2026-00588 [Contract] Water Forum 2050 Agreement — Sacramento City Council, March 17, 2026 (part 2 of 2)

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Placer County Water Agency PSA 241
Based on initial calculations, the State Water Board projects PCWA to have 0% reductions required in 2025, 0% reductions required in 2030, less than 5% reductions required in 2035, and 5-10% reductions required in 2040.

PCWA’s Approach to Compliance
PCWA is a leader in water eﬃciency programs in the region. PCWA has a robust water eﬃciency program and will expand on this program as described.

PCWA will continue participation in the Regional Water Eﬃciency Program, especially for regional compliance with the CII best management practices and regional non-functional turf outreach, along with regional messaging. PCWA will also participate in the statewide conservation partnership (CalWEP).

Education and Outreach
PCWA will maintain its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense award-winning education and outreach program as follows:
• Water eﬃciency messaging in newsletters, e-blasts, WaterWiseWednesday social media posts, paid ads on Facebook and Google
• Partnerships with local Master Gardener Programs and California Native Plant Society • Local demonstration gardens to showcase low water use plants and local native plants Enhanced Rebates
Prior to ﬁnal adoption of the regulation, PCWA enhanced its rebate program by adding a leak rebate to assist customers in ﬁnding and ﬁxing indoor and outdoor leaks. In one year, it’s become the Agency’s most utilized rebate. Commercial rebates were added, and rebate amounts were increased for turf replacement, irrigation upgrades, and smart controllers. The enhanced turf replacement can be marketed to assist with replacement of non-functional turf.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Data
As the Agency replaces meters and meter reading technology is replaced with AMI, customers will have real-time access to their water use and could set up leak alerts through a customer portal.

Water usage data will be evaluated and a program developed to notify customers of potential leaks, breaks or overuse.

Customers Services
Water Wise House Calls and Water Wise Business Calls will be oﬀered to help customers ﬁnd ways to use less water.

High-use letters and leak-verify work orders are generated every month after the billing department evaluates consumption, prior to sending a bill.

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Accounts Landscapes of CII mixed use meters will be measured to determine which are ½ acre or greater. New CII requirements will be implemented as follows:
• Classify CII customers into 22 water use categories, deﬁned by Energy STAR and the State Water Board, and maintain the list annually.

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• Design and implement best management practices for top CII users. • Design and implement turf replacement programs.

Caveats and Assurances

1. This agreement is entered into with recognition that PCWA has agreed with Reclamation to limit consumptive use of its American River water rights to 120,000 AFY – see section on “Contextual Relationship of American River Water Rights and Central Valley Project (CVP) Contract.” PCWA has a long-term CVP contract with Reclamation for 35,000 AFY . This is a total of 155,000 AFY from the American River. This amount combined with PCWA’s water delivered by PG&E from the Drum-Spaulding system (Yuba and Bear Rivers) is suﬃcient to meet buildout demands. If for any reason these supplies are signiﬁcantly reduced in amount or duration, it will be considered a changed condition, and signatories will work in good faith to renegotiate relevant portions of this Purveyor Speciﬁc Agreement.

2. During dry years, PCWA proposes to release up to 47,000 AFY of water from its upstream reservoirs, pursuant to Attachment 1, for the beneﬁt of the lower American River environment.

This proposal is discussed in detail under “Drier Conditions Management” and included in PCWA’s American River Water Rights Extension currently being processed with the State Water Board. In the 2007 petition for this extension, PCWA’s commitment to the Water Forum and stewardship of its water supply was noted by certain members of the Environmental Caucus in the letter included as Attachment 2. Signatories recognize the continuation of PCWA’s American River Water Rights is integral to achieving the proposed environmental releases. Accordingly, they are willing to support the proposal and highlight the environmental beneﬁts before the State Water Board, including a re-petition for this extension, if necessary, and an expanded place of use to include EBMUD. EBMUD is not a guaranteed buyer, even in dry years, thus it would be advantageous to have a downstream place of use adequate to ensure these environmental releases. For this reason, PCWA is also seeking to add other areas of the CVP , including refuges.

PCWA will keep the parties apprised of the development of this expansion with the State Water Board and the parties will communicate in good faith their concerns, support, or objection to this expansion as it is developed.

3. PCWA and other signatories to this agreement have proposed to divert water from the Sacramento River rather than diverting from the American River. This would allow water to continue to ﬂow down the lower American River. Signatories conditionally endorse this proposal, branded as “RiverArc,” subject to environmental analysis of the impact to the Sacramento River.

This proposal will require certain changes to PCWA’s CVP contract, including a change in point of diversion from Folsom Reservoir to the Sacramento River and expanding PCWA’s CVP place of use to include all western Placer County. Signatories will endorse these changes to PCWA’s CVP subject to continued endorsement of the RiverArc Project. In addition to its CVP contract, PCWA would like to explore an exchange provision to divert its American River water rights at the RiverArc Project.

Project List and Future Water Supply Reliability Eﬀorts The following is a list of PCWA planned projects related to the co-equal objectives of the Water Forum.

These include both structural and non-structural projects.

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1. American River Water Rights Extension Project, which includes the following supporting projects:
a. Expanded American River water rights place of use to include the CVP place of use for dry-year supply to EBMUD and other back-up buyers downstream of the conﬂuence with the Sacramento River.
b. Warren Act Contract with Reclamation to provide storage of environmental releases longer than 30-days in Folsom Reservoir and conveyance of water delivered to EBMUD through Folsom South Canal via Freeport Intake (acquired at time of writing this agreement).
c. Enhanced coldwater pool development in Folsom Reservoir by extended storage of environmental releases in Folsom Reservoir, coordinated with the Water Forum and Reclamation.

2. Ecological Forest Health – PCWA is partnering with a diverse group of stakeholders to implement the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project, which is a 28,800 -acre collaborative forest health project intended to reduce wildﬁre risk in the upper Middle Fo rk American River watershed. In an eﬀort to build upon the momentum of the French Meadows Project, PCWA, and several partners, has recently embarked on the Long Canyon Watershed Restoration Project. The Long Canyon Project will use proven forest health and fuels reduction treatments on 16,500 acres in an area near other public and private forest health projects that together provide landscape-level wildﬁre resilience in upper American River watershed.

3. RiverArc Project – PCWA is a partner and the administrator of the RiverArc Project. This project is a proposed regional treated water supply that will construct a new treatment plant and pipelines using an existing diversion on the Sacramento River. This project is intended to shift regional reliance on water supply from the American River to the Sacramento River.

RiverArc is a project that was originated in the Water Forum, with current partners including Sacramento County Water Agency, the City of Sacramento, the City of Roseville, and PCWA.

Other regional water suppliers may join the project in the future.

4. Conservation Programs
a. Treated Water Conservation – PCWA was the ﬁrst water purveyor in the Water Forum to comply with the best management practices of the Urban Water Conservation Council and currently has an EPA WaterSense award-winning program.

PCWA complied with its Senate Bill 7x-7 target of 20% conservation and is preparing for compliance with the regulation resulting from the Conservation as a California Way of Life program.
b. Untreated Water Conservation – Nominally 50% of PCWA’s water use is used for agriculture in its service area. This agriculture is served by an extensive canal system of 170 miles that includes ﬂow control devices, elevated ﬂumes, and “spills” that return water to the watershed at the end of each canal. Though most of this water supply comes from PCWA’s Yuba River source, water conservation is taken very Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Placer County Water Agency PSA 244
seriously. PCWA has installed lining to prevent seepage and ﬂow control automation to minimizing spilling, thus reducing water loss in the canal system. c. Looking at the last decade, PCWA is serving a population of 30% more people with 25% less water supply as a result of these conservation programs. The source of this comparison is PCWA’s 2023 year-end report, comparing 2013 to 2023.

5. County-Wide Masterplan – PCWA implemented a County-Wide Masterplan to meet its statutory obligation to support sustainable resource management and water supply needs throughout Placer County. This plan is a process for supporting the development of projects and seeking funding to implement them, organized into eight elements as follows:
a. Unserved Areas
b. Water Infrastructure Reliability
c. Water Supply Reliability
d. Renewable Energy Development
e. Watershed Stewardship
f. Agriculture
g. Conservation and Water Use Eﬃciency
h. Public Education and Outreach
This masterplan is a “living” database of projects that are entered by stakeholders county-wide, thus creating a transparent process for implementation. Funding sources include state and federal grants and PCWA funding from water transfers and net revenues from hydropower sales. Projects include those within PCWA’s service area and the service areas of other public water agencies throughout the Placer County.

6. Placer County Conservation Program (PCCP) – The PCCP will set aside natural lands as a mitigation in balance with proposed development and other activities in western Placer County. This program is being implemented by a Joint Powers Authority of member entities.

The PCCP includes permitting and mitigation for Endangered Species Act (federal), Natural Community and Conservation Planning Act (state), and Clean Water Act (federal). It is the most comprehensive Habitat Conservation Program in the nation. Permit and mitigation fees go to purchase of set-aside properties within the program area. a. Land Development – The demarcation of natural lands and proposed land development has been established in western Placer County under this program. b. PCWA Canal System – PCWA’s canal operations, including projects such as canal lining, have been permitted under the PCCP .
c. PCWA Infrastructure – Certain proposed PCWA treated water infrastructure, including the Ophir Water Treatment Plant and west Placer County transmission main have been permitted under the PCCP .

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7. Groundwater:
a. Conjunctive use – In the 2000 Water Forum Agreement, PCWA committed to the sale of American River surface water to SSWD to help recover groundwater levels in the North American Subbasin (NASb). This provision was for “normal” and “wet” years, as deﬁned by Folsom Reservoir Unimpaired Inﬂow, for the ﬁrst ten years of the agreement, and only wet years thereafter. PCWA will continue in this commitment for any willing buyer in the Sacramento County portion of PCWA’s American River water rights place of use, subject to PCWA having adequate water for its service area, adequate storage in MFP reservoirs, and agreeable terms with the buyer.
b. PCWA could expand the geographic extent of selling American River surface water in wet years by expansion of its place of use beyond the current extent in north Sacramento County. This expansion could cover the entire NASb, or beyond that boundary if desired for expanded conjunctive use.
c. Prohibition on use for new development – The County of Placer has a General Plan policy prohibiting groundwater as a sole source of water supply for new development in western Placer County. This policy exists for two reasons: to protect groundwater levels of the NASb and to encourage vesting in the use of MFP supply that was bonded and paid for by the people of Placer County. Groundwater may be used as a backup source in drought years, as described in PCWA’s Urban Water Management Plan. This policy has resulted in stable groundwater levels in Placer County, evidenced by levels relative to Sacramento and Sutter counties. PCWA supports this policy by working with developers in the planning and investment towards water supply infrastructure.

8. Wholesale Water Supply Contracts – PCWA provides both Yuba River and American River water to wholesale customers in its Zone 6 service area of western Placer County and within the American River water rights place of use. Wholesale service is provided pursuant to individually negotiated water supply contracts with the following:
a. City of Roseville, as amended on May 18, 2023, 30,000 to 44,000 AFY via Folsom Reservoir.
b. SJWD, as amended on April 17, 2025, 10,000 AFY via Folsom Reservoir. c. SSWD, as amended on November 16, 2020, 8,000 AFY via Folsom Reservoir. d. EBMUD, as amended on July 30, 2018, 47,000 AFY via Sacramento River at Freeport. e. City of Lincoln, December 10, 2012, 35,986 AFY via treated water deliveries8. f. California American Water, July 6, 2025, 10,825 AFY via treated water deliveries8. g. Small water systems throughout PCWA’s Zone 6 service area, 2,971 AFY via untreated and treated water deliveries.62

62 These wholesale demands are the amounts provided by PCWA’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.

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Attachment 1: Lookup Table of Environmental Flow Releases (AF)

Folsom Mar-Nov Unimpaired Flow Projection (TAF)
400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950
PCWA and Roseville Combined Diversion above 1995 Baseline (AF) 0 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 1,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 2,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 3,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 4,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 6,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 7,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 8,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 9,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 11,000 11,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 12,000 12,000 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 13,000 13,000 11,818 10,636 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 14,000 14,000 12,727 11,455 10,182 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 15,000 15,000 13,636 12,273 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 16,000 16,000 14,545 13,091 11,636 10,182 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 17,000 17,000 15,455 13,909 12,364 10,818 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 18,000 18,000 16,364 14,727 13,091 11,455 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 19,000 19,000 17,273 15,545 13,818 12,091 10,364 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 20,000 20,000 18,182 16,364 14,545 12,727 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 21,000 21,000 19,091 17,182 15,273 13,364 11,455 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 22,000 22,000 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 23,000 23,000 20,909 18,818 16,727 14,636 12,545 10,455 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 24,000 24,000 21,818 19,636 17,455 15,273 13,091 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 25,000 25,000 22,727 20,455 18,182 15,909 13,636 11,364 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 26,000 26,000 23,636 21,273 18,909 16,545 14,182 11,818 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 27,000 27,000 24,545 22,091 19,636 17,182 14,727 12,273 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 28,000 28,000 25,455 22,909 20,364 17,818 15,273 12,727 10,182 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 29,000 29,000 26,364 23,727 21,091 18,455 15,818 13,182 10,545 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 30,000 30,000 27,273 24,545 21,818 19,091 16,364 13,636 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 31,000 31,000 28,182 25,364 22,545 19,727 16,909 14,091 11,273 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 32,000 32,000 29,091 26,182 23,273 20,364 17,455 14,545 11,636 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 33,000 33,000 30,000 27,000 24,000 21,000 18,000 15,000 12,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 34,000 34,000 30,909 27,818 24,727 21,636 18,545 15,455 12,364 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 35,000 35,000 31,818 28,636 25,455 22,273 19,091 15,909 12,727 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 36,000 36,000 32,727 29,455 26,182 22,909 19,636 16,364 13,091 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 37,000 37,000 33,636 30,273 26,909 23,545 20,182 16,818 13,455 10,091 10,000 10,000 10,000 38,000 38,000 34,545 31,091 27,636 24,182 20,727 17,273 13,818 10,364 10,000 10,000 10,000 39,000 39,000 35,455 31,909 28,364 24,818 21,273 17,727 14,182 10,636 10,000 10,000 10,000 40,000 40,000 36,364 32,727 29,091 25,455 21,818 18,182 14,545 10,909 10,000 10,000 10,000 41,000 41,000 37,273 33,545 29,818 26,091 22,364 18,636 14,909 11,182 10,000 10,000 10,000 42,000 42,000 38,182 34,364 30,545 26,727 22,909 19,091 15,273 11,455 10,000 10,000 10,000 43,000 43,000 39,091 35,182 31,273 27,364 23,455 19,545 15,636 11,727 10,000 10,000 10,000 44,000 44,000 40,000 36,000 32,000 28,000 24,000 20,000 16,000 12,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 45,000 45,000 40,909 36,818 32,727 28,636 24,545 20,455 16,364 12,273 10,000 10,000 10,000 46,000 46,000 41,818 37,636 33,455 29,273 25,091 20,909 16,727 12,545 10,000 10,000 10,000 47,000 47,000 42,727 38,455 34,182 29,909 25,636 21,364 17,091 12,818 10,000 10,000 10,000 Water Forum Agreement 2050
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Attachment 2: Letter of Support for Petition for Extension of Time with State Water Resources Control Board
Letter continues
on next page.

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Attachment 2: Letter of Support for Petition for Extension of Time with State Water Resources Control Board
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Sacramento County Water Agency
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: January 8, 2026
Purveyor Background
Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) encompasses seven service areas and provides retail water service to 70,000 residential and commercial customers in Sacramento County. SCWA also wholesales water to Elk Grove Water District.

SCWA’s seven service areas are served with a unique set of water supplies including surface water, groundwater, and non-potable (recycled) water. Figure 1 presents a map of each of SCWA’s service areas.

Figure 1. SCWA Service Areas

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Surface Water and Groundwater Management
Current demands in the SCWA service are close to 40 thousand acre-feet (TAF) per year and are expected to grow to just below 80 TAF/year by 2045 (though the updated regulations on water use eﬃciency will need to be considered). The most recent estimates for buildout predict a total demand of 102,400 acre- feet per year (AFY) in the year 2052. Table 1 summarizes SCWA annual demands.

