River
• Water aﬀordability and related
best practices
• Underrepresented communities’
ability to engage with and relate
to the work of the Water Forum

Page 813 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 111
To that end, the Water Forum will apply methodologies to help inform its full range of implementation activities, guiding our work to meaningfully reflect the Water Forum’s commitment to the Sacramento region. While specific approaches will vary from program to program, implementation activities should consider the following issues:
• How outreach is being carried out to ensure people from historically underrepresented groups are made aware of Water Forum activities (e.g., tribes and economically disadvantaged communities, among others)
• How and when input is being gathered to help overcome barriers to meaningful participation (e.g., time of day, location, unseen costs, etc.) • How the Water Forum can evaluate, (1) how its actions are perceived and/or impact groups across the region, and (2) how the legacy of non-participation by historically underrepresented groups may be improved through Water Forum implementation when appropriate
In addition to these important yet more general practices, the Water Forum and its members participate in various initiatives that can help foster broad participation within all communities aﬀected by the coequal objectives. These eﬀorts can include access to our region’s natural resources, education about the LAR, and support for the aﬀordability of our drinking water. These eﬀorts can be continued and strengthened under the WF2050 framework. • American River Corridor Health and Access – The Water Forum recognizes that its habitat enhancement work along the American River corridor, in furtherance of the coequal objectives, has the potential to aﬀect historically underrepresented communities. The Water Forum is aware of and will continue to work to understand these conditions, from fire risk and waste management, to safety, pollution, river access and use, and other human dimensions of resource management. Recognizing these complexities and with the leadership of the Public Caucus, the Water Forum will work to draw in speakers and members able to bring this vantage point to Water Forum discussions. • Water Aﬀordability – The Water Forum recognizes there is a potential nexus between its members’ commitments and water aﬀordability. Considering this, Water Forum members commit to fostering an ongoing series of dialogues and joint learning sessions as part of the implementation of WF2050 to better understand this connection, and, as appropriate, identify relevant best practices that have the potential to contribute to achieving the Water Forum’s coequal objectives while accounting for aﬀordability concerns. Signatories are committed to exploring this topic while acknowledging that rate-setting rests within the purview of each water purveyor’s governing body and applicable laws. • Education – Under the leadership of the Public Caucus, the Water Forum will engage with underrepresented communities to, (1) understand how the coequal objectives resonate with, address and/or impact these communities’ needs and priorities, (2) improve public

Page 814 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 112
participation processes, and (3) identify opportunities to implement WF2050 in a way that accounts for people having diﬀerent access to resources due to systemic inequities. This will focus primarily on Water Forum-led activities, but can also include members sharing guidance with one another on strategies they can undertake to deepen their public participation processes.

The Water Forum recognizes that its work to meet the interests of the broader community is an ongoing eﬀort and welcomes feedback on how it can engage more eﬀectively with communities across the region as it pursues its coequal objectives.

Page 815 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 113

FUNDING
The Water Forum’s governance, finance, and administration will be transparent and collaborative in nature. The operation and funding of the Water Forum require a significant commitment of time and money by interested parties to promote and carry out stewardship of our watershed’s resources. The administration of the Water Forum’s various initiatives, along with its large group of signatories and interested parties, requires a dedicated and consistent eﬀort to make progress toward achieving the coequal objectives.

Guiding Principles
The principles outlined below shape the Water Forum’s approach to budgeting and funding its activities, and are intended to create a foundation for equitable and sustainable funding and budgeting throughout the life of this agreement.

1. Finance Mechanisms
Eﬀective Water Forum governance must provide a clear and reliable financial mechanism to generate the necessary funding, as well as a transparent and inclusive process for identifying and confirming funding sources.

2. Diverse Funding Sources
Water Forum activities are to be funded through a mix of water purveyor contributions, state and/or federal grants, and in-kind contributions of non-monetary support for Water Forum initiatives, including advocacy, public outreach, in-kind contributions of time, etc. The Water Forum will continue to pursue diverse forms of funding and is open to funding contributions from all caucuses.

3. Commitment to Aﬀordability and Cost-Eﬀectiveness of Actions When considering program areas and priorities, the Water Forum is committed to understanding the cost-eﬀectiveness and aﬀordability of its actions. The Water Forum further acknowledges that while programs and activities are funded through a range of sources, they are primarily funded through local ratepayers, and we have a responsibility to provide clear benefits to those ratepayers and the broader public.

4. Financially Viable and Eﬀective
The Water Forum strives to establish a budget and funding mechanism that balances the meaningful and ongoing pursuit of its coequal objectives with the limited financial capacity of its funding members. To that end, the Plenary sets annual priorities that are consistent with both the Water Forum's objectives and available budget resources.

5. Diﬀerential Abilities to Pay
The Water Forum recognizes that its members, both within and across caucuses, have varying abilities to contribute to Water Forum funding. The Water Forum budget and funding allocation approach is structured to account for these diﬀerences. All members are expected to contribute,

Page 816 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 114
at a minimum, substantial in-kind eﬀort through participation in a range of committees, Plenary meetings, and activities.

6. Ongoing Budgetary Review
Each year, the Water Forum shall undertake a thorough review of progress to date and update its annual work plan based on funding needs and the expected contributions of funders. Any increase or decrease to the annual budget requires a consensus among all caucuses and agreement by those agencies providing Water Forum funding.

7. Long-term Budgetary Planning
The Water Forum recognizes that pursuing its coequal objectives requires longer-term budgeting and financing commitments. To that end, while Water Forum budgets must be approved annually by both its funders and the Plenary, the Water Forum will undertake longer-term budgetary planning to provide greater clarity and certainty to both funders and the Water Forum’s programmatic long-range planning. It will also consider base funding from sources other than ratepayers.

8. Augmenting Water Forum Member Funding
The Water Forum strives to augment annual contributions from its funders with grant funding from federal, state, and other sources that will further contribute toward its mission to advance the coequal objectives. Such grant applications, prepared by the Water Forum, must be approved by resolution of the Sacramento City Council. The City of Sacramento would be the formal grant applicant.

9. Importance of Maintaining a Reserve Fund
The Water Forum recognizes that costs and funding may fluctuate from year to year. To maintain a consistent program across uneven funding years, the Water Forum is committed to building and maintaining a reserve fund equal to 120 days of working capital. The Water Forum reserve fund will be managed in accordance with relevant policies and best practices per the City of Sacramento.

10. Program Fund Accounts
The Water Forum’s program funds include the WFSE, HME, and grants, keeping outside funding separate from Water Forum member contributions. The WFSE and HME fund expenses are tracked separately to maintain budgetary transparency for these two distinct functions. Similarly, outside grant funds or potential Healthy Rivers and Landscape Program funds will also be separately accounted for and budgeted. Additional funds accounting approaches may be applied as funding sources / other requirements dictate. The HME fund shall have a cap; if and when that cap is reached, funders will not be assessed additional HME funds until the balance drops below the cap level.

Page 817 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 115
Program Elements

1. Water Forum Budget
As an entity within the City of Sacramento’s administration with a July through June fiscal year, the Water Forum budget also operates on a July through June fiscal year. The Water Forum budget will be approved by the Plenary as described below, and the associated funding contributions are expected to be approved by the funding agency governing boards and councils no later than May.

Below is a description of the process for developing and approving annual budgets as part of the WF2050 Agreement.

Budget Description
The annual budget, prepared by the Executive Director, will include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
• Clear linkages to annual and multi-year work plans
• Delineation of costs associated with staﬀ, consultants, direct expenses, contingencies, etc. • Status of the Water Forum reserve fund
• A report on prior year expenditures (actuals)
• A report on the status of local, state, and federal grants • Highlight budget items tied to Interagency agreements or contracts between the Water Forum and signatories
The budget is to be developed with the assistance of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities’ finance staﬀ, consistent with the Water Forum-Department of Utilities MOU (refer to Appendix 10: Water Forum and Department of Utilities MOU).

Water Forum Budget Process and Schedule
The Executive Director will annually develop a proposed budget, which the Coordinating Committee will review and approve. As part of its review, the Coordinating Committee will engage with Water Forum funders (water purveyors with PSAs, implementing agencies, and flat fee agencies) to ensure the proposed budget and work plan are consistent with funders’ anticipated contributions. A final proposed budget will be shared with and must ultimately be approved by the Plenary.