Table 1. SCWA Demands (Nearest TAF Annually)
Current 2045 2052
Demand 40 80 102
The highest surface water availability on a yearly basis is calculated in the 2016 Water System Infrastructure Plan (WSIP) at 89,000 AFY with the lowest being 32,100 AFY . The long-term annual average is 71,858 AFY . Any demand not made up by surface water is ﬁrst made up with recycled water (up to 3,300 AFY at buildout) and ﬁnally groundwater. Table 2 is extracted from Table 4-3, Zone 40 Water Supply Portfolio, in the 2016 WSIP .

Table 2. Surface Water Availability (AFY)
Wet/Average Year Drier Year Driest year Long-term average 89,300 43,350 32,100 71,858
Below is a list of the SCWA service areas outside of Zone 40 and a general description of current supplies. A summary is provided as Table 3.
• Metro Air Park: Water supply delivered from the City of Sacramento to meet current demands of approximately 125 acre-feet and 2045 demands of approximately 5,715 acre-feet. o City of Sacramento Wholesale/Wheeling Agreement - Metro Air Park (1.1 TAF) • Northgate 880: Water supply is derived from SCWA’s groundwater supplies to meet current demands of approximately 1,345 acre-feet and 2045 demands of approximately 1,365 acre-feet. • Arden Park Vista: Water supply is derived from SCWA’s groundwater supplies to meet current demands of approximately 3,560 acre-feet and 2045 demands of 3,217 acre-feet. • Southwest Tract: Water supply is derived from a water supply contract with California American Water to meet current demands of approximately 30 acre-feet and 2045 demands of approximately 24 acre-feet.
o Contract with California American Water is for 30 acre-feet per year • Hood Water Maintenance District: The Hood Water Maintenance District service area water supply is entirely derived from SCWA’s groundwater supplies to meet current demands of approximately 30 acre-feet and 2045 demands projected to be 31 acre-feet. • East Walnut Grove: The East Walnut Grove service area water supply is entirely derived from SCWA’s groundwater supplies to meet current demands of approximately 60 acre-feet and projected 2045 demands of 56 acre-feet.

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Table 3. Summary of Service Area Descriptions
Service Area Demand (af/yr) Supplies Current 2045
Metro Air Park 125 5,715 City of Sacramento Contract
Northgate 880 1,345 1,365 Groundwater
Arden Park Vista 3,560 3,217 Groundwater
Southwest Tract 30 24 Cal Am Contract
Hood Water Maintenance District 30 31 Groundwater
East Walnut Grove 60 56 Groundwater
Self-supplied groundwater is the sole source of water served in all areas where a contract or entitlement is unavailable. Most of these areas are legacy systems that were taken over by SCWA and are at or near buildout.

Zone 40 Demand and Supply
Below is a general description of Zone 40 and its supplies.

Zone 40 has multiple sources of surface water and remediated groundwater taken through the Freeport Regional Water Authority (FRWA) intake and pipeline and treated at Vineyard Surface Water Treatment Plant (VSWTP), recycled water, and groundwater to meet customer demands (Table 4). • Zone 40 potable water supplies consist of three water rights from the Sacramento River, two Central Valley Project contracts, a contract for remediated groundwater with Aerojet, a contract supply from North Delta Water Agency, and groundwater supplies to meet current demands of approximately 37,620 acre-feet and 2045 demands of 74,388 acre-feet. • Zone 40 non-potable supplies consist of a contract for recycled water supplies from Sacramento Area Sewer District to meet current non-potable demands of approximately 962 acre-feet and 2045 demands of approximately 3,300 acre-feet.

Table 4. Zone 40 Demand (AFY)
Service Area Current 2045
Zone 40 37,620 74,388
Surface Water and Groundwater taken as Surface Water Available in Zone 40 includes:
• Appropriative Water Right Permit 21209 (71 TAF)
• Central Valley Project, SMUD Contract (30 TAF)
• Central Valley Project, Fazio Contract (15 TAF)
• Aerojet Groundwater Extraction and Treatment (GET) Water—remediated Groundwater taken as Surface Water (8.9 TAF)
• License 1062 (805 AF) (Airport Water Right)
• License 4060 (101 AF) (Airport Water Right)
• North Delta Water Agency Contract (450 AF)
• Recycled Water (3.9 TAF)
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• Southern California Water Company Water - Emergency Supply – (1.6 TAF) • City of Sacramento American River Place of Use (Small Overlap Area – Volume Determined by Demands in Area)
It is evident that the SCWA service area with the largest demand, by far, is the Zone 40 area. The Zone 40 Water Supply Master Plan details operational policy for the area. Groundwater is the last supply source used with preference to surface and recycled water when feasible. SCWA is beginning the process to update the Zone 40 Water Supply Master Plan as of the writing of this Purvey Speciﬁc Agreement (PSA).

Any Zone 40 Water Supply Master Plan will be available to the public for review. The Master Plan is available from SCWA.

Historical SCWA Contributions to the Co-Equal Objectives Since the signing of the original Water Forum Agreement, SCWA has invested heavily in supporting the Water Forum co-equal objectives through investment in its conjunctive use system as described in the 2000 Water Forum Agreement PSA. Conjunctive use is practiced in the largest SCWA service area – Zone

40. The investment and continued partnership in the FRWA intake on the Sacramento River and accompanying VSWTP have been a costly undertaking both for current and future customers in Zone 40.

The FRWA intake is located downstream of the American River conﬂuence and, when opportunities arise, allows for American River water to be diverted after it has traveled the full distance of the Lower American River (LAR), thus allowing this water to be used for LAR corridor health.

Introduction of surface water into the Zone 40 area has directly beneﬁted groundwater elevations in the South American Subbasin. Figure 2 shows the 20 Year Groundwater Level Trends, the green dots indicating increasing groundwater elevations. The map clearly shows that there is a positive trend in groundwater levels in the SCWA service area since the startup of VSWTP and the FRWA intake. This is also in stark contrast to the trends in other parts of the State of California.

Figure 2. 20-Year Groundwater Level Trends

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SCWA is proud to have met the commitments of its 2000 PSA. Along with the partnership of the caucuses in the Water Forum, the will of the SCWA Board, partnership with East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) through FRWA, investment by current customers, and investment by the development community ensured that there were resulting positive eﬀects.

SCWA has developed a Water Shortage Contingency Plan which addresses the requirements in California Water Code Section 10632 of the Urban Water Management Planning Act. The Water Shortage Contingency Plan may be used by SCWA to address water shortages as they may arise. See the plan, located on SCWA’s website, for an up-to-date list of Water Shortage Stages and Suggested Actions.

Along with SCWA speciﬁc investments, SCWA has also been a major ﬁnancial contributor to the Water Forum Successor Eﬀort and Habitat Management Eﬀort since signing the 2000 Water Forum Agreement.

There have been many projects in and around the LAR that beneﬁted from this funding.

SCWA Surface Water Framework
SCWA’s supply portfolio and location oﬀers unique opportunities to support the Water Forum coequal objectives moving forward. This section reviews those opportunities and describes the proposed framework for commitments related to surface water diversions.

SCWA Opportunities in Water Forum 2050
Opportunities in Zone 40
The FRWA intake facility has a total capacity of 185 MGD while SCWA’s capacity in the facility is 85 million-gallons-per-day (MGD) (equivalent to approximately 95 TAF/year). SCWA has a design treatment capacity of 50 MGD (permitted for 60 MGD at the very upper limit of production) at the VSWTP (equivalent to approximately 56 TAF/year and 67 TAF/year, respectively). Plans include expanding the VSWTP to 100 MGD capacity (112 TAF/year) but this investment is at least 10 years in the future.

Additionally, SCWA has an agreement with the City of Sacramento for ﬁrm capacity of 11 MGD at the Franklin Intertie (12 TAF/year). Table 5 presents a summary of these capacities.

Table 5. Zone 40 Major Surface Water Facilities Capacity Facility Capacity (MGD)
Current Buildout
Freeport Diversion (FRWA) SCWA Share 85 85
Freeport Diversion (FRWA) Total Capacity 185 185
Vineyard WTP Capacity 50/60 100
Franklin Intertie (City of Sacramento) 11 11
In 2023, SCWA’s maximum day surface water production was 31 MGD. 2023 was an unconstrained year and SCWA had full access to its surface water entitlements.

In dry times, SCWA faces surface water curtailments. In the summer of 2022, SCWA had no Central Valley Project water available and Term 91 was in eﬀect, so the Permit 21209 water right was curtailed. This curtailment was based on statewide conditions, despite near average precipitation in the American River watershed. During this time, SCWA was only able to operate the VSWTP part time since the only water supplies available were the smaller, more senior water rights and Aerojet GET water. The vast majority of Water Forum Agreement 2050
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the SCWA capacity in the FRWA intake and VSWTP plant was unused during this time. SCWA met the majority its demands with groundwater. If SCWA had access to surface water there would have been an opportunity to deliver surface water to customers rather than groundwater, which would have beneﬁtted the groundwater basin. Additionally, since the FRWA intake is located downstream of the conﬂuence of the LAR and the Sacramento River, any American River surface water deliveries would have travelled down the LAR providing beneﬁt to the entirety of the LAR by improving ﬂow conditions. The potential beneﬁts for the LAR could be especially signiﬁcant in years like 2021 when precipitation across the state (including the American River watershed) was exceptionally low through the summer months.

Flows in the LAR in the summer of 2021 were very low, and river temperatures were dangerously warm due to the extended drought conditions. Additional LAR ﬂows, in the form of cold water from upstream or Folsom storage, could have been beneﬁcial if coordinated and timed based on the needs of the river.

Given the junior nature of the majority of SCWA’s surface water entitlements there is capacity available at the FRWA intake and through the VSWTP that could be used to meet SCWA demands. There may be partnership opportunities that could take advantage of this situation to move both more and colder surface water through the LAR.

Any decision to take additional surface water in partnership with others in the region would have to include aﬀordability as a parameter.

The opportunities for SCWA, in its Zone 40 service area, to contribute to both Water Forum co-equal objectives of water supply reliability and river corridor health, while adhering to the guiding principles for surface water diversions are stated below:

1. Increased surface water diversions at the FRWA intake at times when additional ﬂow could help the LAR or beneﬁt the co-equal objectives.
o Utilize partnership opportunities.
 Support the City of Folsom as they explore a partnership which could add reliability to the regional water supply system as well as allow more ﬂow in the LAR. SCWA commits to supporting the eﬀort from a technical perspective as well as working on the aﬀordability of the partnership.
 Support Golden State Water Company with any future planning that could involve partnership and FRWA. SCWA will continue to work on upgraded intertie projects as well as other opportunities as they arise.
 Continue partnership with the City of Sacramento. This partnership has been critical to Bay Delta processes. SCWA and the City of Sacramento have a formal agreement to work together to provide environmental surface water ﬂows as a part of the Regional Water Authority American River Terms for Ecosystem Support and Infrastructure Assistance Needs (ARTESIAN) Project Agreement.

SCWA commits to continuing to foster this partnership and working together to continue to have positive eﬀects on the co-equal objectives. SCWA and the City of Sacramento have removed some barriers to partnership by working on aﬀordability of wholesale supplies, trading of water, and encouraging surface Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 S acramento County Water Agency PSA 255

water use above and beyond what would be required to provide environmental ﬂows through groundwater substitution.
 SCWA will continue its partnership with EBMUD. Both are a part of the FRWA Board. SCWA will continue to work with EBMUD on projects that support the coequal objectives such as supporting partnerships that EBMUD develops with others to move more water through the LAR at times those additional ﬂows are a beneﬁt.
 SCWA will continue its partnership with California American Water, working to expand wholesale water delivery to the water company from SCWA’s conjunctive use system.
 SCWA will look to expand partnerships with upstream purveyors to establish projects that could beneﬁt Water Forum co-equal objectives and make full use of the FRWA intake and the SCWA system.2. P
rioritize surface water diversions in wet conditions to allow groundwater recharge. o Eﬀectively this means taking surface water to the maximum extent possible when it is av
ailable.

3. As of 2025, SCWA is piloting an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) well located on the same parcel as the VSWTP . While SCWA can supply potable water sustainably to its customers today and through buildout, SCWA is looking at ASR opportunities to expand system storage i n
pr
eparation for climate change impacts into the future.

Opportunities Outside of Zone 40
Opportunities exist outside of Zone 40 in the groundwater-supplied service areas where a potential partner is close. For example, there could be the possibility of partnerships that would supply the Northgate 880 and Arden Park service areas with surface water. Entitlements that had a place of use to cover these areas would need to exist and interties would need to be built. Aﬀordability would be a major concern.

Demand Management
SCWA currently lists Water Eﬃciency and Conservation requirements on its website. Some of these include the following:
• SCWA limits the outdoor water schedule of its customers’ lawns and landscapes to certain days based upon street address.
• SCWA recommends water eﬃciency actions such as Stress Your Lawn, Save Your Trees; Check Soil Moisture; Water Plants Early; Transition to a Low-Water Garden; and the overarching B e
W
ater Wise program.
• SCWA currently provides rebates such as Cash for Grass, High Eﬃciency Clothes Washers, High Eﬃciency Toilets.
• SCWA also asks customers to report water waste through the website and provides a discount on the customer’s bill for low water usage.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento County Water Agency PSA 256

Finally, SCWA maintains a Water Shortage Contingency Plan which details conservation actions to be taken when diﬀerent stages of conservation are required.

Changes in regulations, such as those in the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation, have occurred and will continue to change during the life of this agreement. SCWA is legally bound to follow the regulations and SCWA commits to working to meet these requirements. The Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation will likely require SCWA customers to limit the use of water per the regulation.

SCWA commits to thoroughly exploring the topic of demand management through the Master Plan update process. Part of the scope of work of the update will be to project demands moving forward, compare them to the regulatory requirements, and assess if additional work needs to be done to lower demands. SCWA’s goal would be to develop and implement a cost-eﬀective plan to meet its legal requirements while also providing for the livability of the community and keeping potable water as aﬀordable as possible to the end users.

Framework Summary
This section summarizes the SCWA proposal for Water Forum 2050 commitments related to surface water diversions in terms of their contributions to the coequal objectives and proposed investments (projects).

Contributions to River Corridor Health
• Reduce direct surface water diversions on the LAR by taking water at FRWA. o The FRWA facilities oﬀer a unique opportunity in dry years. When water resources are scarce, and other purveyors may be reducing diversions to allow ﬂow down the American River for out-of-basin transfers and/or relying more heavily on groundwater resources, SCWA can continue to take water at Freeport to alleviate potential stress on the groundwater basin while also allowing surface water to provide ﬂow and temperature beneﬁts for the LAR. Future opportunities would rely on partnerships with other agencies to ensure there are buyers and sellers of water available for any transfers. • Continued long-term funding for the Habitat Management Element (HME) and the Water Forum Successor Eﬀort (WFSE) has been a crucial factor for supporting healthy and viable conditions for LAR salmonids through the installation of critical habitat and development of the Flow Management Standard.

Contributions to Water Supply Reliability
• Reduced dependence on groundwater
o This has been implemented as part of the commitments of the original WFA and the completion of FRWA.
• Delivery of surface water supplies to other service areas.

Future SCWA Projects and Investments
• Regional Water Transfers and Agreements (partnerships) Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento County Water Agency PSA 257

o Ensure aﬀordability in all hydrologic conditions
• Investments in Water Supply Infrastructure
o Improved interties
o Improved groundwater infrastructure including possible ASR o Expand treatment capacity at VSWTP
o Provide surface water supplies to groundwater-only service areas o Continue planning level investment in the RiverArc (or similar northern Sacramento County surface water diversion) project.
o Potential infrastructure to connect existing outlying service areas.

Water Forum Commitments to SCWA
Full Endorsement of the following, including letters of support:
• Support Protection of Existing Surface Water Entitlements Including:
o Signatories will support the continued use of Permit 21209 as an important means to supporting the coequal objectives, speciﬁcally groundwater management and the protection of the LAR. SCWA intends to continue to use Permit 21209 surface water when available to support the coequal objectives and to sustain the groundwater table.

Use of these supplies is often more expensive than groundwater but may be essential to managing groundwater objectives, including drought reserves to be available during curtailments. If the State Water Board or the Legislature proposes global changes to water rights, each Water Forum member may decide what position to take on the proposal without rescinding agreed-upon support for the use of Permit 21209 as an important means to supporting the coequal objectives.
o Signatories will support the use of higher cost surface water supplies when available to build historic use so that groundwater will be available during curtailments. This will require SCWA to continue to use the surface water when it meets the co-equal objectives to build historic use as well as to rest the groundwater table. Use of these supplies is more expensive than groundwater.
• Signatories will support the following Capital Projects which are described in the WSIP and contemplated in the 2005 WSMP or amendments to serve lands within the Urban Services Boundary (as of 12/1/2025) and have completed the CEQA process (before 12/1/2025). No Capital project endorsement is considered Full Endorsement if it wasn’t listed as a capital project in the existing 2016 WSIP .
o Expansion of VSWTP to 100 MGD. The FRWA intake and VSWTP were developed to leave ﬂows in the American River to protect the LAR and the Parkway. Water is diverted downstream of the conﬂuence of the American River and Sacramento River, oﬀ the Sacramento River, at the FRWA intake and treated at the VSWTP to meet potable Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento County Water Agency PSA 258

demands in the Zone 40 area. Expansion of the VSWTP to its ultimate capacity is essential to continue the project to the ultimate extent envisioned in the original Water Forum Agreement.
o Expansion of the Agency’s Transmission Main and water production system, including the North Service Area (NSA) Phase B pipeline project and NSA Terminal Tank Facility, as described in the 2005 Zone 40 Water Supply Master Plan (including amendments up to November of 2025) and further reﬁned in the 2016 Zone 40 Water System Infrastructure Plan to allow surface water to eﬃciently ﬂow to service areas within Zone 40. • SCWA agrees that the Capital Improvement List in the 2016 Zone 40 Water System Infrastructure Plan that is fully endorsed is the one that existed in 2016. Any updates to the capital improvement list will not have full endorsement.
• Signatories will support investment and funding for projects and programs through equitable and fair rates and fees required to honor commitments in this PSA and support the coequal objectives.

Conceptual Endorsement of the following, meaning a commitment by signatories to explore the ideas:
• River Arc Project
• Support for SCWA’s participation in the Water Bank and expansion of conjunctive use • Support for implementation of the South American and North American Groundwater Sustainability Plans
• Partnerships that expand water availability for use through FRWA including expansion of existing entitlement place of use, changes in point of diversion to include FRWA, etc. • Additional interties between partner agencies to expand conjunctive use in the region. • Additional surface water entitlements, either procured or by contract through partnerships.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Municipal Utility District PSA 259

Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: January 8, 2026
Purveyor Background
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) serves electricity to most electricity users in Sacramento County and small portions of Yolo and Placer Counties.

SMUD’s core value of environmental leadership is a guiding principle that drives eﬀorts to minimize impacts and encompass all aspects of SMUD operations. These principles support collaborations with the Water Forum and their referenced coequal objectives.

In the 1950s and 60s, SMUD developed a system of reservoirs on the tributaries to the south and middle forks of the American River for power generation. SMUD also developed Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station in the southeastern part of Sacramento County, which was later decommissioned, with Cosumnes Power Plant (CPP) later being constructed nearby. The CPP uses American River water for thermal power generation. SMUD maintains Rancho Seco Lake onsite, which serves as a backup water supply for the CPP .

In 1970, SMUD entered a Water Service Contract (WSC) with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) for delivery of up to 60,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of CVP water for municipal and industrial use. In 2006, with concurrence by USBR, SMUD assigned Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) the right, title, and interest on a portion of SMUD’s Central Valley Project (CVP) contract consisting of 30,000 AFY . The assignment allowed SCWA rights to renew the contract. The original SMUD WSC agreement expired in 2012 but was replaced by a repayment CVP contract (which does not expire). SMUD currently has a repayment contract with USBR for 30,000 AFY .

The point of diversion for SMUD’s entitlement is the Folsom South Canal. SMUD does not have a current need for this entitlement, though it could require the full amount depending on future energy generation-related needs. Unless or until SMUD determines that it should make a permanent transfer of that entitlement, SMUD may choose to make temporary transfers and any water that would otherwise be diverted under that entitlement will presumably be released by USBR to other entitlement holders or for other beneﬁcial purposes. If SMUD is considering water transfers that are expected to reduce ﬂows in the lower American River, the transfer will be disclosed to the Water Forum.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Municipal Utility District PSA 260

The Folsom South Canal is located approximately 3.6 miles west of the SMUD Rancho Seco property. The Canal is a 26.98-mile conveyance owned and operated by USBR as part of the CVP . The canal typically operates at less than 1 percent of its hydraulic capacity and traverses generally south from Lake Natoma on the American River in eastern Sacramento County to a pumping plant owned and operated by East Bay Municipal Utility District. In terms of overall volume conveyed, SMUD is the primary user of the Folsom South Canal, which supplies both the Cosumnes Power Plant and Rancho Seco Lake.

Rancho Seco Lake is an oﬀ-stream storage reservoir located approximately one mile east and upstream of Cosumnes Power Plant. The lake is kept full year-round with Folsom South Canal water and incidental rainfall runoﬀ. Water is delivered through a turnout located approximately 700 feet upstream from the Laguna Creek siphon, on the Folsom-South Canal. Water from the turnout is pumped east through a 3.2- mile long, 66-inch diameter pipeline to the Rancho Seco site, and other pipelines convey water to Rancho Seco Lake and CPP .

Rancho Seco Lake is a small reservoir near Clay Creek. The surface area of Rancho Seco Reservoir is approximately 165 acres and is contained by an earthen dam constructed in 1972. The reservoir has a capacity of 2,850 acre-feet (AF). The maximum dam height is approximately 60 feet, total length is 1,800 feet, and crest width is 28 feet. The dam was designed and constructed to standards established by the State of California, which include consideration for earthquake and extreme ﬂood events.

Surface Water Management
Current Diversions
During the last 10 years, SMUD’s diversions from the American River for consumptive purposes have ranged from 6,131 AF in 2013 to 3,674 AF in 2023. These diversions could increase should SMUD decide to reoperate the CPP to use alternative fuels that have a greater water demand or undertake other power generation related projects with a consumptive demand, including but not limited to hydrogen production or alternative renewable generation. SMUD has also made temporary assignments of its entitlement to the City of Roseville. SMUD will continue to explore and participate in assignments, transfers, and similar arrangements.

Future Projected Diversions
It is diﬃcult to predict how much water SMUD will divert and use over time. SMUD’s current diversions could increase should SMUD decide to reoperate the CPP to use alternative fuels that have a greater water demand or undertake other power generation related projects with a consumptive demand, including but not limited to hydrogen production or alternative renewable generation. SMUD has also made temporary assignments of its entitlement to the City of Roseville. SMUD will continue to explore and participate in assignments, transfers, and similar arrangements.

Drier Conditions Management
In drier years, any assignments of SMUD’s water service entitlement will be subject to USBR’s available supply. The CPP will need to operate during drier years to meet critical local and regional electrical demands. In fact, the 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.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Municipal Utility District PSA 261

Driest Conditions Management
During driest conditions, any assignments of SMUD’s water service entitlement will be subject to USBR’s available supply. The CPP will need to operate during drier years to meet critical local and regional electrical demands. In fact, the 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.

Critically Low Storage Conditions
In critically low storage years, any assignments of SMUD’s water service entitlement will be subject to USBR’s available supply. The CPP will need to operate during critically low storage conditions years to meet critical local and regional electrical demands. In fact, the 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.

However, it is recognized that in years when the projected unimpaired inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir is less than 750,000 AF there may not be suﬃcient water available to provide the purveyors with the driest years’ quantities speciﬁed in their agreements and provide the expected driest years’ ﬂows to the mouth of the American River. In those years, SMUD will participate in a conference with other stakeholders on how the available water should be managed. It is also worth noting that the CPP depends on the Folsom South Canal for its water supply. The pumping station needs a canal level of 107 feet at its intake. This requirement, as well as others, would be discussed in stakeholder conferences mentioned above.

Project List
Non-Structural Projects
• Water transfer agreement with Roseville for 2,000 AFY (through February 2026)

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 262

Sacramento Suburban Water District
Purveyor Specific Agreement
Updated: November 26, 2025
Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) is committed to supporting good stewardship of the American River watershed and recommits to its membership in the Water Forum as a model for this eﬀort. SSWD will continue its advocacy for the health of the river through actionable, meaningful eﬀorts supporting cold water carry-over at Folsom reservoir, supporting the Flow Management Standard, habitat restoration eﬀorts and advocacy at the federal level with our U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) partners to balance the co-equal goals. Achieving the co-equal goals requires on-going actions, not just in dry years, to keep the river and groundwater basin healthy and ensure a reliable, safe, and sustainable water supply. Ultimately the Water Forum has endeavored to provide “peace on the river” while knowing that a healthy water supply is reliant upon a healthy river.

Purveyor Background
SSWD was formed on February 1, 2002, under the State of California’s County Water District Law by the consolidation of the Arcade Water District (AWD), established in 1956, and the Northridge Water District (NWD), established in 1958.

The Local Area Formation Commission approved the reorganization of Del Paso Manor Water District (DPMWD), established in 1954, into SSWD as of June 30, 2025. After June 30, 2025, DPMWD ceased to exist and SSWD oﬃcially integrated all aspects of the former district into operations of the SSWD as the Del Paso Manor Service Area (DPMSA). The DPMSA will be operated as a separate water system until the DPMSA system facilities have been suﬃciently rehabilitated and replaced to the same standard as the SSWD water system, and the SSWD Board of Directors determines that the two service areas will be merged and operated as a single water system.

SSWD is in Sacramento County, north of the American River and serves a large suburban area, including portions of Citrus Heights, Carmichael, North Highlands, City of Sacramento (City), Antelope, Arden Arcade, and McClellan Park (formerly McClellan Air Force Base). SSWD’s service area covers approximately 37 square miles (23,690 acres of land) and serves water to an estimated population of 199,298 (based on the 2020 census) through approximately 48,853 service connections, 47,162 of which are metered. There are 1,691 unmetered service connections in the DPMSA that will be metered by 2035. SSWD’s territory is substantially built out. Other than residential and commercial in-ﬁll projects,

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 263

and industrial and commercial development at McClellan Park, SSWD does not expect signiﬁcant additional development within its territory.

Water System Facilities
SSWD’s distribution system, including storage, pump stations and interconnections, has approximately 720 miles of pipeline that range in size from 48-inch transmission mains down to 4-inch distribution mains. There are 48 emergency interties with neighboring agencies along SSWD’s service boundary.

SSWD has 6 storage tanks with a collective capacity to hold approximately 15.8 million gallons of water.

SSWD has a total of 7 booster pumping stations, three of which are co-located with major storage tanks.

SSWD pumps its groundwater from approximately 80 permitted groundwater wells. All the groundwater wells pump directly into the distribution system and range between 270 and 1,036 feet deep. SSWD also has facilities to receive treated surface water from Folsom Reservoir and the Lower American River.

Groundwater Wells
SSWD currently has 80 permitted wells in the North American Subbasin (NASb) that are connected to the potable water system, with a current production capacity of approximately 125 million gallons per day (MGD).

SSWD is, by regulation, 100% reliant on groundwater to ensure continuous supply to its customers.

Therefore, SSWD must maintain groundwater production capacity necessary to meet 100% of its customers’ needs. SSWD’s groundwater wells and storage facilities are capable of producing 100% of SSWD’s annual water demand.

SSWD pumps from the NASb, which is jointly managed on behalf of SSWD and other municipal pumpers by the Sacramento Groundwater Authority under a Groundwater Sustainability Plan adopted consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SSWD works with other groundwater pumpers in the basin to sustainably manage groundwater supply consistent with SGMA.

Surface Water
In addition to groundwater, SSWD imports surface water, when available, from two supply sources:

Folsom Reservoir and the Lower American River. SSWD has no surface water rights, but has two contractual entitlements to surface water, one from the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) for up to 29,000 acre-feet and one from the City for up to 26,064 acre-feet.

When available, SSWD purchases surface water from PCWA supplied from the Middle Fork American River and delivered to Folsom Reservoir. The PCWA water is treated by San Juan Water District (SJWD) at the Peterson Water Treatment Plant pursuant to contract and then conveyed through purchased pipeline capacity in the Cooperative Transmission Pipeline and District-owned transmission pipelines into SSWD’s water distribution system in the North Service Area. SSWD also purchases surface water when available from the City supplied from the Lower American River, which is diverted and treated by the City at its E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant and conveyed through purchased and District-owned pipeline capacity for distribution to customers in SSWD’s South Service Area.

In addition to the two contractual entitlements, SSWD purchases Central Valley Project Section 215 surface water from USBR under a long-term Warren Act contract when available.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 264

Surface Water and Groundwater Operations
SSWD has no surface water rights.

Contractual Entitlements
As noted, SSWD has two contractual entitlements to surface water, one from the City and one from PCWA. SSWD regularly enters individual annual contracts with USBR to receive surplus Central Valley Project Section 215 water deliveries when available.

One of SSWD’s two predecessor agencies, AWD, entered into an agreement with the City to reserve a water supply for AWD’s service area within the City’s American River Place of Use. That agreement committed a portion of the City’s surface water supplies for future use by AWD, subject to annual payments. After SSWD was formed in 2002, it continued AWD’s payments to the City for the American River Place of Use water supply and AWD’s planning and design of facilities that enabled SSWD to receive treated water from E.A. Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant.

In 2004, SSWD and the City entered into a Wholesale Water Supply Agreement under which the City agreed to supply up to 20 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated surface water to SSWD under the former AWD entitlement. The agreement will continue in full force and eﬀect unless terminated by mutual written agreement of the parties or by operation of law.

In 2000, SSWD’s other predecessor agency, NWD, entered into an agreement to purchase water from PCWA. When SSWD was formed in 2002, it assumed this agreement. The agreement provides that SSWD would buy surface water from PCWA at an increasing volume each year until the maximum contract amount of 29,000 acre-feet per year was reached in 2014 and then maintain this level through the expiration of the agreement in 2025. The PCWA agreement was amended in 2018 to extend its term through 2045. This permitted SSWD to secure a Long-Term Warren Act Contract for the same term (i.e., through 2045) from the USBR to wheel PCWA water supplies through Folsom Reservoir to SJWD for treatment by SJWD and then delivery to SSWD through the Cooperative Transmission Pipeline. The PCWA agreement was further amended in 2020 to reduce SSWD’s annual “take or pay” obligation from 12,000 acre-feet to 8,000 acre-feet, with the provision that if PCWA can make additional water available to SSWD in any year, SSWD has the right to take up to 21,000 acre-feet of additional water in that year.

The PCWA entitlement has limitations.
• American River Flows
o PCWA may not deliver water to SSWD in any year when the March through November unimpaired inﬂow into Folsom Reservoir is less than 1,600,000 acre-feet. o Notwithstanding the foregoing, PCWA may deliver water to SSWD in the following December through February provided water is being released from Folsom Reservoir for purposes of ﬂood protection.
• PCWA Needs
o The agreement is subject to cutback if PCWA needs any portion of the SSWD entitlement to serve PCWA customers in Placer County, or to meet PCWA’s Middle Fork Project power generation obligations to PG&E.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 265

• SSWD Use
o SSWD Customers – SSWD may only use the PCWA water in PCWA’s expanded Place of Use which covers SSWD’s North Service Area.
o Sale and Transfer – SSWD may sell or transfer any portion of its available PCWA entitlement within PCWA’s expanded Place of Use (e.g., to the California American Water Company).

Use
SSWD uses surface water in-lieu of groundwater pumping during water year types or conditions when such supplies can be diverted and used in portions of the SSWD service area when available under PCWA’s and the City’s water rights and it provides beneﬁts to SSWD customers or aids in meeting other local or regional objectives such as in-lieu groundwater recharge, which SSWD actively engages in as part of its Water Forum commitments.

Conjunctive Use Program
As one of the original signatories of the Water Forum Agreement (through its predecessor agency, Northridge Water District), SSWD has operated an active Conjunctive Use Program since 1998. Under this program, SSWD provides treated surface water to its customers under its City and PCWA entitlements in lieu of providing pumped groundwater . This reduces SSWD’s need to extract groundwater, which in turn allows SSWD’s groundwater supplies to be replenished through natural groundwater recharge. This operation is referred to as “in-lieu recharge” or more colloquially as “conjunctive use.”
SSWD’s groundwater wells are in the NASb, which is part of the Sacramento Valley Groundwater Basin.