The Water Forum annual budget will be developed each year using the following fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) schedule:
• September – November: Internal budget development for future fiscal year by Water Forum staﬀ based on review of operating budget and actual expenditures, Water Forum

Page 818 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 116
priorities (set by the Plenary), annual work plan including upcoming project costs and staﬀing needs, reserve fund status, and anticipated revenue (funder contributions and grants). Executive Director reviews first and subsequent drafts of the future fiscal year budget with the Coordinating Committee.
• November – December: Executive Director meets with the Water Caucus (with expanded participation, as needed, to bring in any non-Water Caucus funders) to review and confirm consistency with funders’ funding abilities and commitments. The Executive Director collaborates with the Coordinating Committee (in consultation with interested funders) to resolve any outstanding funding and budgetary issues before submitting the budget to the Plenary for consideration and approval.
• January – February: Executive Director presents proposed draft for future fiscal year budget to the Plenary for its review and approval. This budget is accompanied by a memo that details the proposed budget, expenses, and the status of the reserve fund. Member agency contributions are calculated in January to allow for inclusion in annual member agency budgeting processes. Plenary identifies if there is any opposition to proceeding with the budget. As needed, the Executive Director, in consultation with the Coordinating Committee and interested funding members, revises the budget based on Plenary discussions and direction.
• February – May: Interagency funding agreements are signed, with final approval from the City of Sacramento Council for the upcoming fiscal year.

Budget Oversight Process
The Water Forum will establish a transparent budget oversight process, including the following reports, to foster eﬀective use and tracking of Water Forum spending:
• August: Publish an annual implementation report card. Review the prior year's accomplishments and identify any uncompleted priorities with the Plenary. • August -September: Provide a standard budget report (spreadsheet) to the Coordinating Committee detailing prior fiscal year actual expenditures and remaining balance in reserve funds.
• October: Provide a standard budget report (spreadsheet) to the Coordinating Committee on the first quarter (July-September) actuals.
• January: Provide a standard budget report (spreadsheet) to the Coordinating Committee on second quarter (October-December) actuals.
• April: Provide a standard budget report (spreadsheet) to the Coordinating Committee on the third quarter (January-March) actuals.

Page 819 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 117
Prior to completion of the first year following the signing of WF2050, the Water Forum shall undertake a careful review of progress to date and shall revise the work plan considering existing circumstances. The annual budget and contributions may be revised at that time. Any increase or decrease to the first-year budget would require a consensus among all interest groups and agreement by funding agencies.

Use of Consultants
Consultants shall be used only as needed. Identification and approval of actual expenditures for specific consultant contracts shall be part of the Water Forum budget process. If consultant contract funds or funds allocated for consultant contracts in a given fiscal year are not spent prior to the end of that year or encumbered for future expenditure, the Water Forum shall modify the following year’s budget appropriately. To the extent that there is a need for consultant services not anticipated in the annual budget, such services can be allowed, provided there is an adequate budget (e.g., savings from another line item) and with the concurrence of the Coordinating Committee.

Reserve Fund
To ensure the Water Forum’s ongoing fiscally sound financial management and to adequately provide for unforeseen circumstances such as economic uncertainties, loss of significant revenue sources, grant match requirements, and grant monitoring as required, a Reserve Fund will be established with a target level equivalent to 120 days of working capital.

Budgets: Year 1 Budget and 5-year Look Ahead
To estimate the actual cost of the Water Forum’s work and foster long-term planning by its staﬀ, members, and funders, the Water Forum is committed to producing a five-year look-ahead as part of its Five-Year Status Report. While the look-ahead is non-binding, members and funders will use these projections to identify and secure the necessary resources and shape the work of the Water Forum. The initial five-year look-ahead (2025-2030) is provided in Appendix 11. Fiscal
Year 2025-2026 budget components include proposed expenditures, a summary of projected funding sources, the HME Cost Share Projection, and the WFSE Cost Share. The Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 budget totaled $1,973,140 and is included in Appendix 11. All signatories have reviewed and agreed to this five-year look-ahead and associated budget.

2. Water Forum Funding
As part of their commitment to investing in a reliable water supply and a healthy LAR ecosystem, Water Forum member water purveyors and other funders voluntarily enter into an annual funding agreement that stipulates funding levels for the Water Forum, based on the negotiated Cost Allocation Method. This Cost Allocation Method is included as Appendix 12 and describes the funding allocation methodology in detail.

Page 820 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 118
Description of Funding Methodology and Other Sources
The Water Forum will draw on a range of sources to fund its annual budget. These sources include both member funding and resources provided by outside entities. It also includes both direct funding and in-kind support.

The funding allocation methodology intends to equitably share the costs of the Water Forum programs in furtherance of the coequal objectives. The current (2025) version of the cost allocation model is included as Appendix 12. This model will be updated at five-year intervals and will be subject to approval solely by the funding agencies listed in the model. It should be noted that this cost allocation assumes that all the purveyors identified in Table 2 in Appendix 12 will sign WF2050. If fewer funders sign WF2050, the percentages of the costs allocated to the other funders that do sign will increase.

Below is an overview of the agreed-upon funding sources and cost-allocation methodologies. • Purveyor Specific Agreements: Purveyors with PSAs provide funding based on the formula described in the cost allocation model (see Appendix 12), which was developed and unanimously agreed to by the purveyors, and as reflected in the annual funding agreement.
• Implementing agencies: Implementing agencies provide funding based on a set-fee model. These fees are set by mutual agreement between the implementing agency and the Water Forum and will be included in the Water Forum's budgets as agreements are made. Sacramento County, SMUD, EDWA, and SAFCA have contributed in this manner historically and are expected to continue doing so.
• Grants: The Water Forum receives extensive grant funding from federal, state, and other sources to support its work on the ARCH Program Area and may include other Program Areas in the future. The total grant funding varies from year to year and is outlined in the annual budget.
• In-Kind Donations: Significant resources are donated on behalf of Water Forum member organizations through the participation of their staﬀ and members in various Water Forum activities and committees. In-kind donations are not reflected in the budget or funding allocation.

Except for grant funding that is earmarked for specific projects and purposes, all other funding provided to the Water Forum is collected as a general contribution. Funding is pooled across all these sources and then allocated to either the WFSE or the HME program based on the annual budget need, or to the Reserve Fund.

The process to amend the funding structure described above will follow the “Changed Conditions and Amendments to the Agreement” section outlined elsewhere in this document.

Page 821 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 119

3. Five-Year Review
As described elsewhere in this agreement, the Water Forum will comprehensively review progress made toward achieving the coequal objectives every five years. The results of this review will assist in the development of the next five-year plan, revising the annual work plan, and adjusting the current budget and activities to reflect successes and failures revealed by the review.

Page 822 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 120

ADMINISTRATION
Guiding Principles

1. Authority and Accountability
Water Forum governance should clearly articulate lines of authority and accountability among all parties to the Agreement. This accountability is intended to cover all aspects of the Water Forum work, including but not limited to: members to members; members and staﬀ to one another; members and staﬀ to the Water Forum mission and agreed-upon actions and priorities; and the Water Forum to the aﬀected public.

2. Tracking Progress
Understanding, tracking, and reporting on the Water Forum's progress are essential to supporting the coequal objectives, as well as fostering thoughtful consideration of any necessary changes in its work and approach throughout the life of the Agreement. To that end, Water Forum governance should include clear metrics, benchmarks, and an agreed-upon process to ensure that Water Forum members and staﬀ can track and, as needed, adapt its work related to the following:
• Water Forum-led projects and actions are intended to support Water Forum’s coequal objectives.
• Water Forum member-led projects are intended to support the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.
• A comprehensive understanding of both river health and water supply reliability Program Elements

1. Administrative Structure
The Water Forum will continue to be administered under the auspices of the City of Sacramento.

Staﬀ will be either employees or contractors of the City of Sacramento, and all administrative responsibilities related to such employees or contractors will continue to be handled by the City.

This arrangement will:
• Ensure continuity between WF2050 and the priorities of the Water Forum • Preserve existing technical expertise
• Avoid creating another redundant government entity
WF2050 is made binding and enforceable through the execution of three agreements: the MOU for the Water Forum 2050 Agreement (this document, signed by all entities choosing to be Water Forum members); the annual Funding Agreements (which, consistent with the funding principles set forth above, are executed by the entities making payments to support the work of the Water Forum); and the Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water

Page 823 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 121
Forum (also signed by funding members, see Appendix 13). Together, these agreements will contain provisions to continue the Water Forum organization. All parties that sign the MOU will become full participants in the Water Forum. It is important to note that:
• All signatories to WF2050 will have equal standing in the Water Forum, regardless of whether they are a public agency, an investor-owned utility, or a community interest or advocacy organization.
• Although Water Forum staﬀ will be employees or contractors of the City of Sacramento, the WF2050 signatories will provide overall policy direction for the work of staﬀ.

2. Changed Conditions and Amendments to the Agreement
No individual Water Forum member or staﬀ has independent authority to alter WF2050. At the same time, the Water Forum must be able to respond to the changing conditions or other unforeseen circumstances that will arise over the next several decades. WF2050 may be amended only by all signatories employing the same interest-based collaborative process used to negotiate the original WF2050. The Water Forum staﬀ will facilitate and coordinate such negotiations should they prove necessary. Changes to WF2050 are the purview of the Plenary unless the Plenary decides they need to be referred to signatory members’ boards for formal confirmation.