While groundwater levels normally ﬂuctuate in response to hydrologic conditions, groundwater levels in the NASb declined between 1950 and 2000. There is a regional consensus that this decline was largely the result of excessive groundwater pumping.

Throughout the history of SSWD, investments in its Conjunctive Use Program have had a signiﬁcant eﬀect on bolstering groundwater supplies in the region. By supplementing its supplies with surface water when it is available, SSWD’s groundwater pumping has been reduced, thereby allowing for more groundwater recharge.

SSWD supports maintaining a sustainable groundwater basin in the NASb. Seeking opportunities to recharge groundwater requires focus if the resource is to be present when most needed. SSWD remains cognizant of the need to maintain consistency with local Groundwater Sustainability Plans and meeting the requirements of SGMA.

Water Banking
• SSWD’s in-lieu recharge program has contributed to the regional banking of over 400,000 acre- feet of groundwater since 1998.
• SSWD has banked greater than 245,000 acre-feet of groundwater to improve supply reliability since 2003.
• SSWD ﬁles annual reports with the State Water Resources Control Board to document its eﬀorts to bank groundwater. These eﬀorts have been recognized and substantiated by the State of California Department of Water Resources’ data and reporting.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 266

Aquifer Recovery
• Since 2003, groundwater levels have stabilized in the portion of the NASb from which SSWD pumps water. This was the result, in large part, of an increase in SSWD’s in-lieu recharge practice (i.e., increased surface water purchases by SSWD when available) and enhanced conservation practices on the part of SSWD’s customers spurred by SSWD’s various education and incentive programs.
• Groundwater level recovery, combined with absence of a robust aquifer storage (i.e., direct groundwater recharge) eﬀort in the area, underscore the general eﬀectiveness of conjunctive use programs and in-lieu groundwater banking eﬀorts.
• As demonstrated by historical groundwater level data for the Sacramento Valley, this water supply management strategy reversed the historical trend of groundwater level decline by reducing groundwater pumping to allow the aquifer to naturally stabilize and then begin to recharge.

Demand Management
SSWD’s baseline water usage per capita for the purpose of compliance with Senate Bill (SB) X7-7 was 257 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) for the years 1995-2010, with a 2020 target of 206 gpcd. At the SB X7-7 compliance date of 2020, SSWD customer usage was down to 172 gpcd, meeting the legislative mandate. For the last several years, SSWD’s gpcd has hovered around 143 gpcd. This was achieved through a variety of means, including an accelerated Advanced Meter Infrastructure program and expanded water conservation incentive and outreach eﬀorts.

Moving forward, through the Long Term Water Conservation Framework legislation (SB 606 and Assembly Bill 1668), the State of California created real-time targets for water suppliers, including SSWD, that involve a dramatic water use reduction target over the next 15 years that is tied to a residential indoor water use reduction as well as a landscape water eﬃciency target that involves reporting on landscape water demand as compared to landscape water need (as calculated by the State). This system- wide budget-based water use approach also includes a reduction in water suppliers’ system water loss (gallons per connection per day). To achieve these targets, SSWD anticipates that it will need to dramatically expand customer participation in its programs and anticipates making reﬁnements to existing programs as well as adding programs to achieve these requirements. An analysis and prioritization of potential programs is underway and engagement on this topic with the Water Forum membership is ongoing. Draft and ﬁnal work products will be provided to the Water Forum members.

Current SSWD conservation program elements are advertised on SSWD’s web page:
https://www.sswd.org/departments/conservation
While subject to change, as program eﬀectiveness is evaluated, examples of likely program enhancements beyond existing elements include:
• Monitoring and analysis of meters dedicated solely to irrigation • Expanded rebate programs for all customer classes targeting both indoor and outdoor water eﬃciency eﬀorts
• Enhanced leak repair incentive programs
• Enhanced water and energy partnership rebates
Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 Sacramento Suburban Water District PSA 267

• Enhanced residential water surveys and leak investigations • Enhanced outreach regarding best practices for water eﬃciency and water conservation See “Speciﬁc Demand Management Measures by Water Conservation Stage” in Appendix E of SSWD’s Urban Water Management Plan:
https://www.sswd.org/departments/engineering/reports/urban-water-management-plan SSWD understands that Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A) requires purveyors to plan for reductions of 10%, 20%, 50%, and beyond. SSWD will follow the stages set forth in its Water Shortage Contingency Plan as declared by its Board of Directors based on operational service conditions and water supply availability.

All hyperlinks used within this PSA will be maintained and active for the duration of the agreement, or if changes are made to the online content, the changes will be communicated to the Water Forum and updated links provided.

Current Diversions
N/A
Future Projected Diversions
N/A
Drier Conditions Management
In drier years, SSWD will switch to groundwater in a discretionary fashion to meet customer demands as water resource conditions warrant. Decisions will include, but not are limited to, the need to maintain adequate levels of service, consideration of local surface water resource conditions, groundwater sustainability conditions, and successful outcomes of local banking and extraction program such as the Water Bank or agreements to make water available for the environment (e.g. Healthy Rivers and Landscapes). The surface water supplies available to SSWD (e.g., PCWA, City, USBR) may be subject to signiﬁcant reductions, up to and including curtailment, during dry years (seasonal and climatic shortages).

Based on historical data, SSWD’s water supply available from groundwater has not been impacted by annual hydrology. Groundwater reliability is consistent in all water years and is not subject to vulnerabilities from seasonal and climatic factors. After several consecutive dry years, the groundwater levels may decline, but this does not reduce the pumping capacity of SSWD’s wells. The reliability of SSWD’s groundwater supply is related to its sustainable groundwater pumping yield estimate, water banking eﬀorts, and its reliable well ﬁeld capacity that can be used to meet demands in all water year types.

Driest and Critically Low Storage Conditions Management In the driest years, SSWD will switch to groundwater in a discretionary fashion to meet customer demands as water resource conditions warrant. Decisions will include, but not are limited to, the need to maintain adequate levels of service, consideration of local surface water resource conditions, groundwater sustainability conditions, and successful outcomes of local banking and extraction program Water Forum Agreement 2050
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such as the Water Bank or agreements to make water available for the environment (e.g., Healthy Rivers and Landscapes). The surface water supplies available to SSWD from its PCWA and City surface water entitlements may be subject to signiﬁcant reductions, including curtailments, during dry years (seasonal and climatic shortages).

Based on historical data, SSWD’s water supply available from groundwater has not been impacted by annual hydrology. Groundwater reliability is consistent in all water years and is not subject to vulnerabilities from seasonal and climatic factors. After several consecutive dry years, groundwater levels may decline, but this does not reduce the pumping capacity of SSWD’s wells. On average, the groundwater level declines are reduced and recover faster because SSWD’s water banking eﬀorts have protected and increased the reliability of its groundwater supply.

Project List
SSWD understands that to support the coequal objectives and mitigate challenges facing the region under future conditions, structural and non-structural projects will be needed.

Structural
The following infrastructure projects will support eﬀorts to implement SSWD’s Purveyor Speciﬁc Agreement (PSA), and support the coequal objectives.
• New replacement groundwater facilities consistent with adopted groundwater sustainability plans
o Select new replacement wells will strategically be equipped with Aquifer Storage and Recovery capability
• New or improved interties with other purveyors, in particular ones that promote groundwater recharge
• Rehabilitation and modernization of existing water facilities • Structural projects and programs to help ensure the success of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program (previously known as Voluntary Agreements) or similar tributary-speciﬁc programs (e.g., the ARTESIAN program) that improve the ecosystem, protect local water entitlements, and maintain better cold water pool conditions and management in Folson Reservoir and the Lower American River
Non-Structural
• Consolidation of water districts as approved by the State of California or the Local Agency Formation Commission
• Agreements with neighboring purveyors for conjunctive use opportunities and water supply reliability
• Continued water use eﬃciency programs and funding support • Water transfers consistent with groundwater sustainability plans and the California Water Code • Support for identifying underground storage as a beneﬁcial use of surface water • Active participation in management and other actions under the groundwater sustainability plans for the NASb
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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 USBR Article 3(f) of a purveyor’s Water Repayment Contract or by a Section 215 Contract between the purveyor and USBR 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. Acknowledge that the duty of a water purveyor is to provide an aﬀordable, reliable, and high- quality water supply to its customers.

4. Agree that evolving regulatory conditions may trigger changed conditions and Water Forum commitments shall evolve to adapt to those changed conditions.

5. Acknowledge that the achievement of the coequal objectives must consider ramiﬁcations on water aﬀordability, reliability, availability, and quality.

6. Continue to utilize SSWD’s conjunctive use program in a discretionary manner to ensure a safe and reliable water supply is maintained.

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San Juan Water District Consortium
Purveyor Specific Agreement
(Includes Citrus Heights Water District, Fair Oaks Water District, Orange Vale Water Company, San Juan Water District, and a portion of the City of Folsom) Updated: January 8, 2026
Purveyor Background
San Juan Water District’s (SJWD) wholesale service area is composed of the SJWD’s retail service area located in both Sacramento and Placer Counties, Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD), Fair Oaks Water District (FOWD), Orange Vale Water Company (OVWC), and a portion of the City of Folsom. These referenced Districts and the relevant portion of the City of Folsom are hereinafter collectively referred to as “the SJWD Consortium”.

SJWD’s wholesale surface water supplies consist of three sources – 33,000 acre-feet (AF) per year of water rights allocations (vintages 1854 and 1928), up to 25,000 AF/year in a water supply agreement with Placer County Water Agency for water from their Middle Fork Project, and 24,200 AF/year of Central Valley Project water supplies in a repayment contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The water-right water must be provided by Reclamation without diminution, pursuant to a 1954 settlement agreement with SJWD. The other two sources are subject to shortage provisions, but only Reclamation has ever implemented shortage allocations.

These sources of water are all delivered through a municipal and industrial (M&I) intake in Folsom Dam, which is at an elevation that would be subject to air entrainment at approximately 110,000 AF of storage in Folsom Reservoir. All of SJWD’s surface water is diverted from the Folsom Reservoir and treated at the Sidney N. Peterson Treatment Plant. Treated water is then stored in a 62-million-gallon treated storage reservoir.

CHWD and FOWD supplement their surface water supply with groundwater. OVWC may supplement its supply with groundwater in the future. Additional supplies may be available from other sources, via interconnections.

SJWD’s projected 2030 surface water demand in the 2000 Water Forum Agreement was 82,200 AF/year (the full complement of SJWD’s water supplies). In a conference year, under the 2000 Agreement, SJWD’s projected surface water demands would decrease to 54,200 AF/year, which was also the baseline surface water use reported by SJWD for 1995. This use increased in SJWD’s wholesale service area to 57,900

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AF/year by 2004 but has since declined to 32,700 AF/year in 2022 (a reduction of 44%). Even if groundwater use in SJWD’s wholesale area is included (a total of 7,200 AF, including a total of 4,000 AF of incremental groundwater pumping for the groundwater substitution transfer in 2022), the total use would be 31% lower than in 2004 (even assuming minimal groundwater use that year).

Surface Water and Groundwater Management
Baseline diversions are those described in SJWD’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), for total and surface water use in 2020. The baseline for the SJWD’s American River diversion is 40,642 AF total and 36,301 AF of surface water diversions.

Agreement for meeting the SJWD Consortium’s water supply needs to the year 2040:

1. Normal years
As it applies to the SJWD Consortium’s portion of the agreement, normal years is deﬁned as follows:
years when the projected March through November unimpaired inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir is greater than 950,000 AF.

In normal years, SJWD will divert and the SJWD Consortium will use no more than 38,603 AF of surface water supplies for customer requirements within the current SJWD wholesale service area. Additional surface water supplies may be used for banking purposes.

2. Drier years
As it applies to the SJWD Consortium’s portion of the agreement, drier years is deﬁned as follows: years when the projected March through November unimpaired inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir is less than 950,000 AF and equal to or greater than 400,000 AF.

In drier years, 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. During drier years, the 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 potential increased use of groundwater.

3. Driest years
Deﬁned for purposes of the Water Forum Agreement 2050 as follows: years when the projected March through November unimpaired inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir is less than 400,000 AF.

In the driest years, SJWD will reduce its diversion to no more than 30,882 AF for use within the current SJWD wholesale service area, which is lower than its baseline amount. During driest years the 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 potential increased use of groundwater.

In addition, it is recognized that in years when the projected unimpaired inﬂow to Folsom Reservoir falls below 750,000 AF, there may not be suﬃcient water available to provide the purveyors with the drier or driest years quantities speciﬁed in their Purveyor Speciﬁc Agreements (PSA) and provide the expected driest years ﬂows to the mouth of the American River. In those years, the SJWD Consortium will participate in a conference with other stakeholders on how the available water should be managed. The Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 San Juan Water District Consortium PSA 272

conferees will be guided by the conference year principles described in Chapter 4, Section I of the Water Forum Agreement.

Demand Management
As noted in the Demand Management element of this Agreement, “All purveyors commit to abiding by the relevant conservation and water use eﬃciency regulations.” The SJWD Consortium agencies reiterate that commitment in this PSA. The speciﬁc measures that the SJWD Consortium agencies will take to meet these obligations have yet to be deﬁned, and they will evolve over time as the diﬀerent regulatory requirements come into eﬀect. Those measures will be described in the documents referenced below.

However, at the time of the signing of the Water Forum Agreement, the San Juan Consortium agencies do anticipate that a major focus of their programs will be on the use of water on irrigated landscapes, and on assisting their customers in reducing this category of use, to the extent that such reductions are necessary and appropriate to allow SJWD Consortium agencies to meet the requirements of the conservation regulations. The SJWD Consortium agencies will consider the various tools and techniques listed in the Appendix as they develop the suite of actions that they may take to facilitate the required changes in water use on landscapes by their customers.

The SJWD Consortium operates extensive demand management programs throughout the service areas of its members, as well as regionally, partly through the programs operated by the Regional Water Authority (RWA). Information about RWA’s demand management programs is available at the following locations:
https://rwah2o.org/programs/wep/
https://bewatersmart.info/
Information about demand management measures for each member of the SJWD Consortium is available in their respective Urban Water Management Plans, at the following locations:
2020 Urban Water Management Plans:

CHWD (pp. 54-61) https://chwd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-UWMP-06_21_2021- 1.pdf FOWD (pp. 59-64) https://www.fowd.com/ﬁles/b2161c5ba/FOWD+2020+UWMP_FINAL.pd Folsom (pp. 9-1 – 9-8)
https://www.folsom.ca.us/home/showpublisheddocument/6766/637629066033570000 OVWC (pp. 4-7 – 4-16)
https://www.orangevalewater.com/ﬁles/a20283cf8/OVWC+2020+UWMP+Pubilc+Hearing+July+

13.pdf
SJWD (pp. 4-6 – 4-18)
https://www.sjwd.org/ﬁles/5f7a2a821/SJWD+2020+UWMP+Final+06.23.21.pdf Department of Water Resources statewide library of UWMPs:
https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/
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Current information about water eﬃciency programs and activities, including rebates, site surveys, water conservation ordinances, etc. for each consortium member is available on its respective website. Those water eﬃciency web pages include:

CHWD: https://chwd.org/water-eﬃciency/
FOWD: https://www.fowd.com/water-eﬃciency
Folsom: https://www.folsom.ca.us/government/environmental-water-resources/water/water- conservation
OVWC: https://www.orangevalewater.com/drought-stages
SJWD: https://www.sjwd.org/water-eﬃciency
Information is also available for each agency concerning the water use objectives and corresponding annual water use, which are tracked and reported pursuant to the 2024 urban conservation regulations.

That information is available for SJWD Consortium agencies and all aﬀected urban water agencies at DWR’s statewide library website, under the “Urban Water Use Objective Reporting” section, at the following link: https://wuedata.water.ca.gov/.

Demand management and conservation program information is available in the annual water supply and demand assessments that are submitted by water agencies (including SJWD Consortium members).

Those reports are available on DWR’s statewide library webpage, under the “Water Shortage Assessment Reports” section.

The members of the SJWD Consortium will update their water conservation ordinances to include the requirements of AB 1572 before January 1, 2027, as required by that statute.

Critically Low Storage Conditions
SJWD’s sources of water are all delivered through a municipal and industrial (M&I) intake in Folsom Dam, which is at an elevation that would be subject to air entrainment at approximately 110,000 AF of storage in Folsom Reservoir. Because this entrainment could result in signiﬁcant damage to the impellers of the pumps that Reclamation uses to pump the supplies brought through the intake to SJWD, Roseville, and Folsom, this level of storage is one variation of “dead pool” being discussed in the Water Forum. This version of “dead pool” has never occurred.

If the water level drops below the M&I intake, Reclamation would use an emergency pump on one of the three power penstocks in the dam to deliver water to Roseville and SJWD and ﬂoating barges to deliver water to Folsom. The emergency pump has a capacity of 60 cfs (43,500 AF/year), and the barges have a capacity of 30 cfs. These facilities would allow Reclamation to access water in Folsom Reservoir between the 110,000 AF at which the M&I intake goes dry and the approximately 55,000 AF storage level at which the power penstocks go dry – a second version of “dead pool”.

Project List and Future Water Supply Reliability Eﬀorts Projects for which the SJWD Consortium requests conceptual endorsement by all signatories:

1. Infrastructure repair and replacement projects
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2. Expansion of water use eﬃciency programs to reduce demands on American River supplies Members of the SJWD Consortium may seek support or endorsement by other Members and/or the Water Forum for the following projects. Should any SJWD Consortium Member choose to seek such support or endorsement, they will do so pursuant to the process deﬁned in in the Water Forum 2050 Agreement.

1. Alternative raw water supply projects to improve reliability and redundancy of delivering raw water from Folsom Reservoir

2. Renovation or installation of facilities necessary to conduct robust conjunctive use activities, such as groundwater production and injection facilities, including those necessary to support expansion of the regional water bank

3. Development and implementation of projects to meet all new regulatory requirements

4. Water rates that are necessary to provide funding to meet the ﬁnancial needs of SJWD Consortium parties

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Glossary of Common Terms
Sources of definitions are indicated in italics
Acre-foot (AF)
An acre is about the size of a football field. An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover one acre of land one foot deep. It equals 325,800 gallons. That is approximately how much water five people use a year for drinking, washing, and landscape watering.

Aquifer
A geologic formation that stores, transmits, and yields significant quantities of water to wells and springs. Water Education Foundation
Anadromous Fish
Fish that spend a part of their life cycle in the sea and return to freshwater streams to spawn.

Best Management Practices (Water Conservation)
A policy, program, practice, rule, regulation, or ordinance of the use of devices, equipment, or facilities that is an established and generally accepted practice that results in more eﬀicient use or conservation of water, or a practice that has been proven to indicate that significant conservation benefits can be achieved. MOU Regarding Water Conservation in California Biological Opinion
A Biological Opinion is a document produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as part of a formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It determines whether a proposed action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat.

California Environmental Quality Act
An act conceived primarily to require public agency decision makers to document and consider the environmental implications of their actions. Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act:

Remy & Thomas
Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA)
Amends the Central Valley Project (CVP) reauthorization act of 1937 and reauthorizes the CVP to add mitigation, protection, and restoration of fish and wildlife as project purposes equal to agricultural and domestic uses, and to make fish and wildlife enhancement a project purpose equal to power. USBR ARWRI
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Changed Conditions
This refers to significant changes in circumstances such as laws, regulations, and even the health of the river, which may occur after a Water Forum Agreement 2050 is signed. If changed conditions arise that may interfere with the implementation of the Agreement, the Water Forum will reopen negotiations.

Conjunctive Use
The planned joint use of surface and groundwater to improve overall water supply reliability.

Conservation Pricing
Pricing that provides an incentive to reduce average or peak use, or both.

Contractual Entitlement
A water entitlement based on a contract, such as a contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation for Central Valley Project water.

Cost-Eﬀective
A case where the financial benefits of a project are greater than the overall cost.

CVPIA Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
The program-level document, prepared by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, on the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, complies with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Groundwater
The water in an aquifer. For human use and consumption, this water is generally pumped to the surface through a well.

Interested Party
In a negotiation, a person, organization, or entity entrusted to represent those with an interest in the outcome. There are 46 stakeholder organizations participating in the Water Forum.

Inter-basin Transfer
Water transfers from entities outside of a watershed to entities within a watershed.

Landscape Eﬀiciencies
What is achieved through skillful planting and irrigation design, appropriate use of plant materials, and intelligent management to assure landscape development that avoids excessive water demands and is less vulnerable to periods of severe drought.

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Low Water Use and Native Plants
Plants that thrive with minimal irrigation typically requiring only one watering per week or less.

This includes native plants adapted to the region's climate, as well as drought-tolerant species.

Native plants often have deep root systems that tap into groundwater, reducing the need for frequent watering.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
A means of gaining formal consensus between two or more parties on a particular complex issue.

Point of Diversion
The place along the stream channel where a diverter takes control of the water. How to File an Application to Appropriate Water, State Water Resources Control Board Public Trust Doctrine
California’s legal doctrine requires the balancing of competing public interests while protecting the rights of the public to use water courses for commerce, navigation, fisheries, recreation, open space, preservation of ecological units in their natural state, and similar uses for which those lands are uniquely suited. It is based on the California State Constitution and goes back to English Common Law. The California Supreme Court stated, “The state has an aﬀirmative duty to take the public trust into account in the planning and allocation of water resources, and to protect public trust uses whenever feasible.” National Audubon (33Cal.3d 419 1983) Purveyor
An agency or district that provides water to customers for a fee.

Reasonable-Feasible
Practicable and in accord with reason.

Riparian Vegetation
Of, adjacent to, or living on, the bank of a river or, sometimes, of a lake, pond, etc. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
State Water Project
California’s state-owned and operated water project, consisting of 22 dams and reservoirs, delivers water 600 miles from the Sacramento Valley to Los Angeles. Water Education Foundation Subsidence
Sinking of the land surface due to a number of factors, of which groundwater extraction is one.

Surface Water Diversions
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Water that is diverted and/or pumped from above-ground sources such as rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes, as opposed to groundwater, which is water pumped from the aquifer.

Sustainable Yield
Sustainable yield is a balance between pumping and basin recharge, expressed as the number of acre-feet of water per year that can be pumped from the basin on a long-term, average annual basis.

Water Forum
A community collaboration process involving interested organizations and commitment to the coequal objectives of providing a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through the year 2050, and preserving the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River.

Water Forum 2050
The formal agreement among the Water Forum representatives will be presented to stakeholder organizations in the fall of 2025 for ratification without revision.

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Quick Reference for Common Acronyms
AB Assembly Bill
ACWA Association of California Water Agencies
AF Acre feet
AHTT Ad Hoc Technical Team
ARCH American River Corridor Health Program Area
ARFCD American River Flood Control District
ARFO American River Flows and Operations Program Area
ARG American River Group
ARPF American River Parkway Foundation
BC Business Caucus
BiOp Biological Opinion
CCOWMP City County Oﬃce of Metropolitan Water Planning (the formal title for the Water Forum under the original Water Forum Agreement) CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CFS Cubic feet per second. One cubic foot is about 7.5 gallons.

CII Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional water users/uses CVP Central Valley Project
CVPIA Central Valley Project Improvement Act
DAC Disadvantaged Community
DFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
DOFA Declaration of Full Appropriation
DM Demand Management (water conservation practices)
DPMWD Del Paso Manor Water District
DTA Dry Time Actions (element of the Water Forum Agreement) DWR California Department of Water Resources
EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District
EDCWA El Dorado County Water Agency
EID El Dorado Irrigation District
EC Environmental Caucus
ECOS Environmental Council of Sacramento
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FOR Friends of the River
FIRO Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations
FMS Flow Management Standard
FOR Friends of the American River
GFA Governance, Funding, and Administration Program Area HME Habitat Management Element (of the Water Forum Agreement) HR&L Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program (also known as Voluntary Agreements)
LAFCo Local Agency Formation Commission
LAR Lower American River
LOWV League of Women Voters
M&I Municipal & Industrial
mFMS Modiﬁed Flow Management Standard
MGD Millions of Gallons Per Day
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
NASb North American Subbasin (groundwater)
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NSC Negotiating Steering Committee
PC Public Caucus
PCWA Placer County Water Agency
PSA Purveyor Speciﬁc Agreement
Reclamation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
RWA Regional Water Authority
SACOG Sacramento Area Council of Governments
SAFCA Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
SARA Save the American River Association
SASb South American Subbasin (groundwater)
SB Senate Bill
SCGA Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority
SCWA Sacramento County Water Agency
SDAC Severely Disadvantaged Community
SGA Sacramento Groundwater Authority
SJWD San Juan Water District
SME Subject Matter Expert
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SRBX Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
TAF Thousand Acre Feet
TUCP Temporary Urgent Change Petitions
UIFR Unimpaired Inﬂow into Folsom Reservoir
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USBR U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
VAs Voluntary Agreements
WC Water Caucus
WF Water Forum
WF2050 The current Water Forum Agreement
WFA Water Forum Agreement
WFSE Water Forum Successor Eﬀort (relevant terms from original WFA) WG Working Group
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan (component of Urban Water Management Plans)
WSS Water Supply Sustainability Program Area
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List of Appendices
Appendix 1: Advancing the Seven Elements of the First Water Forum Agreement
Appendix 2: ARCAP Two-Year Workplan
Appendix 3: Engagement with the US Bureau of Reclamation Appendix 4: List of Temperature Management Projects and Programs Appendix 5: ARCH Program Planning Matrix
Appendix 6: Declaration of Full Appropriation
Appendix 7: Bridge to the Regional Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and Water Forum 2050
Appendix 8: WSS Demand Management Actions
Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Development and Tables Appendix 10: Water Forum and Department of Utilities MOU Appendix 11: Five- and One-Year Water Forum Budget
Appendix 12: Cost Allocation Methodology Description
Appendix 13: Interagency Agreement for Water Forum Administration

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Appendix 1: Advancing the Seven Elements of the First
Water Forum Agreement
The ﬁrst Water Forum Agreement (WFA), signed in the year 2000, included seven key elements that represent the strategies members used to meet the coequal objectives of water supply reliability and environmental stewardship. Over the past 20 years, these strategies shaped water management in the Sacramento region, addressing both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

1. Increased Surface Water Diversions

2. Dry Year Actions

3. Flow Standard

4. Habitat Management

5. Water Conservation

6. Groundwater Management

7. Water Forum Successor Eﬀort (WFSE)
The WF2050 Agreement restructures the original seven elements into ﬁve program areas. The following section outlines the original seven elements from the ﬁrst WFA and highlights the progress made under each.

1. Increased Surface Water Diversions
The ﬁrst WFA detailed plans to increase surface water supplies from rivers to support Sacramento's anticipated population and economic growth through 2030. Recognizing that conservation and sustainable groundwater use alone would not meet projected future demand, the agreement speciﬁed the amount of surface water each provider would divert during average, wet, dry, and very dry years, as well as the necessary infrastructure and projects to meet customer demand. Additionally, the agreement included emergency ﬂow strategies to protect salmon and steelhead, as well as measures to reduce river water demand by shifting to groundwater and enhancing conservation eﬀorts.

Progress: This element played a crucial role, alongside the WFA’s Groundwater Management strategy, in restoring the region’s groundwater basin to sustainable levels. By committing to increased surface water use during wet times, water providers allowed groundwater levels to recover. Over the past 20 years, regional groundwater levels have stabilized or risen in many areas.

For example, the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA), which was once completely dependent on groundwater, increased its surface water use by 29 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, thanks to the Freeport Water Intake, a project outlined in the WFA. This shift stored approximately 10,220 acre-feet of groundwater in aquifers, enough to meet the annual needs of over 30,600 households.

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2. Dry Year Actions
The "Dry Year Actions" section of the WFA was designed to help ensure suﬃcient water supplies during dry years for people while also protecting the environment of the American River. The agreement outlined increased water diversions from the American River in wet and average years, but during dry years, water providers agreed to reduce these diversions to protect ﬁsh, wildlife, and recreation on the river. To compensate for reduced river water in dry years, water providers planned to use strategies such as increasing groundwater use, re-operating reservoirs, increasing conservation, and utilizing recycled water. Each provider had speciﬁc targets for reducing river water use in dry years, which were detailed in the agreement.

Progress: This element was successfully tested over the years and particularly during California’s extreme drought in 2014-15. Members worked together to reduce demands on the river by increasing groundwater use, boosting water conservation eﬀorts, and reoperating reservoirs upstream of Folsom Reservoir. Through the Water Forum’s Dry Year Conference, members also worked together to advise the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on emergency ﬂow strategies for Folsom Reservoir, aiming to minimize harm to salmon and steelhead as water levels in the lower American River reached historic lows.

3. Flow Standard
The WFA included plans to establish a new ﬂow standard for the lower American River that would improve water releases to better support ﬁsh, especially fall-run Chinook salmon, while also preserving water storage in Folsom Reservoir to safeguard against drought.

Historically, water releases from Folsom Dam did not align with the ﬁsh's life cycle, negatively impacting the ﬁshery. To address this, a team of ﬁsh biologists and experts from agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife collaborated with the Water Forum to design a release pattern that prioritized the needs of the ﬁsh, while still meeting the reservoir’s water supply and ﬂood control objectives.

This new approach involved reducing summer ﬂows to conserve water for increased releases in the fall, to provide better water conditions for salmon. The plan also included ﬂexibility for adjustments based on real-time environmental needs.

Progress: In 2006, the Water Forum published the ﬁrst Flow Management Standard (FMS) for the lower American River . The FMS utilizes the best available science to establish targets for minimum river ﬂows and cold-water storage at Folsom Reservoir, aiming to preserve water storage, mitigate drought impacts, and enhance water temperature in the Lower American River for the beneﬁt of salmon and steelhead. Since then, this science-based methodology has evolved with advancements in modeling and technical analysis, as well as real-world experience. After nearly 20 years of study and reﬁnement, the Modiﬁed FMS is now recognized as the best path forward for protecting and restoring steelhead and fall-run Chinook salmon in the lower American River, while enhancing local water supply reliability without adverse impacts elsewhere in the state.

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The Modiﬁed FMS is integrated into the most recent federal Biological Opinion, guiding the operation of Folsom Reservoir. To further support its understanding and implementation, the Water Forum is working on a consolidated version of the methodology for reference by the U.S.

Bureau of Reclamation and other state and federal agencies.

Moreover, the Water Forum’s science and habitat work positioned the region to successfully negotiate a voluntary agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board as part of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HR&L) Program. This agreement incorporates the ﬂow management standard in combination with habitat enhancement and increased river ﬂows during dry years.

4. Habitat Management
The Habitat Management Element (HME) of the WFA focused on preserving the ﬁshery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River. The LAR Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Projects are at the core of the program, largely supported by federal funding through the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) and State of California funding. Key HME projects included habitat enhancement for salmon and steelhead, such as constructing spawning and rearing habitats. The element also focused on scientiﬁc research to better understand how river operations and enhancement eﬀorts aﬀected ﬁsh migration. The HME also speciﬁed collaboration with partners, including co-convening the Lower American River Task Force with the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and supporting water-related education.

Progress: The Water Forum’s contribution to the lower American River environment is unmatched. No other organization invests in the lower American River environment like the Water Forum. With support from local, state, and federal partners, it has invested over $38.8 million in habitat improvement and public education since 2000. These eﬀorts include constructing more than 30 acres of spawning beds and 1.2 miles of side channels to support salmon and steelhead rearing.

The pace of the Water Forum’s habitat enhancement work has accelerated signiﬁcantly over the past ﬁve years. In 2020, the Water Forum secured $5 million in Prop 68 funding from the State to support the early implementation of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program (HR&L). This funding complemented existing program resources, enabling faster, larger-scale implementation. The Water Forum focused on reﬁning designs, conducting necessary analyses, and implementing phased construction at each of the 10 approved habitat project sites.

Additionally, the Water Forum assessed other potential habitat enhancement sites along the lower American River and advanced multi-beneﬁt projects, such as the naturalization of Cordova Creek.