Term of the Agreement
The original WFA, adopted in 2000, was set to expire after a 30-year term. In 2020, then Water Forum Executive Director Tom Gohring initiated a renegotiation of the WFA well in advance of the expiration date, recognizing that the original agreement had taken seven years to negotiate and that regulatory, policy, and physical conditions had substantially changed over the past 20 years.

While the renegotiation of the WFA is expected to be completed prior to the original expiration date and in less time than the original negotiations, it is recognized that, due to the nature of the agreement and the complexity of the issues, members should anticipate and plan for future renegotiations.

Therefore, given the complexity of issues and anticipated climate change, WF2050 is to be reviewed through an assessment of key indicators in the Five-Year Status Report, including data from UWMPs and GSPs, on a 5-year basis, with a renegotiation term of 25 years.

The anticipated timeline of review and renegotiation is as follows for the period of 2025-2050:
• 2025: Signing of the New Agreement, WF2050. Publish updated Annual Work Plan that lays out programmatic and budgetary priorities for the coming year, as well as a look-ahead for the FY 25/26-30/31 period.
• 2030: Publish Five-Year Status Report. Review progress on implementation of program elements; develop updated Annual Work Plan that lays out programmatic and budgetary

Page 824 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 122
priorities for the coming year, as well as a look-ahead to cover the next 5-year period (FY 30/31-35/36) for Plenary approval.
• 2035: Publish Five-Year Status Report. Review progress on implementation of program elements; develop revised Annual Work Plan that lays out programmatic and budgetary priorities for the coming year, as well as a look-ahead for the next 5-year period (FY 35/36- 40/41) for Plenary approval.
• 2040: Publish Five-Year Status Report. Review progress on implementation of program elements; develop revised Annual Work Plan that lays out programmatic and budgetary priorities for the coming year, as well as a look-ahead for the next 5-year period (FY 40/41- 45/46) for Plenary approval.
• 2045-2050: Publish Five-Year Status Report. Initiate review and renegotiation of WF2050 to coincide with a 25-year renewal period. Provide a 5-year window to complete, with the anticipated new agreement to be approved no later than 2050. This 5-year window can be automatically extended with the concurrence of the Plenary, provided that negotiations are deemed productive and are on a path towards a successful conclusion.

Request for Renegotiation
Renegotiation can be requested outside of the scheduled timeframe. Any proposal to renegotiate WF2050 would be considered in the context of the Water Forum’s coequal objectives. Specific engagement processes for renegotiating WF2050 should be developed through a transparent and collaborative process.

Request for Amendment
Amendments to WF2050 can be requested outside of the scheduled timeframe. Any proposal to amend WF2050 would be considered in the context of the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

Specific engagement processes for amending WF2050 should be consistent with the collaborative decision-making process that was used in the development of WF2050.

Process for Renegotiation or Amendment Requests
The mechanism to request consideration of amendments is as follows:
• Any signatory, caucus, or Executive Director can make a formal request for renegotiation of some terms. The request must include a rationale stating the changed conditions warranting consideration and should include proposed amendment concepts or language.
• The request for renegotiation by a signatory or caucus must be submitted to the Water Forum Executive Director, who will bring it (or any request they may have) first to the Coordinating Committee for discussion. Coordinating Committee discussions will be

Page 825 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 123
informed by input from their respective caucuses and, as appropriate, any guidance from relevant committees.
• The Coordinating Committee is to forward all requests on to the Plenary for its consideration. The Coordinating Committee may, at its discretion, oﬀer an accompanying recommendation to adopt, modify, or reject. It may also forward it on to the Plenary without any recommendation.

A request for an amendment or renegotiation does not necessarily mean WF2050 will be revised.

WF2050, including specific agreements (e.g., PSAs), can be changed or modified only with the express approval and consent of the Plenary. Changes to WF2050 are the purview of the Plenary, with the caveat that changes that require additional funding will be subject to agreement by the funders. The Plenary may recommend that the proposed changes be referred to the signatory members’ boards/decision-making bodies for formal confirmation.

Specific implementing agreements (e.g., PSAs) cannot be changed or modified without the express approval and consent of the entity whose interests would be aﬀected by the change.

These changes also must be approved by the Plenary.

3. Process for Project Endorsement from the Water Forum This program element is designed to provide a framework for projects proposed by Water Forum members to receive endorsement from the Water Forum, consistent with the decision-making processes described above.

Water Forum signatories may receive support (i.e., endorsement) for a proposed project from fellow signatories when agreed-upon conditions are met, including good faith sharing of project information and the project proponent’s commitment to WF2050 implementation. A “project” could refer to infrastructure, water entitlement, an application for funding, a policy, or a procedure. Endorsement can range from conceptual to full endorsement (as described below) and is dependent on the level of project development and information shared with the Water Forum.

Conceptual Endorsement
Definition: The project idea is acknowledged by signatories as relevant and aligned with the coequal objectives.

Purpose: Signals openness to explore the concept further.

Full Endorsement (Ready to Implement)
Definition: Water Forum signatories have confirmed support for the project’s final implementation.

Page 826 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 124
Purpose: Signals that the project is supported by all caucuses and implementation will not be opposed by Water Forum signatories.

When a project receives Water Forum endorsement, signatories (when called upon) will make reasonable eﬀorts to provide endorsement in any (or all) of the following ways:
- Speak before stakeholder boards and regulatory bodies - Provide letters of endorsement
- Provide supportive comments to the media
- Advocate the WF2050 Agreement to other organizations, including environmental organizations that are not signatories to the Water Forum Agreement. - Otherwise, respond to requests from other signatories to make public their endorsement of WF2050 and associated projects (as relevant).

At a minimum, Water Forum endorsement of a project will mean refraining from making negative statements or opposing the project. However, conceptual endorsement does not preclude Water Forum signatories from asking questions and seeking clarity within various environmental review processes as projects are advanced.

If requested, an endorsement could come from individual signatories, the Plenary, or the Executive Director on behalf of the Plenary.

Framework for Information Exchange to Build Trust
Projects that receive Water Forum endorsement are those that have been shared and discussed widely with other Water Forum signatories. This could occur in caucus meetings, Plenary, Water Forum committees, or other Water Forum meetings that have been made available to all signatories. Discussions with signatories may be completed sequentially if access to information is made to all signatories in a timely manner. For instance, a project proponent could share their project details with all caucuses separately.

Inherent in this approach is the intent to build trust among signatories through full and early disclosure of project details. Sharing project information early in its development process will allow Water Forum signatories to evaluate, provide feedback, and engage in dialogue about the project. Project proponents should share project details in good faith before final decisions are made. The history of the Water Forum has shown that this type of information tends to garner support from other signatories.

In addition to the information sharing and disclosure process, projects may also receive Water Forum endorsement through the ARCAP , which will include analysis and assessment of regional actions to support the coequal objectives including through the potential development of

Page 827 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 125
additional volumes of water. Projects considered within ARCAP are expected to undergo review and discussion through all levels of the Water Forum governance structure.

Project Endorsement Caveats and Assurances
1) The nature of a project endorsement will be commensurate with the level of detail shared with the WF and the level of development of the specific project. For example, if conceptual project information is available and shared with the WF, then WF signatories can only provide endorsement of the project’s concept. If project proponents seek full endorsement of a ready-to-build project, then it is expected that they will have shared and discussed details, including concept, design, funding, permitting, and construction, as relevant. 2) WF endorsement will be contingent on:
a. Proponent is adhering to all applicable planning, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
b. The proponent has conducted a public participation process, such as engaging with established citizen advisory committees or employing other appropriate mechanisms, to inform project design and implementation as needed. c. Project aligns with the coequal objectives and the WF 2050 guiding principles. d. The project proponent has demonstrated a clear commitment to WF2050 implementation.
3) If a consensus cannot be reached within the Water Forum for endorsing a project, no action will be taken by the Water Forum.
4) If a project is determined by consensus within the Water Forum to be in direct and clear conflict with the Water Forum’s coequal objectives, it is possible that the Water Forum would take a position of opposition to the project.
5) All signatories retain their existing ability to comment or provide input on specific details of facility design, financing, and construction of projects.

4. Legal Considerations
Administrative Structure
The Water Forum is not a legal entity, but rather a forum for a group of business and agricultural leaders, community groups, environmentalists, public and private water agencies, and local governments. Staﬀing and administrative support for the Water Forum are funded by water purveyors and other willing donors, with personnel management provided by the City of Sacramento. The Water Forum is not a separate legal entity. The current authority for the Water Forum is outlined in the 2025 Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum.

The key points of the 2025 Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum
(attached as Appendix 13) are as follows:

Page 828 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 126
• The objective of the Water Forum oﬀice and staﬀ is to promote the implementation and continued vitality of the Water Forum Agreement.
• The Executive Director of the Water Forum reports directly to the Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities.
• The City is responsible for providing facilities, budget, and administrative support to the Water Forum.
• All employees of the Water Forum, including the Executive Director, are City employees. • The Water Forum contracting follows City procedures.
• The Water Forum will carry its own insurance policy to cover claims up to an agreed-upon threshold.
• If a signatory decides to terminate membership in the Water Forum, that signatory is responsible for covering their funding share for the current and subsequent fiscal year. • The City’s signature delegation policy identifies the Executive Director’s position as equivalent to a Department Director and authorizes contract authority of up to $100,000.

The City Attorney’s oﬀice represents the Water Forum on matters related to City procedures and general governmental issues. The Water Forum currently shares the City’s outside water counsel for advice on substantive water-related issues but has agreed to terminate the representation if a potential conflict with the City’s interests arises.

Water Forum Meetings – Relationship to Brown Act
The Water Forum is neither a local governing body nor was it created by federal or state law.

Accordingly, it is not subject to the Brown Act.

Nevertheless, the Water Forum strives to be as transparent and inclusive as possible, both with its members and with cooperating entities, aﬀected parties, and the broader public. To that end, Plenary meetings are open unless a specific topic warrants member-only discussions. The Water Forum also strives to hold informational sessions that deepen understanding among its members and others. In the case of open Plenary meetings, the Water Forum will provide advance notice of meeting times and materials to inform the public. The general intent for Plenary meetings is to be open to the public so that the formulated plans and positions are made known.

The Water Forum strives to provide meeting materials to its members in a manner consistent with good public participation practices (e.g., meetings are noticed in advance, discussion topics are described in the agenda, meetings take place locally and are open to the public, etc.).

Water Forum members are responsible for ensuring their engagements with the Water Forum are consistent with their agency’s Brown Act obligations.

Page 829 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 127
California Environmental Quality Act
The City of Sacramento is considered the lead for any Water Forum actions requiring CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review.

Development and adoption of WF2050 is not a “Project” subject to CEQA.

Page 830 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 128
Caveats and Assurances

AMERICAN RIVER CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROGRAM (ARCAP)
ARCAP Caveats and Assurances include the following:

1. The ARCAP will be developed and implemented, with opportunities for open cross-caucus discussions and guidance, utilizing the Water Forum’s decision-making processes. This applies to both technical processes and member deliberations.

2. The Water Forum will work jointly with RWA and the GSAs to resolve technical issues during ARCAP development and implementation. Staﬀ from RWA and the Water Forum will work together in a collaborative relationship to support this program and will engage with the regional GSAs.

3. The ARCAP approach will strive to add value and avoid creating added costs, duplicative processes, and bureaucracy.

4. The ability of Water Forum members to identify and employ ARCAP Water does not imply that the American River is in excess conditions.

5. ARCAP implementation will complement and support other Water Forum programs (e.g., FMS).

6. The Water Forum will review the successes and challenges of the ARCAP and refine the program as needed, with adjustments agreed upon by all caucuses.

7. ARCAP assets (e.g., water rights and contracts, wells, diversion works) will remain under the control of the owning agencies.

8. The role of the Water Forum (including its staﬀ and members) will be to coordinate ARCAP actions, complete agreed-upon technical analyses and studies, advocate for programs and funding, and track and review the status of these programs.

9. The Water Forum and RWA will respect the operational authority and third-party agreements of their members, which are necessary for their contributions to ARCAP Water.

10. No part of the ARCAP will abridge the authorities, entitlements, or agreements of Water Forum members without the express consent of the relevant parties.

Page 831 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 129

AMERICAN RIVER FLOWS AND OPERATIONS (ARFO)
ARFO Caveats and Assurances are grouped in the following categories:
• Flow Management Standard (FMS)
• Flood Operations
• Temperature and Other Water Management Infrastructure Flow Management Standard

2. Signatories acknowledge that low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels have a significant impact on the health of salmonids, thereby negatively aﬀecting the benefits of the FMS.

Consequently, Folsom Reservoir complex management actions must take this factor into account to avoid unhealthy DO levels.

4. All signatories agree to recommend to the SWRCB an updated American River Flow Management Standard that protects the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River. The recommendation will include requirements for Reclamation releases to the LAR.

Page 832 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 130
Flood Operations

6. The Water Forum Signatories support pursuing a Preliminary Viability Assessment of American River Watershed Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations34 (Watershed FIRO) in partnership with Reclamation, USACE, NOAA, and others, where appropriate and possible.

7. The Water Forum signatories support the identification and implementation of excess flood water recharge when: 1) carried out within the region; 2) designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with appropriate environmental and engineering standards/requirements, and the FMS; and 3) consistent with and supporting the Water Forum’s coequal objectives.

Temperature and Other Water Management Infrastructure

8. Signatories support the current eﬀorts to redesign and improve the temperature control shutters at Folsom Dam and will consider opportunities for Water Forum support and advocacy. Until improvements are made, signatories support the implementation of a power bypass at Folsom Dam in all years as necessary to provide suitable fall spawning temperatures for LAR resident salmonids, unless September temperature modeling indicates that 56°F or lower can be achieved at Watt Avenue on or before November 1st without the bypass.

REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SUSTAINABILITY (WSS)
WSS Caveats and Assurances are grouped in the following categories:
• Surface Water Management
• Groundwater Management
• Demand Management
• Dry-Time Actions
Surface Water Management

1. The ability for any individual purveyor to implement the surface water diversions principles will depend on their respective opportunities and constraints.

2. On a five-year cycle, purveyor signatories will coordinate with the Water Forum staﬀ to provide data and assumptions to be reported in their Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs), including demand projections, current and planned supplies, status of demand management and water use eﬀiciency programs, and drought planning scenarios. Water

34 Definitions of FIRO can vary, but generally includes expanding meteorological, watershed, channel condition, and environmental monitoring; advancing technology to enhance meteorological, watershed, channel condition, and environmental forecasting; and integrating data collection, management, display, and analysis capabilities into decision support systems related to reservoir operations.

Page 833 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 131
Forum staﬀ will compile regional data and assumptions for presentation to the Water Forum membership for review and discussion.

35. 7. Signatories are encouraged when invited to support (where possible) purveyors’ rates and fees necessary to implement projects and programs insofar as they are consistent with the WF2050 guiding principles and in support of the coequal objectives. The Water Forum will provide learning and engagement opportunities on water aﬀordability and related best

35 The ARTESIAN Agreement contains commitments for certain RWA members to obtain funding to complete groundwater infrastructure projects and provide contributions to environmental outflow with or without adoption of the HR&L. The ARTESIAN Agreement governs the rights and obligations with respect to the administration of state funding provided for in the Funding Agreement Between the State of California (Department of Water Resources) and the Regional Water Authority - Voluntary Agreement Early Implementation for the American River, executed on July 21, 2023.

Page 834 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 132
practices, and signatories will work to better understand associated challenges and opportunities (see Governance Program Element– Community Outreach and Engagement for more information).

Groundwater Management

8. The Water Forum will work to understand better and communicate the opportunities for, and impacts of, increased surface water diversions in wet conditions.

9. Signatories acknowledge the importance of continued data collection and analysis to improve understanding of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) and surface water– groundwater interactions and commit to ongoing dialogue within the Water Forum as these topics are explored in the context of SGMA requirements and ARCAP analyses (as relevant).

Demand Management

10. All signatories acknowledge that the requirements related to water purveyors’ water use eﬀiciency and demand management have become increasingly stringent since the signing of the original WFA and are continuing to evolve.

11. All signatories acknowledge that the purveyors must consider the costs and benefits of demand management actions (monetary, ecosystem, quality of life, etc.).

12. All signatories acknowledge that water rates have impacts on aﬀordability and equity.

13. All signatories recognize that conserving water provides multiple benefits (if properly targeted, implemented, and managed) and commit to implementing demand management actions in a manner that strives to support both coequal objectives, with considerations for improvements to landscape irrigation eﬀiciency and installation of native and low-water-use vegetation.

Dry-Time Actions

14. Water is essential for public health and sanitation, as well as for economic stability and quality of life. Water agencies have a fundamental responsibility to provide all customers with reliable access to safe, clean drinking water. This fundamental responsibility may constrain the breadth of Water Forum related actions purveyors are able to take during extreme drought.

15. Water agencies in California manage water shortages in accordance with their individual Water Shortage Contingency Plans (WSCPs), which are developed and updated every five years as part of their UWMPs, in compliance with California Water Code requirements.

16. Signatories acknowledge that dry times present exceptional challenges for the health of the LAR, and actions should be pursued to protect the fish that rely on river flows and temperature.