The Water Forum employs a science-based approach to habitat improvement and monitoring, linking each study to speciﬁc goals that support adaptive management. This work supports decisions related to the FMS and evaluates the feasibility of future habitat enhancement projects. With a changing climate, this program has become increasingly vital.

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Moreover, the Water Forum has contributed to the scientiﬁc understanding of anadromous ﬁsh in the lower American River through studies that produce underwater maps and monitor salmon behavior during drought. These studies help identify locations for habitat enhancement that avoid impacts to ﬂood safety. Years of adaptive management have allowed the Water Forum to reﬁne conditions for optimal salmon spawning, such as gravel depth, ﬂow rate, and substrate size, advancing sustainable habitat practices for the river.

The Water Forum's scientiﬁc work has earned it a place as a trusted regional voice among state and federal agencies overseeing Folsom Reservoir and the statewide water system. This work has enabled the Water Forum to provide consensus-based recommendations on critical issues, including temperature modeling, ﬁsheries, and hydrology.

5. Water Conservation
Under the ﬁrst WFA, water providers committed to comprehensive conservation plans to meet regional water needs while reducing reliance on both groundwater and surface water, including diversions from the American River. Initially, providers followed the 2000 Water Conservation Plans speciﬁed in the WFA, with a focus on maximizing conservation in a way that was accountable, measurable, and eﬀective. Later, they adopted Best Management Practices (BMPs) under the guidelines of the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) as a means of meeting the state’s water conservation requirements to reduce per capita water use by 20 percent by 2020. These requirements had been mandated by Senate Bill x7-7 of 2009, which created the 20 x 2020 program.

Progress: The WFA led to the creation of the Regional Water Authority and its Water Eﬃciency Program. For over two decades, this program has engaged local water providers in a regional strategy to conserve local water resources, share best practices, and pool resources to maximize impact and meet state requirements. Working together, participants have leveraged funds with other regional utilities, increased economies of scale for securing grants, and optimized advertising dollars for extensive customer outreach. The program also runs a regional school education initiative and manages the customer-focused website BeWaterSmart.info, which promotes water-saving practices across the region.

This award-winning program empowers members to optimize their investments in water eﬃciency and capitalize on available grant opportunities. Since 2003, it has successfully secured nearly $19.9 million in competitive grants to support outreach, advertising, rebate programs, and services that would be challenging for individual agencies to implement independently.

Since 2013, local water use has decreased by 23 percent, despite a 15 percent increase in population. This strong regional eﬀort has positioned local water providers to meet the new Making Conservation a California Way of Life standards set by the State Water Resources Control Board, pursuant to the water conservation legislation adopted in 2018.

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6. Groundwater Management
The Groundwater Management Element focused on protecting the region’s groundwater resources, which supply about half of the region’s annual water supply. The goal was to help ensure that groundwater remains available for future generations while balancing its use with that of surface water supplies.

As part of the WFA, the region established several local agencies, such as the Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA) and Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority (SCGA), to monitor groundwater use and implement a conjunctive use program, a strategic approach to managing groundwater that combines the planned use of both surface water from lakes and rivers and groundwater via wells. The practice optimizes water availability in the region over the long term even as the climate changes.

Progress: The WFA provided a crucial collaborative foundation essential to developing the Sacramento region’s successful conjunctive use program. Over the course of two decades, this program enabled the once-overdrafted North American Subbasin to recover and reach sustainable levels, while also providing a path for water providers to reduce their reliance on the river during critical habitat periods for endangered ﬁsh.

The SGA was a pioneer in groundwater management and served as a model for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), California’s landmark law passed in 2014 to safeguard California’s groundwater resources for the long term.

SCGA has also played a critical role in implementing sustainable groundwater management in the South American Subbasin. One of the most signiﬁcant eﬀorts underway in this area is the Harvest Water project, California’s largest agricultural water recycling initiative, led by the Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer).

SGMA required local agencies to establish Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for more than 100 high- and medium-priority subbasins statewide. In the greater Sacramento region, local agencies formed multiple GSAs for the North and South American Subbasins. They were well-positioned to develop GSPs for these subbasins, which were subsequently adopted locally in 2022 and approved by the DWR.

7. Water Forum Successor Eﬀort
The Water Forum Successor Eﬀort (WFSE) was established to guide the ongoing implementation and adaptation of the WFA through 2030. It provides a structured approach to addressing emerging issues, adapting to policy changes, and maintaining continued collaboration among interested parties.

The WFSE was designed to emphasize cooperative problem-solving, requiring participants to engage collaboratively, respect diverse viewpoints, and work toward mutually beneﬁcial Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A1-6
solutions. The Agreement also established that all parties involved would participate on equal footing within the WFSE.

Under the structure outlined in the WFA, the City-County Oﬃce of Metropolitan Water Planning oversees the WFSE, funded through agreements with member agencies, primarily water providers. Representatives of member agencies set policy direction, while staﬀ, managed by the City of Sacramento, carry out the work of the WFSE.

Progress: The framework for the WFSE is a hallmark of the Water Forum process and WFA. It has allowed immediate focus on new issues, provided members with ﬂexibility to realign when necessary, and helped sustain trust and momentum throughout the decades of implementation. Membership has remained stable, with many signatories of the ﬁrst WFA still actively involved. New participants continue to join, strengthening the collaborative framework established in the ﬁrst WFA.

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Appendix 2: ARCAP Two-Year Workplan

SCOPE OF WORK
This workplan describes the intended activities related to the Water Forum American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP) for the first two years of implementation. The focus for the first two years will include confirming the priority issues for resolution, establishing data, tools, and methods for evaluation, conducting analyses, and is also expected to include trial operations. The work will be phased to align with the approved Water Forum budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year (FY) and includes a Progress Report and an opportunity for workplan refinement after the first year. The budget presented within this work plan only includes the activities identified for the first year. The second-year activities and budget will be refined based on the progress made in year one.

ARCAP TASKS
The Work of ARCAP will be organized into the following tasks. Some of these tasks will take place simultaneously and are not necessarily sequential.

Task 1: Water Forum Member Coordination (ongoing)
An ARCAP Working Group will be created to inform and guide the activities of the ARCAP . 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. The 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:
• Reviewing and commenting on work products
• Providing input on program direction, scope, and pace • Deliberating, refining, and providing answers to ARCAP Questions Meetings will be held monthly and supported by facilitation staﬀ, with the option of additional meetings as necessary.

The Working Group decisions and recommendations (including answers to ARCAP Questions) will be developed by consensus and will be presented to the Plenary for approval. This process is consistent with the decision process as defined in the Water Forum Agreement 2050.

Task 2: Refine and Focus ARCAP Questions
The initial list of questions associated with the ARCAP program was identified in the Water Forum

2.0 negotiations. The list is extensive and reflects the broad interests of the Water Forum Members (see ARCAP agreement language, Program Element 1 ). The key questions to be addressed within the first two years of ARCAP implementation will be refined and agreed upon by Water Forum Agreement 2050
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the ARCAP Working Group within the first three months of this two-year work plan. It is acknowledged that as ARCAP is implemented, the questions to be answered will evolve, be refined, and re-prioritized as necessary.

Task 2 Deliverable: Refined list of questions to be addressed within the two-year work plan, building from ARCAP Program Element 1.

Target Schedule for Completion: Early 2026
Task 3: Regional Data Collection and Synthesis
This task will be divided into two sub-tasks, with the first centered on collecting and synthesizing information directly from Water Forum purveyors, and the second focused on organizing and preparing data and information for the Technical Analysis (Task 4).

Subtask 3.1 Regional Water Purveyor Data Collection and Synthesis Water Forum staﬀ and consultants will coordinate with regional purveyors to identify operational scenarios that address various questions defined in Task 2. The information to be collected about these scenarios will include specific types of transactions that could be implemented to provide measurable quantities of water that could meet the program objectives. The information will be synthesized to provide a regional perspective, illustrating the best opportunities for ARCAP Water to be generated and tracked.

This activity is expected to be done in an iterative manner. Initially, the information collection will focus on identifying operational opportunities and constraints for potential ARCAP actions. Later information collection activities will involve more quantitative information on facility capacities, water demands, and available supplies. This information will be used to refine and answer ARCAP Questions related to the potential performance, rules, or structure.

Data synthesis will involve summarizing and packaging the information into regional overviews, highlighting and illustrating potential ARCAP opportunities. In many cases, WF staﬀ will prepare draft syntheses for consideration and deliberation by the ARCAP Working Group.

Subtask 3.1 Deliverable: Regional Supply and Operations Synthesis Report Target Schedule for Completion: Summer 2026
Subtask 3.2 Other Regional Data Identification, Organization, and Preparation Water Forum staﬀ, with input and guidance from the ARCAP working group, will work to collect and organize data and tools for technical analyses, which are expected to begin in the second year of the ARCAP program. Activities related to subtask 3.2 are outlined below:
• Review and consideration of existing analyses and information o Acknowledging the possibility that some ARCAP questions may be answered by other eﬀorts, consideration will be given to opportunities to align analyses with other regional eﬀorts, including eﬀorts by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and the Regional Water Authority (RWA).
• Define Baseline
o A baseline will be established for evaluating program eﬀectiveness. • Identify operational scenarios for evaluation.
o To be informed by the outcomes from Subtask 3.1 (Regional Water Purveyor Data Collection and Synthesis), which the ARCAP Working Group will review.

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Subtask 3.2 Deliverable: ARCAP Data and Approach Summary Document Target Schedule for Completion: Fall 2026
Task 4: Technical Analyses
This task may include the following activities and will depend on the outcomes of Tasks 2 and 3, and ultimately, the extent of further analysis that is recommended by the working group and approved by the Plenary. The list below provides a preliminary outline of how the work may be organized, which will be refined by the working group.
• Identify hydrologic scenarios for evaluation.
o It will be informed by relevant regional and statewide climate modeling and will be reviewed by the ARCAP Working Group.
• Identify and prepare tools.
o Tools considered for further evaluation will include those capable of analyzing trends and conditions for surface water, groundwater, water temperatures, water distribution analyses, etc.
o Selection of tools will be reviewed by the ARCAP Working Group. • Conduct Analyses
o Operational and hydrologic scenarios will be analyzed, and results will be reviewed and discussed with the ARCAP Working Group at various stages.

Deliverable: ARCAP Technical Analysis Report(s)
Schedule for Completion: TBD
Task 5: Trial Operations and Tracking
It is expected that opportunities may arise to implement certain ARCAP operation scenarios during the first two years of implementation, potentially while technical analyses are still pending. Within Water Forum 2050, it is acknowledged that sources for ARCAP Water will include existing sources and may include operations that are currently being conducted. The ARCAP will provide a mechanism to account for and track the outcomes of these regional activities. Based on the findings of Task 3 (Regional Data Collection and Synthesis), opportunities for early trial runs will be identified and considered by the ARCAP Working Group.

As trial runs are performed, individual reporting will be completed on the outcomes of the specific activities.

Deliverable: Memo(s) reporting results of early trial runs Schedule for Completion: TBD
Task 6: Synthesis and Documentation
This task will involve synthesizing and documenting all ARCAP activities and analyses. Key reporting is listed below; other documentation may be identified after the first-year progress report.

Year One Documentation
• Year One Progress Report
o Summarize all activities completed and outcomes for the first year o Identify areas for refinement for the second year
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Year Two Documentation (tentative)
• Two-Year Report and Recommendations
o Summarize all activities completed and outcomes
o Recommend next steps and activities for the ARCAP program. These recommendations will be developed with the ARCAP Working Group.

Task 7: Engagement with Partners (ongoing)
Engagement with ARCAP partners will be ongoing during the entire two-year work plan.

Engagement will include regular meetings, coordination, and strategic messaging based on the status of ARCAP activities and the specific partner. Engagement will be guided by input from the ARCAP Working Group. Expected ARCAP partners are listed in the ARCAP Agreement language.

SCHEDULE
Pending: To be added and will reflect the schedule described in the Tasks above after the WF2050 agreement is finalized.

YEAR ONE BUDGET
The budget below reflects the expected costs for the first-year activities of this work plan, including consultants (hours and estimated costs), and indicates the expected level of eﬀort for Water Forum staﬀ (hours and percentage of time for one full-time employee [FTE]). Note, year two costs will be developed as part of the Year One Progress Report.

ARCAP Workplan - Year One Budget
Hours % Time for
Year One Hours $ Hours $
Task 1: Water Forum Member Coordination 72 3.5% 90 $27,000 84 $21,000 Task 2: Refine and Focus ARCAP Questions 20 1.0% 5 $1,500 10 $2,500 Task 3: Regional Data Collection and Synthesis 150 7.2% 150 $45,000 0 $0 Task 4: Technical Analysesa -- -- -- -- -- --
Task 5: Trial Operations and Trackinga -- -- -- -- -- -- Task 6: Synthesis and Documentation 40 1.9% 15 $4,500 0 $0 Task 7: Engagement with Partners 50 2.4% 20 $6,000 0 $0 Total 332 16.0% 280 $84,000 94 $23,500
a. Task 4 and 5 are expected to be initiated in year two of ARCAP implementation and costs will be developed as specifics for the associated activities are refined
WF Staff (1 FTE) Technical Facilitation
Consultants
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Appendix 3: Engagement with the US Bureau of
Reclamation
The Water Forum’s ongoing engagement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has been and will continue to be key to supporting the coequal objectives. The operations of Reclamation at Folsom Reservoir play a critical role in maintaining the health of the lower American River and ensuring the reliability of regional water supplies. By carefully managing water releases from Folsom Dam, Reclamation helps maintain flow conditions that support aquatic ecosystems, including the habitat needs of species like the Central Valley steelhead and Chinook salmon. These operations are also essential for balancing water supply demands for agricultural, municipal, and industrial use in the Sacramento region, especially during periods of drought or fluctuating hydrological conditions.

DESIRED OUTCOMES
The Water Forum will continue to engage and coordinate with Reclamation through various mechanisms and forums and will pursue the following outcomes in eﬀorts to support both coequal objectives. The signatories' shared commitment to the stated outcomes will enhance the region’s ability to adapt to and meet the challenges of climate change.

1. Implementation of the Flow Management Standard (FMS), reflective of the latest data, science, and understanding.
a. This includes all features of the FMS (storage targets, minimum flows, temperature protocols, etc.).

2. Reduce regional risks associated with critically low storage in Folsom Reservoir.

3. Leverage regional actions to support healthy conditions on the LAR and regional water supply reliability.

4. Representation of LAR interests in the development and sharing of best available data, science, and methods in regional and statewide collaborative planning and monitoring eﬀorts.

5. Secure funding for habitat planning, implementation, and monitoring eﬀorts on the LAR.

6. Improvements to infrastructure at Folsom and Nimbus dams necessary to support conditions on the LAR.

7. Balanced considerations for American River interests within broader CVP operations, and the regulatory processes to develop operational plans.

In pursuing these outcomes, Water Forum members will coordinate internally to ensure that messaging and communication are consistent and aligned with the interests of all four caucuses.

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MECHANISMS FOR ENGAGEMENT
The list below provides an overview of current and planned mechanisms for engagement. This list is likely to change over time.
• Water Forum and Reclamation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) o “Coordination of Communication and Information-Sharing Activities Related to Lower American River Operations”
o Water Forum intends to work with Reclamation to maintain the current MOU and to seek opportunities to update the MOU as needed.
• American River Group (ARG)
o Monthly meetings with stakeholders on the lower American River to discuss current conditions and planned operations.
o Key participants include Reclamation, CDFW, NMFS, and Water Forum. • Monthly cross-caucus meetings with Reclamation
o Conversations scheduled prior to the ARG meetings provide an opportunity for members to have a more informal discussion with Reclamation. o Focused on real-time operations, management, constraints, and forecasts. • Weekly staﬀ meeting with WF and Reclamation
o Staﬀ hold weekly staﬀ-to-staﬀ meetings to check in on near-term items. • Convening LAR Salmonid Habitat Agency Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) • Participating in and supporting the Central Valley Program Improvement Act, Science Integration Team (CVPIA SIT)
o Structured Decision-Making and Near-Term Restoration Strategy Guidance • HR&L Program Participation and Collaboration
• Ongoing Data Sharing
o Two-way sharing of data and information, including:
 Latest forecasts
 Conditions
 Operations decisions
 Modeling
 Fisheries and physical conditions data
• Utilization of accepted public data venues such as the EDI portal Water Forum Agreement 2050
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Appendix 4: List of Temperature Management Projects and Programs This will be a living document.