Page 835 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 133

SCIENCE, MONITORING, AND DECISION SUPPORT
Science, Monitoring, and Decision Support Caveats and Assurances include the following:

GOVERNANCE, FUNDING, AND ADMINISTRATION
Governance, Funding, and Administration Caveats and Assurances include the following:

1. The nature of a project endorsement will be commensurate with the level of detail shared with the WF and the level of development of the specific project. For example, if conceptual project information is available and shared with the WF, then WF signatories can only provide endorsement of the project’s concept. If project proponents seek full endorsement of a ready-to- build project, then it is expected that they will have shared and discussed details, including concept, design, funding, permitting, and construction, as relevant.

2. WF endorsement will be contingent on:
a. Proponent is adhering to all applicable planning, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
b. The proponent has conducted a public participation process, such as engaging with established citizen advisory committees or employing other appropriate mechanisms, to inform project design and implementation as needed.
c. Project aligns with the coequal objectives and the WF 2050 guiding principles. d. The project proponent has demonstrated a clear commitment to WF2050 implementation.

3. If a consensus cannot be reached within the Water Forum for endorsing a project, no action will be taken by the Water Forum.

4. If a project is determined by consensus within the Water Forum to be in direct and clear conflict with the Water Forum’s coequal objectives, it is possible that the Water Forum would take a position of opposition to the project.

5. All signatories retain their existing ability to comment or provide input on specific details of facility design, financing, and construction of projects.

Page 836 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 134
Purveyor Specific Agreements
CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 135 CARMICHAEL WATER DISTRICT ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 144 CITY OF FOLSOM ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 150 CITY OF ROSEVILLE ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 161 CITY OF SACRAMENTO ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 172 EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 189 EL DORADO IRRIGATION DISTRICT ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 209 GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 219 PLACER COUNTY WATER AGENCY ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 227 SACRAMENTO COUNTY WATER AGENCY ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 253 SACRAMENTO MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 264 SACRAMENTO SUBURBAN WATER DISTRICT ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 267 SAN JUAN WATER DISTRICT- CONSORTIUM ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 276

Page 837 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 135

California American Water
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: January 8, 2026
California American Water is submitting this document as a commitment to the Water Forum for surface water management of the American River. This agreement follows the Purveyor Speciﬁc Agreement (PSA) Template and Guidelines and addresses surface water management, current and future diversions from the American River, dry conditions management, critically low storage conditions in the Folsom Reservoir, and a project list to support coequal objectives. We recognize that climate variability is impacting water resources in the region. The continuing implementation of the historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in the Sacramento region provides opportunities to ensure alignment for the sustainable management of our shared water resources.

Purveyor Background
California American Water is an investor-owned utility operating under the rules and regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). California American Water has seven service areas within the metropolitan area of Sacramento County; (1) Antelope, which serves the communities of Antelope and Elverta; (2) Lincoln Oaks, which serves portions of Citrus Heights and North Highlands; (3) Parkway located in the Florin area, (4) Fruitridge Vista located in the Lemon Hill area, (5) Suburban/Rosemont, which serves Rosemont and the western portion of Rancho Cordova; (6) Arden in the Arden Arcade area, and (7) Security Park in the Sunrise Douglas area. Additionally, California American Water provides water to the West Placer service area, located just north of the Antelope service area in Placer County. As of January 2024, California American Water had 65,467 active connections within these eight service areas.

California American Water serves water to two additional areas within Sacramento County, the City of Isleton and the community of Walnut Grove; both areas rely solely on groundwater. California American Water’s service areas may be extended from time to time as approved by the CPUC.

Groundwater
Groundwater is the primary source of supply for California American Water’s systems in Sacramento County. All the Sacramento County water systems are within the boundaries of the Sacramento Valley Groundwater Basin of the Sacramento River Hydrologic Region as identiﬁed by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in its Bulletin 118 updated in 2018. • Antelope, Arden, and Lincoln Oaks are located within the North American Subbasin.

Page 838 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 136
• Fruitridge, Parkway, Security Park, and Suburban-Rosemont are located within the South American Subbasin.

There are currently 101 active groundwater wells in these seven service areas. The total production capacity is approximately 70,720 gallons per minute (gpm). Table 1 summarizes the wells by service area.

California American Water does not use groundwater to supply its West Placer service area. Under a franchise agreement with Placer County, the provision of domestic water service by California American Water shall be consistent with the water source requirements and conditions adopted by the county as applicable to the speciﬁc county general plan policy, community plan, or zoning for, or directly aﬀecting, the property to be so served.

Table 1. Groundwater Wells by Service Area
Service Area Number of Wells Total Well Capacity (gpm)
Antelope 17 13,580
Arden 5 2,350
Fruitridge Vista 13 7,410
Lincoln Oaks 22 14,750
Parkway 19 14,450
Security Park 1 200
Suburban-Rosemont 24 17,980
Total 101 70,720

Purchased Water
California American Water’s Arden, Parkway, and Suburban-Rosemont service areas lie within the Place of Use (POU) for the City of Sacramento’s American River Water Rights. In 2010, California American Water revised an existing wholesale supply agreement with the City to receive a maximum of 3.46 million gallons per day (MGD) of non-ﬁrm supply (deﬁned as surplus capacity in the City of Sacramento’s treatment and transmission facilities that is available to divert, treat and deliver potable water to California American Water after all the demands of the City’s prior wholesale and wheeling service customers and present and future retail water service customers are met) during oﬀ-peak periods (October 15th through May 14th), plus an additional 2.3 MGD of ﬁrm capacity, for a total of 5.76 MGD, that can be delivered to the Arden, Parkway, or Suburban-Rosemont service areas. The agreement stipulates that the City would supply surface water unless the Lower American River is below the Hodge Flow Criteria, in which case the City would produce groundwater instead of surface water when demands exceed 1.13 MGD. This mixed supply is available to California American Water up to 2.3 MGD.

California American Water also has an agreement with the City of Sacramento for the Fruitridge service area, which was carried over from the agreement between the Fruitridge Vista Water Company and the City. Through this agreement, California American Water can purchase up to 3.24 MGD of water from the City to serve its Fruitridge service area.

Page 839 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 137
Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) supplies water to the Security Park service area. The current agreement between California American Water and SCWA allows California American Water to take up to 50 gpm of potable water.

Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) and California American Water have an agreement from 2005 that allows California American Water to purchase up to 2,000 AFY of water from SSWD to serve its Antelope and Lincoln Oaks service areas.

California American Water has an agreement with Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) to purchase water for its West Placer service area. The agreement allows for purchase of 3 MGD and a maximum delivery rate of 2,362 gpm. Additional capacity can be purchased if needed.

Table 2 summarizes the wholesale supply interties in each service area. Note that it does not include approximately 30 emergency interties.

Table 2. Wholesale Interties
Service Area Wholesale Provider Number of Interties*
Antelope SSWD 2
Arden City of Sacramento 1
Fruitridge City of Sacramento 2
Lincoln Oaks SSWD 1
Parkway City of Sacramento 1
Security Park SCWA 1
Suburban-Rosemont City of Sacramento 1
West Placer PCWA 3
* does not include emergency interties
Current and Projected Water Demand
Table 3 summarizes the current and projected water demand by service area in million gallons (MG). The projected water demand is from the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP).

Table 3. Current and Projected Demand (MG)
Service Area 2023 2040
Antelope 1,190 1,536
Arden 442 461
Fruitridge 928 932
Lincoln Oaks 1,591 1,960
Parkway 2,277 2,812
Security Park 6 1,020
Suburban-Rosemont 2,543 3,162
West Placer 358 1,095

Page 840 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 138
Surface Water Management
The coequal objectives of the Water Forum are (1) to provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development and (2) to preserve the ﬁshery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River. With the exception of the West Placer service area, California American Water relies primarily on groundwater to serve its customers. However, as a member of three groundwater sustainability agencies (West Placer Groundwater Sustainability Agency, Sacramento Groundwater Authority, and Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority), California American Water must use groundwater responsibly and therefore prioritizes the use of purchased water within the limits of the purchase water agreements when it’s available, plentiful, and economically feasible.

Current Diversions
California American Water’s current diversions from the American River are through the four agencies from which California American Water purchases water . The supply sources from these agencies are described brieﬂy below:
• City of Sacramento’s wholesale supply sources include American River and groundwater, the majority of this being from the American River.
• PCWA supplies water from Paciﬁc Gas and Electric and the Middle Fork American River project and plans to deliver water from the Central Valley Project, supplied by the American River. • SCWA’s supply sources include surface water, groundwater, and non-potable (recycled) water.

Surface water is mainly supplied from the Sacramento River, with some diversions from the American River.
• SSWD relies primarily on groundwater, but imports water from Folsom Reservoir and the Lower American River through water purchases from PCWA and the City of Sacramento.