Ways to Support Coequal Objectives
Through Partnership
Project/Idea Type Location
Advocacy or
Coordination
WF Member
Resources
WF Staff
Time
Notes
Upgrade of Temperature Control
Shutters Project Folsom Dam x x
35% design is complete,
and funding is secured
for the remaining design
and implementation
Access cold water below the power
penstocks Idea Folsom Dam
Elephant's Trunk,
additional powerhouse
on lower outlets, power
bypass, etc.

Lake Natoma Temperature Curtain Idea Lake
Natoma lin k
Lake Natoma Shade Idea Lake
Natoma
Lake Natoma Value Planning Study Study Lake
Natoma x x
Upstream Operations
Geothermal river cooling
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Appendix 5: ARCH Program Planning Matrix
See the following page.

Appendix 5: ARCH Program Planning Matrix
Category Subcategory Action/Idea
Other Opportunities “Outer
Container” Grants * HME Operating Fund*
Habitat + Education LAR Salmon Habitat LAR Spawning and Rearing Program Build + Maintain** 99 1 Habitat + Education LAR Salmon Habitat LAR Rearing Site Planning (RM 0-23) None None Habitat + Education Parkway Multibenefits New LAR tributary restoration projects: Carmichael Creek, Buffalo Creek (43) None None Habitat + Education Parkway Multibenefits LAR Tributaries (ex. Cordova Creek – Phase 2 Design) 75 25 Habitat + Education Parkway Multibenefits LAR Tributaries (ex. Cordova Creek – Ph. 3 Permit + Construct) None None Flows and Ops Decision-
Support Temperature LAR Temperature Modeling. Conduct temperature Modeling, QA/QC, Temperature Management Plan Review, and support Cross-Caucus and ARG discussions (inform seasonal operational and power bypass) 85 15
Flows and Ops Decision-
Support Hydrologic Conditions LAR FMS. Weekly review of river conditions, MRR calculations and forecasting; meetings with Reclamation, and Cross-Caucus to inform operations occur per our FMS.
0 100
Flows and Ops Decision-
Support Water Quality
Dissolved Oxygen Continuous Monitoring Pilot Study. Documenting/analyzing continuous DO concentrations below Nimbus Dam, and at Watt Avenue, which is the regulatory
compliance point for LAR temperatures. This work will inform our understanding of diurnal and seasonal 0 100
Science & Monitoring Temperature
Cordova Creek temperature monitoring. Assists with project planning and baseline conditions understanding – a longer term dataset informs site understanding and illustrates commitment of Water Forum to defensible science when applying for next phase grant funds.
0 100
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Gravel Monitoring and Maintenance Plan/Tracking. Required by regulators for continued programmatic authorization of salmon habitat program site implementation (gravel projects) 100 0
Adaptive Management Habitat 5-Year LiDAR/top/2D Model Update. Necessary to document change in the LAR bed and banks as a result of typical flows, high flows, and habitat projects. Understanding how the river changes over time informs future design. 100 0
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management
Aerial salmonid redd surveys. Measure Habitat Project Effectiveness, Adaptive Management and Project Planning.

Understand effectiveness of project via salmon utilization and comparison of site utilization patterns over time. Expensive but more cost-effective than in-river surveys – covers LAR from Nimbus to confluence. 100 0
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management In-river salmonid redd surveys. Understand effectiveness of project via salmon utilization. Required by granting agency for funded projects. Cost-prohibitive to conduct for whole river. 100 0
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Snorkel (juvenile) surveys. Understand effectiveness of project via salmon utilization. Required by granting agency for funded projects. Cost-prohibitive to conduct for whole river.
100 0
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Off-Channel rearing and Growth Study. Understand current extent/effectiveness and inform future need and spatial extent of rearing habitat.
98 2
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Emigrating Salmonid Habitat Estimation (ESHE) Model Update. Utilize results from Off-Channel rearing and Growth Study to inform future rearing habitat implementation
98 2
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Genetic Mark-Recapture Study. Understand and directly measure production of juvenile fish from habitat sites. Measure Habitat Project/Program Effectiveness Adaptive Management and Project Planning 98 2
Science & Monitoring Adaptive Management Otolith Salmonid Life History Study. Understand behavior and life history of naturally spawning Chinook in LAR and how different water year types influence out-migration timing. 98 2
Habitat + Science
Statewide Voluntary Agreements. Science Committee, Habitat Planning, Funding, Implementation, Tracking, Accounting and Science Plan Development. Ensure VA implementation and accounting leverages Water Forum’s existing and planned program activities appropriately.
0 100
Habitat + Education Upper Watershed Forestry/Watershed health projects (13) X Habitat + Education Parkway Multibenefits Improve Riparian Corridor (38a): Protect existing resources – flow/misuse of Parkway Water Forum Led Efforts
Current Funding Mix (%)

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Appendix 5: ARCH Program Planning Matrix
Category Subcategory Action/Idea
Other Opportunities “Outer
Container” Grants * HME Operating Fund*
Water Forum Led Efforts
Current Funding Mix (%)
Habitat + Education ? Ask Leo Intent Improve Riparian Corridor (38b): Increase? Habitat + Education
Partnership/Advocacy Improve Riparian Corridor (38c): Support Regional Parks Natural Resource Management Plan - relevant areas to the HME.

Concurrent with ongoing NRMP and Monitoring Plan Implementation TAC involvement. None None Functional Flows Habitat/Multibenefits Identify needed Fundamental/Functional Flows (28) None None Habitat + Education LAR Salmon Habitat Improve LAR Temperature Infrastructure and Management None None Habitat + Education LAR Salmon Habitat Voluntary Agreements: Habitat Planning/Construction 0 100 Habitat + Education Vegetation Invasive Species Removal on LAR Parkway None None Habitat + Education Other Multibenefits Cosumnes River Projects X None None Habitat + Education Other Multibenefits Sacramento River and Small Tributaries X None None Habitat + Education
Recreation LAR Recreation (core HME programmatic element - no projects) None None Habitat + Education Education Soil Born Farms K-12 Curriculum Support None None Habitat + Education Education Effie Yeaw Nature Center Curriculum/Interpretive Signage None None Habitat + Education Education Promotion of regional waterways and their unique qualities X None None Habitat + Education Education Education on the interconnection of local watersheds and groundwater basins X None None Habitat + Education Education Upper Watershed Forest Health Improvements and Advocacy X None None Habitat + Education Education Regenerative and/or Water-Efficient Landscaping X 50 50 Habitat + Education Parkway Multibenefits Bushy Lake Restoration (Ecocultural/Western pond turtle) None None Science & Monitoring Tracking/Reporting State of the River Report 0 100 Science & Monitoring Potential Need Monitoring for Additional Species and/or Parameters X None None Habitat + Education Partnership/Advocacy Lower American River Task Force 0 100 Habitat + Education Partnership/Advocacy American River Group 0 100 Science & Monitoring Tracking/Reporting FISH Plan Updates X None None Habitat + Education Partnership Mitigation Coordination American River Common Features (SAFCA/USACE) None None Habitat + Education LAR Salmon Habitat Support local funding for spawning and rearing areas in the LAR (46) Hatchery Advocacy Nimbus Fish Hatchery Management and Operations X None None Hatchery Advocacy Nimbus Hatchery genetics/measurement. Increased survival of salmonids (40) X Hatchery Advocacy Improve survival rate of hatchery releases (timing and location of releases) (56) X Hatchery Advocacy Support the creation of a WF team to evaluate the operation of the Nimbus Hatchery to better support the genetics of river- spawning salmonids and to improve the survival skills of hatchery-raised salmonids. (62) X Habitat + Education Upper Watershed Introduce Salmon above Folsom (47) X Science & Monitoring Tracking/Reporting
Coequal objectives with metrics specific to LAR (39)
Habitat Vegetation
Management/Removal of hydrophilic vegetation along the LAR (Spanish Broom, Yellow Star Thistle, Giant Reed (Arundo donax) 100 0
Habitat Vegetation Plant pollinator habitat vegetation on electrical right of ways within the LAR Recreation Flows Provide for recreational (rafting flows) during the period of most use.

Recreation Provide (through donations or outright purchase) webbed garbage bags for each raft Recreation Trails Provide support to Sac County for recreational trail management; specifically restoration of social trails along the LAR.

Habitat Fishery Identify locations off, and fill in side channel stranding pools.

Flows and Ops Temperature Identify use, management and efficiency of EID Temperature Control Device Flows and Ops Temperature
Identify use, management and efficiency of San Juan/Roseville Temperature Control Device located at their water supply intake.

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Appendix 6: Declaration of Full Appropriation
The WF2050 negotiations included the formation of a subgroup tasked with the review, assessment, and discussion of commitments made in the original Water Forum Agreement related to the existing declaration of full appropriation on the Lower American River. Based on the review and discussion, the subgroup is not recommending the Water Forum pursue an amendment to the Declaration of Full Appropriation (DOFA) in Water Forum Agreement 2050. The explanation follows:

Fully appropriated stream systems are those where there is insuﬀicient supply for new water right applications, either during certain months or conditions, or all year long. The program is administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). SWRCB, which administers major parts of California’s water rights system, does not accept applications for new water rights on fully appropriated streams, except in certain specified circumstances. 63 The subgroup confirms their understanding that the American River’s current status as a fully appropriated stream helps reduce potential new competition for scarce water supplies to the benefit of existing rights holders and water users, as well as public trust watershed resources.

The status is therefore a positive one.

The subgroup notes that the SWRCB does not administer the fully appropriated streams program to aﬀect existing water rights and contracts, or applications for assignment of state filings or for rights under the state’s Area of Origin protections such as might be made by one or more of the Water Forum 2050 negotiation participants, as provided for by SWRCB orders. 64 In the SWRCB’s administration of its fully appropriated streams system and its responsibilities under the California Wild & Scenic Rivers Act and realities of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act designations in California, SWRCB has issued orders that state or federal wild & scenic river designations result in twelve-month declarations of full appropriations on the designated reaches. SWRCB orders also state that any declaration that a stream system is fully appropriated encompasses all upstream sources that contribute to the stream system if such upstream sources are hydraulically continuous to the stream system.

Thus, the existence of insuﬀicient unappropriated supply at times in the American River watershed and the wild & scenic river status of the lower American River is expected to constrain the acceptance and processing of new water right applications outside of the specified exceptions.

Thus, the subgroup sees little utility in recommending that amendments to the existing declarations of full appropriations be sought in Water Forum 2050.

63 https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/fully_appropriated_streams. 64 SWRCB Order WR 98-08 (in response to a petition to reconsider Order WR 89-25, the SWRCB adopted Order WR 90- 2 on February 15, 1990. Order WR 90-2 modified and aﬀirmed Order WR 89-25 as modified).

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Appendix 7: Bridge to the Regional Groundwater
Sustainability Agencies and Water Forum 2050
The purpose of this appendix to the Water Forum Agreement is to address the relationship between groundwater management entities and the Water Forum Agreement. The Water Forum Agreement, initially signed in 2000 and revised in 2015, includes a Groundwater Management Element (GME).

In 2014, the State of California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which created the foundation for the sustainable management of the state’s groundwater basins/subbasins. Under SGMA, to avoid potential state intervention and state control of groundwater, local agencies can signal to the State their intention to form as Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) to locally manage groundwater within each subbasin. As required in SGMA and newly completed regulations, GSAs prepared, adopted, and began implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) within subbasins throughout the state.

In the Sacramento County portion of the North American subbasin, the Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA) serves as the GSA governed by a joint powers agreement (JPA).

SGA works collaboratively with four other GSAs in the subbasin to implement the North American Subbasin GSP .

In the South American subbasin, there are currently seven GSAs working collaboratively to implement the South American Subbasin GSP . The largest GSA in the basin is the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority or SCGA, which is governed by a JPA, and whose members are largely signatories to the Water Forum Agreement.

The Cosumnes subbasin includes seven GSAs and is governed by the Cosumnes Groundwater Authority (CGA). The CGA serves as the coordinating body for the Cosumnes subbasin GSAs, facilitating communication, data sharing, and the implementation of projects and management actions.

Because SGMA now defines the sustainability metrics of groundwater through the adopted GSPs, the sustainable yield listed in the original Water Forum Agreement is now obsolete. Also, because groundwater management in the three regional subbasins now includes parties that are not signatories to Water Forum 2050, it is important to define the intersection between regional groundwater management and the Water Forum.

The signatories to the Water Forum who are also members of the SGA JPA and the SCGA JPA recognize the shared goal of managing groundwater resources in Sacramento sustainably.

The signatories also recognize the importance of transparent governance and the sharing of information related to groundwater management.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A7-2
The signatories remain committed to conjunctive use as defined in the original Water Forum Agreement as the balanced use of groundwater and surface water. Conjunctive use prioritizes the use of surface water during wet times and prioritizes groundwater during dry times. The signatories agree that the Sacramento Regional Water Bank will help expand and formalize the practice of conjunctive use.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A8-1
Appendix 8: WSS Demand Management Actions
Acknowledging that each Water Forum purveyor must consider the timing and level of eﬀort required for each potential demand management action in relation to their opportunities and constraints, the list below is provided as a reference for consideration and is not intended to be any form of a mandate. The ability of each purveyor to identify the most eﬀective demand management actions for their respective service area will be critical as the region endeavors to support the coequal objectives while meeting relevant targets and standards.

1. Create and implement policies and programs that convert publicly owned, commercial, and institutional landscaping to low-water use native landscaping that supports native pollinator, insect, bird, and animal species.

2. Implement staggered outdoor irrigation schedules for twice a week during summer (e.g., based upon a last digit of street address) for residential customers, and one day a week for commercial customers.
a. Note: An exception would be needed for newly planted vegetation that requires additional water for healthy root development.

3. Expand and strengthen regional conservation messaging to amplify information about plant watering needs; encourage no irrigation during the cooler, wetter winter months and, in dry winters, significantly reduced irrigation due to lower transpiration rates during the non-growing season.

4. Provide rebates to all customers for indoor and outdoor WaterSense labelled products.

5. Implement programs to identify water users that are using excessive amounts of water (well above the mandated objectives) and support those users in reducing excessive use through education and access to resources (i.e., rebates), as available.

6. Implement water rate structures to promote equity and encourage water conservation (tiered, decoupled, others).

7. Implement leak detection, notification and enforcement.

8. Strengthen and expand regional program(s) that retrofit rental and low-income housing with water eﬀicient devices and landscaping.

9. Expand and strengthen landscape conversion education and incentive programs and emphasize low-water use native plants (which require less summer water and support native pollinator, insect, bird and animal species), and improvements to irrigation practices and systems which increase water-use eﬀiciency.

10. Maintain and strengthen active water waste prevention programs, including public messaging and intervention steps when waste is observed physically or through meter data (i.e., leak alert programs, water waste hotlines).

11. Create messaging and other information programs to positively promote and support customer eﬀorts to help suppliers implement state requirements.

12. Encourage the use of demand management measures such as reuse, gray-water, recycling, and rainwater-harvesting.

13. Establish and support programs targeting implementation of the Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A9-1
Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Development and
Tables
See the following page.

Metrics and Reporting Development and Tables
This appendix provides summary tables of the data and documentation metrics used in the Water Forum metrics and reporting program element, and their respective categories and relevant program areas. The summary tables include the ARFO, ARCH, WSS, and GFA program areas. Metrics related to ARCAP will be developed as the program is launched and the members identify specific to metrics for long-term tracking and reporting. Contextual data are not featured in this appendix. That data is informative in terms of the status of the coequal objectives but is not necessarily indicative of the success of the Water Forum’s activities. A figure and description of steps taken to develop the Water Forum Metrics and Reporting framework are identified in the figure below.

Figure 9.A. Steps taken for development of Metrics and Reporting framework Each step is elaborated in detail as follows:

1. Review of Guiding Principles and Available Data: Guiding principles were reviewed along with available data and information, including existing data reporting mechanisms, to identify potential metrics applicable for each principle.

2. Determine Type of Metrics: An explanation was documented of whether these metrics were quantifiable data, or more qualitative and descriptive in nature (see the Types of Metrics explanation below).