Table 4 summarizes the amount of water California American Water purchased from these four agencies for the past ﬁve years.

Table 4. Purchased Water (MG)
Wholesale Water Agency 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
City of Sacramento 680.5 339.7 863.0 1481.7 460.9
PCWA 357.8 365.3 392.6 359.6 298.6
SCWA 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.1
SSWD 290.4 0.0 2.0 48.8 482.9
Future Projected Diversions
Projected diversions consider conditions when the Unimpaired Inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir (UIFR) is above 950 thousand acre-feet (TAF). Under normal conditions, California American Water intends to use surface water as it is available through purchase water agreements with the City of Sacramento, PCWA, SCWA, and SSWD.

Page 841 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 139
Drier Conditions Management
“Drier conditions” is deﬁned as the condition where the UIFR is between 950 TAF and 400 TAF. Supply management includes the following expectations:
• No change is anticipated in the availability of the City of Sacramento’s supply, as indicated in their 2020 UWMP . Regardless, California American Water commits to reducing the amount of purchased water from the City in drier years.
• SSWD has agreed not to use any water from the Lower American River in years other than wet years (when UIFR is greater than or equal to 1,600 TAF), although SSWD still would have groundwater available. Regardless, California American Water’s agreement with SSWD does not guarantee that supply will be available and it is assumed that in drier years, California American Water will plan for this supply source to be unavailable. • While the demand in Security Park can currently be met using groundwater, the service area is expected to grow signiﬁcantly in the near future due to the Rio Del Oro development. California American Water intends to serve this area primarily with purchased water from SCWA, with groundwater as a back-up source for use during dry conditions. • PCWA does not expect to see a reduction in Middle Fork Project (MFP) supply in a dry year, although Paciﬁc Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Central Valley Project (CVP) supplies would be reduced to 50%. Shortfalls in supply would be addressed by PCWA thorough groundwater production.

Driest Conditions Management
“Driest conditions” refers to the condition in which the UIFR is less than 400 TAF. In these conditions, supply will be managed under the following expectations:
• California American Water’s wholesale supply agreement with the City of Sacramento is subject to Hodge Flow Criteria on the Lower American River and inﬂow to the Folsom Reservoir (i.e., UIFR less than 400 TAF). The ﬁrm capacity component speciﬁes a minimum of 2.3 MGD available throughout the year and the non-ﬁrm capacity of 3.46 MGD is available during non-peak periods. Although the City’s 2020 UWMP indicates that the City has adequate water supply to meet demands during multiple dry years through the year 2040, it is assumed that only the ﬁrm capacity will be available.
• As with the “drier” condition scenario, SSWD water is assumed to be unavailable for purchase during driest conditions.
• Similar to the “drier” year conditions, any reductions in supply from SCWA to serve Security Park will be met using groundwater, to the extent it is available. • PCWA does not expect to see a reduction in MFP supply during the driest conditions, but PG&E water will be assumed unavailable and CVP supplies would be reduced to 25%. Shortfalls in supply would be addressed by PCWA thorough groundwater production.

Page 842 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 140
Critically Low Storage Conditions
In the event of catastrophically low storage at Folsom Reservoir, two conditions must be addressed:

1. Potential operations in spring and summer when Folsom Reservoir storage is forecasted to reach 110 TAF at some point in the next 12 months.

2. Potential operations in summer and fall when Folsom Reservoir storage is below 110 TAF.

In both cases, California American Water will prioritize the use of groundwater wells and greatly reduce or eliminate the use of purchased water to the extent reasonably possible. In the case that purchased water includes groundwater, California American Water will prioritize use of its own groundwater wells to the extent reasonably possible, to allow other users access to wholesale agency groundwater water supplies.

While there are currently restrictions on California American Water’s use of groundwater to supply its service area in West Placer, California American Water’s agreement with PCWA does allow for California American Water to construct and use groundwater facilities, with the requirement that the use of PCWA water be prioritized, when available. The agreement further states that PCWA may instruct California American Water to reduce demand for surface water by up to 25 percent during periods of drought in areas where groundwater is available to ensure supply is available to other areas that do not have access to groundwater. Therefore, it may be feasible to negotiate with Placer County to obtain the ability to develop emergency groundwater sources.

Demand Management
California American Water has been oﬀering conservation and water eﬃciency programs to its customers since the early 2000s. Conservation and eﬃciency programs help secure long-term water supply reliability, help with eﬀective water demand management and peak water demand reduction, provide customer education on conservation and eﬃciency practices, and provide aﬀordability by lowering customers’ water bills.

California American Water’s conservation and eﬃciency programs are also playing a critical role in the Company’s response to California state regulations and policies pertaining to water eﬃciency, water loss management, and groundwater management including California's Senate Bill 555 and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Senate Bill No. 606 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (“SB 606”) and Assembly Bill No. 1668 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (“AB 1668”) created a new framework for long-term improvements in water conservation and drought planning commonly referred to as “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulation. The two bills strengthen the state’s water resiliency in the face of future droughts with provisions that include establishing water use objectives (“WUO”) and long-term standards for eﬃcient water use that apply to urban retail water suppliers.

Two additional pieces of legislation, Senate Bill No. 555 (2015-2016 Reg Sess.) (“SB 555”) and Senate Bill No. 1157 (2022) together establish the comprehensive legislative framework for the WUO that water purveyors must comply with starting in 2027. The WUO is the sum of a water system’s use of indoor and outdoor residential water uses, commercial landscape irrigation, and distribution system water loss. The regulations also require water agencies to implement extensive non-residential water use performance measures and add substantial reporting requirements for water utilities to the state.

Page 843 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 141
The challenge for utilities will be to make customers adapt to these new WUOs through an increase in conservation and eﬃciency measures primarily on outdoor water usage.

Meeting the WUOs will require landscape transformation shifting from turf grass to more climate- adapted plant palettes according to the Model Water Eﬃcient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Principles, a shift that will be very costly for homeowners and for utilities to incentivize this change.

Many water utility customers still seem mostly unaware of the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation and its implications for both residential and non-residential customers.

California American Water has invested greatly in educating its customers on conservation and eﬃciency matters and will continue to do so and its parent corporation, American Water, received the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Excellence award in 2022 and 2023 for its various water eﬃciency customer education programs, foremost its webinar series launched for California American Water customers and for its collaboration with other organizations to continuously innovate its conservation programs.

California American Water is committed to its ongoing strong investments in conservation and eﬃciency programs and initiatives to meet and exceed water conservation regulations, to meet and exceed WUO and Water Loss targets and to assure reliable and safe future water supplies to our customers in the region.

As such, California American Water proposed conservation programs that will put the Company’s various service areas in the best position to comply with state regulations and policies pertaining to water conservation and water loss management as prescribed in the Making Conservation a California Way of Life framework. Additionally, California American Water has sought approval to maintain the Company’s ability to implement successful conservation programs through ﬂexibility and innovation allowing cost- eﬀective and eﬃcient program execution and participation in partnerships, such as the Water Forum, with other agencies’ conservation programs.

As directed by Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A), California American Water maintains a water shortage contingency plan (Rule 14.1) and associated enforcement tariﬀs (Schedule 14.1 SAC , FRT) that can be implemented upon approval by the CPUC based on operational service conditions and water supply availability.

Project List and Future Water Supply Reliability Eﬀorts It is understood that to support the coequal objectives and mitigate challenges facing the region under future conditions, structural and non-structural projects will be needed. The following projects are anticipated to aid in California American Water’s eﬀorts to implement the proposed commitments outlined in the PSA.

Structural

1. Well Rehabilitation and Replacement Program – California American Water implemented this program to ensure adequate water supply and to maintain or increase the performance of groundwater wells. Because California American Water’s service areas rely heavily on groundwater, this program helps to ensure that customer demands can be met through groundwater, and the purchase of surface water is minimized.

Page 844 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 142

2. Pipeline Replacement Program – This program was implemented to replace aging water mains, thereby reducing the risk of pipe leaks and breaks. Leaks and breaks contribute to water loss, increasing overall system demand. By decreasing water loss, California American Water decreases overall demand, including the need to purchase surface water.

3. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – California American Water is upgrading meters to AMI. Information collected through this metering system can assist in identifying and reducing system losses.

Non-Structural

1. Water Conservation Program – California American Water encourages water conservation through eﬀorts such as customer education and information, contributions to research on innovative conservation programs and products, and participation in committees that promote conservation measures. These actions help reduce overall demands and especially peak demands, which reduces reliance on surface water.

2. California American Water helped sponsor the River Arc project in the past, and although no longer a project partner, California American Water continues to support the project and believes it is an important project for the future of reliable water supply in the Sacramento area.

Caveats and Assurances

1. The ability for any individual purveyor to implement the surface water diversions principles will depend on their respective opportunities and constraints.

2. In circumstances where excess water is made available by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) by Article 3(f) of a purveyor’s Water Repayment Contract or by a Section 215 Contract between the purveyor and Reclamation due to ﬂood control operations at Folsom Reservoir, for the purposes of groundwater recharge, that water would not be counted as diversion water within their PSA, regardless of year type.

3. California American Water is governed by the CPUC. California American Water’s agreed endorsements in, or continued implementation of, this PSA are subject to review by the CPUC.

California American Water may modify or terminate its endorsements agreed to in, or implementation of, this PSA upon receiving an adverse decision relating to said endorsements or implementation by the CPUC.

4. California American Water’s operations, facilities, and contracts as described in this PSA may be modiﬁed, revised or amended from time to time, and this PSA is not intended to restrict California American Water’s ability to execute and implement such modiﬁcations, revisions, and amendments. California American Water shall not be required to update or otherwise amend this PSA in the event of any such modiﬁcations, revisions, and amendments to its operations, facilities, and contracts.

5. As part of the development of their quinquennial UWMPs, purveyor signatories will provide information to Water Forum staﬀ and signatories related to the data and assumptions to be reported in their UWMPs, including; demand projections, current and planned supplies, and

Page 845 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 California American Water PSA 143
drought planning scenarios. Water Forum staﬀ will compile regional data and assumptions for presentation to Water Forum membership for review and discussion. a. This assurance is intended to facilitate improved transparency and understanding related to the data and assumptions within the UWMPs, and to better elucidate any diﬀerences in assumptions by purveyors.

Page 846 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 144

Carmichael Water District
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: November 26, 2025
Purveyor Background
Carmichael Water District (CWD or District), formerly Carmichael Irrigation District, was formed in 1916 to serve water for irrigation and a small but growing township called “Carmichael Colonies”. The District was formed under the California Irrigation District laws but changed its name to Carmichael Water District in the 1980s to reﬂect its transformation from a primarily irrigation water supplier to an urban water supplier. Today, CWD serves about 11,900 connections with a population of about 40,000 people.

With a history of over 100 years, the District is built out with 90% residential service and a steady decrease in water demand from eﬀective water eﬃciency campaigns and education.

The District’s water supply portfolio has provided over 100 years of water supply reliability to its customers. The District’s transition from exclusive use of surface water diverted from the American River to groundwater use and then to a sophisticated conjunctive use program, including a state-of-the-art water treatment facility, epitomizes the ﬂexibility and adaptability that the District has displayed throughout its history. Renewed ﬂexibility and adaptability will allow the District to handle climate change, regulatory change, and legislated conservation and water quality protection.

CWD has three main water supplies in its portfolio: surface water rights to divert the natural ﬂows of the American River, groundwater supplies derived from its well system including banked water supplies from its long-term conjunctive use activities, and remediated groundwater supplies from its contract with Aerojet-Rocketdyne Corporation. All these water supplies are collectively managed to meet the District’s demands.

Surface Water Supplies
CWD’s surface water supplies consist of three appropriative water rights derived from the natural ﬂow of the American River where water is normally available under natural conditions, subject to more senior appropriators. The supply is based upon water availability that is tied to the priority dates of these water rights. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) determines when there is insuﬃcient water supply in the American River watershed to satisfy CWD’s diversion rate under each water right.

The three appropriate water rights consist of two licensed and one permitted water right providing up to 32,600 acre-feet per year (AFY) with a maximum diversion rate of 50 cubic feet per second, depending

Page 847 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 145
on the season of use. CWD’s water rights have priority dates after 1914 and are subject to curtailment by the State Board.

Water Right Priority Date Diversion Rate Volume (AFY) Diversion Period License 1387 1915 15 cfs 10,859 Jan – Dec
License 8731 1925 10 cfs 3,669 May – Oct
Permit 7356 1948 25 cfs 18,099 Jan – Dec
The District diverts surface water through three Ranney collector wells in the American River and treats water at the Bajamont Water Treatment Plant (BWTP). The Ranney collectors use a series of laterals extending to the riverbed to gather water and utilize the natural sands and gravel for riverbank ﬁltration.

Water ﬂows from the collectors by gravity to a central collector and then the District conveys it to BWTP through a 48-inch pipeline.

Groundwater Supplies
Groundwater supplies constitute a major component of the District’s water supply portfolio. The District conjunctively manages its surface water and groundwater supplies to optimize the uses of these water assets.

The District currently operates 4 groundwater wells and is in the process of replacing 2 old wells and constructing a new well. These projects are in various stages of construction and are projected to be completed in 2026. The projected capacity for the wells will be about 8,000 to 10,000 gallons per minute (11.5 million gallons per day (MGD) to 14.4 MGD).

The District plans to further its conjunctive use program by utilizing Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology to inject treated water from the BWTP when surface water is plentiful to maintain groundwater levels in the basin. The estimated annual capacity for storage is about 1,500 AFY to 3,000 AFY during normal and wet years. The District plans to invest additional resources in conjunctive use and water banking and will continue to implement additional ASR wells when replacing old wells that have reached the end of their useful life.

Alternative Supplies
The District may access remediated groundwater supplies from the Aerojet Groundwater Extraction and Treatment (GET) LA and LB facilities located within the District’s service area. Aerojet makes these water supplies available through the extraction, treatment, and discharge of groundwater into the American River. The District has exercised its option to divert this remediated groundwater when its surface water rights have been curtailed.

Distribution System of Note
The District’s water delivery system consists of both a distributed supply from groundwater wells and a centralized supply from the BWTP . The supply capacity is aided by two ground level water storage tanks, the La Vista Tank and the Dewey Tank, with a combined available storage capacity of 4 million gallons.

The network of distribution pipelines consists of water supply mains ranging in size from 4-inch to 18- inch pipes to larger water mains of 24-inch and 30-inch pipes.

Page 848 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 146
The District also maintains an intertie with Fair Oaks Water District and Citrus Heights Water District and four interties with Sacramento Suburban Water District.

Surface Water and Groundwater Management
The table below summarizes District water demand (by source) from 2006 through 2024. The Purchased Water column indicates additional water acquired and used during surface water right curtailment periods via short-term temporary contracts with Aerojet for additional remediated groundwater, when available, and with San Juan Water District. These contracts were single-year contracts, and the supplies are no longer available. The District’s total demand has decreased signiﬁcantly since 2006.

Year Surface Water
(AFY)
Groundwater
(AFY)
Purchased Water
(AFY)
Total
2006 8,971 3,519 0 12,490
2007 9,509 2,867 0 12,376
2008 10,422 1,581 0 12,003
2009 8,965 1,609 0 10,574
2010 8,217 1,518 0 9,735
2011 7,849 1,469 0 9,318
2012 8,315 1,570 0 9,894
2013 8,369 2,030 0 10,399
2014 2,441 3,417 2,501 8,359
2015 2,429 2,543 2,169 7,142
2016 6,254 1,189 0 7,443
2017 5,897 2,384 0 8,280
2018 5,633 2,718 0 8,352
2019 6,051 2,165 0 8,216
2020 4,342 4,172 0 8,514
2021 4,023 3,779 865 8,667
2022 3,264 5,176 159 8,599
2023 5,656 2,481 0 8,138
2024 6,479 2,151 0 8,630
Current Diversions
CWD’s recent diversions from the American River are listed in the table below.

Year Total (AFY) Note
2014 2,441 Curtailment year
2015 2,430 Curtailment year
2016 6,254
2017 5,897
2018 5,633
2019 6,051
2020 4,342 Groundwater substitution transfer year
2021 4,023 Curtailment year

Page 849 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 147
Year Total (AFY) Note
2022 3,264 Curtailment year and groundwater substitution transfer year 2023 5,656
2024 6,479
Future Projected Diversions
As the District is built out, the future projected diversions are expected to be similar to current conditions. Future in-ﬁll projects will most likely reduce current irrigated areas and comply with regulatory water conservation standards. Future water eﬃciency measures will also limit additional diversions from the American River.

Future diversions from the American River may increase during normal and wet years by 1,500 to 3,000 AFY for storage of surface water in the groundwater basin via ASR operations.

Wet Conditions Management
Wet conditions occur when the Unimpaired Inﬂow Folsom Reservoir (UIFR) is greater than 1.6 Million Acre Feet. This threshold is not considered a formal deﬁnition of what constitutes a “wet year” or “wet conditions” on the American River but was utilized in the original Water Forum agreement as a basis for surface water commitments. It is expected that additional analysis and discussions will be conducted as part of the American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP) to explore and deﬁne what other potential criteria could be used to guide regional operations in wet times. Where possible, the District will expand its conjunctive use operations and increase its diversions to groundwater storage by 1,500 to 3,000 AFY through its ASR wells.

Drier Conditions Management
In drier conditions, when the UIFR is between 950 Thousand Acre Feet (TAF) and 400 TAF, the District will implement water conservation measures to reduce demand by 10% from normal, or as required by the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Where possible, the District will prioritize groundwater use to leave water in the LAR.

Driest Conditions Management
In the driest conditions, when the UIFR is less than 400 TAF, the District will implement water conservation measures to reduce demand by 10 – 20% from normal or as required by the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Where possible, the District will prioritize groundwater use to leave water in the LAR.

Critically Low Storage Conditions
In critically low Folsom Reservoir storage conditions, the District would most likely be required to cease water diversions from the LAR per curtailment orders issued by the State Board or terms and conditions in the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Agreements. If curtailed, the District would use its groundwater resources to meet demands and, if necessary, acquire additional water to supply demands as available.

The District would also implement its Water Shortage Contingency Plan that aligns with a potential water supply shortage and comply with any applicable mandates issued by the State Board.

Page 850 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 148
Demand Management
CWD is committed to abide by relevant water conservation and water use eﬃciency regulations. At the time of signing, key requirements are associated with the 2024 “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulations, Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 related to irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water, and the Model Water Eﬃcient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), which encourages low water use and native landscaping for new development.

CWD has participated and will continue to participate in the Regional Water Authority’s Water Eﬃciency Program, especially for regional compliance with the Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) best management practices and regional non-functional turf outreach, along with regional messaging. CWD also oﬀers water eﬃciency surveys and rebates for turf replacement, smart sprinkler controllers, and Flume Water’s Smart Home Water Monitor and Leak Detector. Continuation of the rebate program is subject to CWD Board of Directors approval.

Potential demand management actions include:
• Developing programs to assist in the conversion of publicly owned, commercial, and institutional landscaping to low-water-use native landscaping.
• Expand and strengthen regional conservation messaging about plant watering needs. • Provide additional water use eﬃciency rebates to customers. • Track customer water use and develop targeted outreach opportunities for high-water-use customers.
• Maintain and implement water waste prevention programs. • Maintain customer outreach and communication programs to educate and inform customers of state water use eﬃciency requirements.
• Maintain customer programs to support the implementation of Best Management Practices for the CII sectors.

Project List
Structural
Rehabilitation, modernization, or replacement of existing infrastructure as outlined below:
• Rehabilitation and replacement of Ranney collector laterals to maintain capacity and infrastructure integrity.
• Replacement of existing wells at the end of their useful life and modernize with ASR capabilities. • Replacement of existing pipelines in poor condition to improve water transmission reliability. • Distribution pressure zone modiﬁcations for eﬃcient water use and energy management. • New groundwater facilities consistent with the adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan. • Projects and programs to ensure success of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program or a similar tributary-speciﬁc program that improves the ecosystem, protects local water entitlements, and maintains better cold water pool conditions in Folsom Reservoir and the LAR.

Page 851 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Carmichael Water District PSA 149
Non-Structural
• Water transfers when available consistent with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and the Water Code.
• Additional groundwater storage opportunities in the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. • Support and participate in regional partnership opportunities with other water purveyors that provide reliability to regional water supply systems and beneﬁts to the LAR. • Agreements with neighboring purveyors for conjunctive use opportunities. • Extension and/or license of water entitlements.
• Regional water eﬃciency and conservation campaigns.

Caveats and Assurances

1. CWD was established over 100 years ago and is mostly built out. Structural projects listed above for rehabilitation, modernization, or replacement of existing infrastructure are key for water supply reliability to its customers. CWD seeks support in implementation of rehabilitation, modernization, and replacement of old infrastructure for supply reliability, operational eﬃciency, and water conservation objectives.

2. The District uses surface water supplies, when possible, to protect its groundwater supplies and prevent migration of contaminant plumes associated with the Aerojet facilities in Sacramento County. The District will continue to practice conjunctive use to meet existing and future needs and manage dry and critically dry conditions as they arise in the future.

3. Acknowledge that the duty of a water purveyor is to simultaneously provide an aﬀordable, reliable, and high-quality water supply to its customers. Proposals that favor one of these goals over another could threaten a water purveyor’s ability to achieve all goals simultaneously.

Page 852 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 City of Folsom PSA 150

City of Folsom
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: January 8, 2026
Purveyor Background
The City of Folsom (City) is a public agency that provides potable water directly to its residential and business customers. The City’s boundaries are not coterminous with the City’s water service area. The City’s water system is divided into ﬁve (5) distinct water service areas. The water service areas are listed below and shown in Figure 1.
• Folsom West Service Area
• Folsom East Service Area
• Nimbus Service Area
• Folsom Plan Area Service Area
• Ashland Service Area
The City obtains its surface water supply directly from a diversion point in Folsom Reservoir. The City’s water service contracts allow it to develop an intake facility at the Folsom South Canal, but the City has not yet done so. For areas south of the American River, the City takes deliveries from the Natoma Pipeline, a 42-inch steel pressure pipe that originates at Folsom Dam. The Natoma Pipeline splits into two separate lines: one line to the Folsom Prison water treatment plant (WTP), and one line to the Folsom WTP . At the inlet to the Folsom WTP , the raw water line splits. A portion of the raw water is delivered to the Willow Hill Reservoir. This portion of the water has served non-potable industrial uses on the Aerojet Industrial Property (Aerojet). The balance of the water is delivered to the Folsom WTP .

After treatment at the Folsom WTP , water is stored and pumped through a system of reservoirs and pumping stations to seven pressure zones. Groundwater Extraction and Treatment (GET) A and B facilities are now being used to serve most of Aerojet’s non-potable water needs, which has allowed the City to reduce surface water diversions from Folsom Reservoir since 2015.

For the Ashland Service Area, water is diverted from the Folsom Reservoir and piped to the Sydney N.

Peterson WTP , which is owned and operated by San Juan Water District (SJWD). After treatment, water is stored in Hinkle Reservoir until SJWD releases and pumps it to the Ashland Service Area. While SJWD provides wholesale water supplies to the Ashland Service Area, it is conveyed to customers through City infrastructure, including service connections with meters. The water delivered to Ashland Service Area derives from SJWD’s water entitlements and contracts.

Page 853 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 City of Folsom PSA 151

Figure 1. City of Folsom Water Service Areas

Page 854 of 1107 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 City of Folsom PSA 152
The City previously delivered raw water supplies to Aerojet at its industrial facilities; however, remediated water derived from GET A and GET B is now directly plumbed into Aerojet facilities for non- potable purposes. Even though the City does not deliver remediated water to Aerojet, the City does have rights to the remediated water, which they can utilize for non-potable use within the City’s water service areas. This remediated supply could oﬀset raw or potable water demands on the City’s water system that are derived from its water entitlements and contracts and delivered from Folsom Reservoir.

The City’s 2023 demands from its own surface water entitlements and contracts are approximately 17,700 acre-feet. At the peak of the City’s surface water diversions from its own entitlements and contracts in 2008, total surface water diverted was 29,560 acre-feet serving a population of approximately 53,375. The 2023 population served using the City’s entitlements and contracts was approximately 71,550. The overall water use reduction from 2008 to 2023 is approximately 40% while the population increased by approximately 34% during that same period.

The City’s projected build-out demands derived from the City’s water entitlements and contracts are approximately 25,500 acre-feet per year in 2045 to serve a population of approximately 108,530. For the Ashland Water Service Area, from San Juan Water District’s water entitlements and contracts, 2023 demands were approximately 1,100 acre-feet and build-out demands are approximately 1,120 acre-feet per year. Table 1 summarizes the City’s water entitlements and contracts. The Ashland Water Service Area is mostly built-out with a 2023 population of approximately 3,400 with an expected population of 3,600 at build-out.

Table 1. Water Entitlements and Contracts
Water Rights
Supply
(AFY) Diversion Point Place of Use Transferable
Pre-1914 Appropriative Right 22,000 Folsom Reservoir,
Folsom South Canal Folsom Service Area Yes
Pre-1914 Appropriative Rights 5,000 Folsom Reservoir,
Folsom South Canal Folsom Service Area Yes
CVP Repayment Contract 7,000 Folsom Reservoir Folsom Service Area Yes SJWD Agreement1 1,100 Folsom Reservoir Ashland Service Area No GET A and GET B Supply 3,250 Direct Application Folsom Service Area Yes Total Supply 38,350 -- -- --

1. The SJWD Agreement states that the City will receive the water supply needed for the Ashland Service Area from SJWD unless there are shortage reductions required under the agreement between the City and SJWD. This water supply does not impact City’s water supplies available under other Contracts.

CVP= Central Valley Project; GET= Groundwater Extraction and Treatment; SJWD= San Juan Water District

Page 855 of 1107 ends

Roseville City CouncilApril 1, 2026

Roseville City Council
April 1, 2026