3. Identify Overlaps and Efficiencies: Metrics were reviewed to determine potential overlaps, whereby a given metric could be tracked that demonstrates progress in supporting more than one Guiding Principle. These overlaps can also provide opportunities for efficiencies in reporting by reducing the overall total number of metrics that are tracked and reported.

4. Identify Reporting Mechanism: A potential form of reporting (e.g., Annual Report, Water Forum 2050 Five-Year Status Report, reporting during a standing meeting [Caucus, Plenary]) was identified for each metric. This step leveraged existing forms of reporting and existing venues for Water Forum member and staff engagement, rather than creating additional meetings. Similarly, this step supports providing progress updates that inform standing meetings and existing reporting processes and documentation.

5. Map Reporting Schedule: Metrics were reviewed to create an overall reporting and member engagement timeline that could be pursued within a given year to regularly communicate progress made in supporting the coequal objectives and implementing guiding principles.

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting
Category Documentation Metric Decription
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
WebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting5-Year Status Report
Water Quality Nov-Feb river temperatures relative to upper tolerable thresholds for both species X X   
Water Quality Mar-Oct river temperatures relative to upper tolerable thresholds for both species (where applicable) X X    Water Quality
Maximum weekly average temperature (MWAT), and
temperature on Nov 1. To be presented relative to peak
spring/summer storage.

X X  
Water Quality Dissolved Oxygen X X X  
Storage Storage in Folsom reservoir: annual minimum, end-of- May, and end-of-December X X X X   
Storage Coldwater volume in Folsom Reservoir on October 15th X X X    Habitat Nov-Feb 90% exceedance flows provide access to X% of available spawning habitat X X X 
Reporting MechanismWF2050 Principles

Page 1 of 6 ends

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting
Category Documentation Metric Decription
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
WebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting5-Year Status Report
Reporting MechanismWF2050 Principles
Habitat Mar-Oct flows provide access to X% of available rearing habitat X X X 
Habitat
Number of salmonid habitat projects implemented and
documentation of their total acreage and effectiveness
through utilization monitoring and sharing of data.X X    Habitat
Number (and acreage) of "non-salmonid" natural
resource projects implemented and documentation of
their utility/ effectiveness through relevant monitoring and sharing of data.

X X   
Water Supply Synthesis and reporting of GSP data: change in storage, sustainable yield, GW levels, GW extraction, etc.. X X     Water Supply Summarize and compare SW and data and information and evaluate for trends relative to hydrologic conditionsX X    Water Supply
Synthesis of key demand management data from existing
reporting (to be summarized by region and on a purveyor basis): actual annual and monthly demands, projected
annual demands, and status of meeting relevant
regulations.

X X X   

Page 2 of 6 ends

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting
Category Documentation Metric Decription
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
WebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting5-Year Status Report
Reporting MechanismWF2050 Principles
Water Supply Summary of water supply data summarized by purveyor and region X X X   
Water Supply Annual and seasonal quantification of diversions from the American River x X   
Funding
Total funding from local, state, and federal grant entities leveraged with operating funds in support of a program
area.

X X X X X  
Other Records of participation in Plenary and Caucus meetings X X  Other Unimpaired Inflows to Folsom Reservoir (Mar-Oct) X    Other Number of individuals/organizations reached (e.g., contacted or content read) X X X X X  
Other
Number of individuals engaged (e.g., provided input,
feedback, responded to requests for information or
actively participated in activities).

X X X X X 
Other
Member Survey to understand perspectives on effective
implementation of mutual gains approach,
collaborative participation, and leadership among
members and WF staff.

X X 

Page 3 of 6 ends

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Table
Category
Documentation Metric Description
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
Project ReportingWebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting(s)5-Year Status Report/Symposia Accountability
FMS documentation will clearly communicate flow
benefits above MRRs, with quantifications where
possible.

X X 
Accountability
FMS documentation will clearly communicate the
importance of DO for river health, with
quantifications where possible.

X X X 
Accountability
Enumerating and documenting the outcome of
meetings attended, briefings held, any beneficial
legislative or regulatory outcomes resulting from
WF efforts related to advocacy to support WF
efforts on the LAR.

X X X X X  
Accountability
Provide a summary of the tools, data, and
assumptions used for GW evaluations within the
SaSB, NaSB, and CSB.

X X 
Accountability
Documentation of implemented and planned
demand management programs and projects
(summarized by region and on a purveyor basis).

X X 
Accountability Maintain documentation on ongoing strategies and outcomes for engagement with Reclamation.X X X X X 
Accountability Document agreed to messages related to water conservation in dry times. X X 
Accountability Document when conferences are convened and include enumeration of meetings conducted.X X 
Benefits
FMS includes evaluation of expected
impacts/benefits to water quality, flows, habitat
availability, and frequency of critically low storage
relative to identified thresholds.

X X X 
Benefits
Annual project/program tracking and reporting
related to opportunities for enhanced operational
flexibility within the American River watershed.

X X X X 
WFA Principles Reporting Mechanism

Page 4 of 6 ends

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Table
Category
Documentation Metric Description
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
Project ReportingWebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting(s)5-Year Status Report/Symposia WFA Principles Reporting Mechanism
Benefits
Annual project/program tracking and reporting
related to operational and infrastructure
improvements for temperature and other water
quality issues within the American River watershed.

X X X 
Benefits
Annual project/program tracking and reporting
related to opportunities for study and
implementation and utilization of collected data in
LAR-specific and regional/statewide decision
support.

X X  
Benefits
Number of targeted public outreach and education
activities focused on building support for WF
programs and activities and sharing out the results
of WF efforts on the LAR and the contribution made
to broader regional or statewide goals or best
available science.

X X X  
Benefits
Enumerating and documenting the outcome of
meetings attended, briefings held, any beneficial
legislative or regulatory outcomes resulting from
WF collaboration with partners.

X X X X X 
Benefits
Document project monitoring and evaluation
results for corridor health, can include: physical
and fisheries monitoring of project sites based
upon established protocols and other river science,
monitoring and project and special studies results.
x x   
Partnership
Host annual meeting with regional GSAs to present
and discuss GSP status and contents of Annual
Reports.

X X 
Partnership
Host annual meeting to review data and discuss
trends related to regional water use and current
regulations
X X 

Page 5 of 6 ends

Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Table
Category
Documentation Metric Description
Coequal
Objectives ARFO ARCH WSS GFA
Project ReportingWebsiteAnnual ReportMeeting(s)5-Year Status Report/Symposia WFA Principles Reporting Mechanism
Partnership
Annual learning and engagement sessions will be
planned and topics will include all aspects of Water
Forum work, and will include communities outside
of the signatories (as relevant).

X X 
Process & Structure
FMS includes features for establishing storage
targets/requirements for early-summer and end-of-
year
X X 
Process & StructureFMS includes evaluation of expected impacts of FMS features on out of basin users X X 
Process & Structure
FMS features, specifically storage and flow
prescription's, are not in conflict with flood rules
and operations
X X 
Process & Structure
Qualitative description and reporting of scientific
data and methodology/methods advocated for and
used, decisions made, overview of progress in
monitoring and reporting processes.

X X  

Page 6 of 6 ends

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A10-1
Appendix 10: Water Forum and Department of Utilities
MOU
See the following page.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
Amended February 6, 2025 1
Memorandum of Understanding for Financial Services Provided to the City County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning (also known as the Water Forum) The following are terms of mutual understanding of responsibilities between the Department of Utilities (DOU) and the City County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning (CCOWMP) as it relates to financial services for the CCOMWP. All parties have collaborated on the contents of this document and have agreed to follow this agreement. The terms of the memorandum will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure the language is accurate and consistent with current operations. The Executive Director of the CCOMWP reports jointly to the City and County with the primary oversight provide by the Director of Utilities. However, neither DOU nor the CCOMWP is a separate legal entity. Therefore, this MOU does not legally bind the City of Sacramento, the City Council, the DOU or the CCOMWP. The signatures below indicate the understanding by DOU and the CCOMWP to abide by the following terms and conditions of this document. ______________________ ________________________ Pravani Vandeyar, Director Ashlee Casey Interim Executive Director Department of Utilities City County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning The CCOMWP Financial Goal Statement: Provide accurate financial reporting in accordance with the annual adopted budget that optimizes the use of financial resources and provides fiscal transparency. Purpose for Services: DOU and the CCOMWP have agreed to enter into this interdepartmental services agreement for financial oversight provided by DOU to the CCOWMP for accurate financial reporting and fiscal transparency. The CCOMWP will dedicate one Administrative Analyst (position number 00042742) to DOU for these purposes. The assigned CCOMWP Administrative Analyst (position number 00042257) and Senior Staff Assistant will be the primary points of contact for the CCOMWP. DOU Fiscal Operations team members will provide support depending on the expertise needed to accomplish the individual tasks, in an effort to reduce funding impacts on the CCOMWP The DOU assigned CCOMWP Administrative Analyst (position number 00042742) will provide support to DOU to help offset costs to the CCOMWP. DOU will pay 90% and CCOMWP will pay 10% of the leave hours associated with this position. Overview of DOU Services Provided: DOU Fiscal Operations Team will provide financial oversight, including the City annual budget and yearend deliverables, assist with accurate

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
Amended February 6, 2025 2
financial reporting, and day-to-day fiscal oversight including all financial eCAPS approvals. DOU will also provide the following services: Financial Services Review, approve and provide assistance as needed with the preparation of the annual City budget deliverables for the CCOMWP, including, but not limited to, augmentations, net-zero adjustments, position moves, budget adjustments (including revenue, operating, and transfer adjustments), non-budgeted position report, fund analysis, five-year forecast, and Hyperion entry. Review, approve, and provide assistance as needed with the preparation of yearend deliverables as provided by Central Accounting for the CCOMWP. Including but not limited to coordinating project closures, grant roll forward reporting, grant compliance, reclassifying expenses as needed, review and report uncollected revenues, fixing overspent projects, p-card reconciliation, voucher payments, and preparation and/or approval of accounting journals and budget journals as needed for yearend closeout. Review and approve day-to-day, quarterly, and annual financial tasks as required for the adopted budget, including but not limited to quarterly projections, interfund reimbursements, accounting journals, revenue invoicing in eCAPS (grant billings and annual water purveyors), monitor doubtful accounts, etc. Review and approve budget journals, project requests, project closures, and status changes prepared by CCOMWP staff. Approve requisitions and payment vouchers in eCAPS to ensure accuracy, such as the correct budget lines, program codes/projects, sales tax, use tax, etc. Review and approve all grant billing packages, including all granting agency required backup for invoicing requirements, and invoice processing in eCAPS. Grant billing should be completed on a regular basis and wherever possible in the same fiscal year as the expense occurred. Review and approve all training and travel requests in eCAPS and the Supervising Financial Analyst will approve in K2 prior to the DOU Director. Review and approve all council reports, including approval in Legistar. Other financial activities as needed and mutually agreed upon. CCOMWP Deliverables: The CCOMWP will be responsible for the following tasks: Prepare and provide annual City budget deliverables including, but not limited to, augmentations, net-zero adjustments, position moves, budget adjustments (including revenue, operating, and transfer adjustments), non-budgeted position

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
Amended February 6, 2025 3
report, fund analysis, five-year forecast, and Hyperion entry. The budget should align with the approved budget as presented to the Plenary and approved by the Executive Director. Prepare and provide yearend deliverables documents such as project closures, grant billing accuracy and compliance, support for uncollected revenue, preparing p-card reconciliations, and budget journals. Prepare and provide day-to-day, quarterly, and annual financial tasks as required for the adopted budget, including but not limited to quarterly projections, interfund reimbursements, accounting journals, revenue invoicing in eCAPS (grant billings and annual water purveyors), monitor doubtful accounts, etc. Prepare and input budget journals, new project requests, project closures, and project status changes in eCAPS for DOU approval. Obtain, negotiate, review all documentation from outside parties for contracts, change requests, and requisition requests. Provide travel and training documentation for processing. Executive Director or Designee will approve all requisitions, travel, and invoices in K2 for approval in eCAPS by DOU. Program Manager/Senior Engineer will lead the processes for requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, and contracts. Other support for financial activities as needed and mutually agreed upon. Funding: The CCOWMP is responsible for funding the financial oversight provided by DOU and will provide one Administrative Analyst position (position number 00042742) to DOU through this MOU. This position will report to the DOU Supervising Financial Analyst and will be located in DOU (1395 35th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822). The costs associated with this position is included in the CCOWMP The DOU Fiscal Operations Team will provide overall financial oversight with a team that includes one Supervising Financial Analyst, one Senior Accountant Auditor, one Program Specialist, one Accountant Auditor, four Administrative Analysts (including one CCOWMP Analysts), one Administrative Technician, and two Accounting Technicians. This support will be paid at actual cost with no markup through an annual interfund transfer based on actual costs charged to Program Code 14B03. DOU will complete an annual review of time spent supporting the CCOWMP and prepare an interfund transfer that will charge or reimburse the CCOWMP based on position costs minus actual costs charged. Utilizing the Fiscal Operations Team to support the CCOWMP allows DOU to assign tasks to all levels, which will minimize costs.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
Amended February 6, 2025 4
Insurance: During the term of this agreement the CCOWMP shall maintain a policy of commercial general liability insurance in the amount of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. The policy shall include products and completed operations coverage and the City of Sacramento shall be covered by endorsement or policy terms as additional insured.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A11-1
Appendix 11: Five- and One-Year Water Forum Budget
See the following page.

FY 25 FY 26 FY 27 FY 28 FY 29 FY 30
Adopted Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed
1,393,949 1,050,519 1,029,021 1,062,956 1,099,060 1,133,266 940,286 922,621 1,070,163 1,047,620 1,093,275 1,153,975 Total Revenue Need 2,334,235 1,973,140 2,099,183 2,110,576 2,192,334 2,287,241 Note: FY25 is for informational purposes only and includes the Water Forum 2.0 funding.

Fund 7104 - Habitat Management Element
Water Forum Budget Projection Summary
Fiscal Year 2025/26 - 2029/30
Fund 7103 - Water Forum Successor Effort

Page 1 ends

FY 25 FY 26
Adopted Proposed
1,393,949 1,050,519
940,286 922,621
Total Revenue Need 2,334,235 1,973,140
Fund 7104 - Habitat Management Element
Fund 7103 - Water Forum Successor Effort
Water Forum Budget Projection Summary
FY 25 FY 26
Adopted Proposed(4)
1,165,126 1,172,520
Permanent staff(1) 1,165,126 1,082,724
Employee services contingency 413240 89,796
122,516 153,536
75,131 109,006
Leased office space 444010 58,451 53,538
Office Parking spaces 444010 4,680 4,860
Postage 461010 200 207
Printing and Binding 455010 900 932
Office Supplies 461020 2,000 2,070
Rental of Equipment (photocopier) 444020 900 932
Food Program 463010 6,500 6,500
Security Services 434030 1,500 1,148
Insurance 452010 0 38,820
19,385 19,773
Training/Conferences 432010 12,735 12,990
Transportation 458010 1,900 1,938
Meals 458020 925 944
Lodging 458030 2,850 2,907
Other Travel Expenses 458030 975 995
24,000 20,617
Telecommunications 12,000 8,257
Cellular Telephone 453020 2,000 506
Communication Lines 453030 10,000 7,751
Equipment and Software 12,000 12,360
Computer Software 461210 5,500 5,665
Computer Equipment 474410 5,000 5,150
Computer Software Maintenance 443050 1,500 1,545
4,000 4,140
Subscriptions And Publications 464020 1,000 1,035
Memberships and Sponsorships 481150 3,000 3,105
(546,753) (493,037)
Accounting(2) 39,000 0
Legal 9,533 9,628
Citywide Cost Plan(2) 0 52,250
DOU Fiscal & Admin Services (Reimbursement)/Charge (100,000) (103,700) HME Cost Share Reimbursement (495,286) (451,215)
653,060 191,000
Communications and Outreach 433060 50,000 56,000
Facilitation Support 433060 0 70,000
Grant Support 433030 0 30,000
Legal 433020 5,000 25,000
Website and SharePoint 433060 30,000 10,000
Water Forum 2.0 MYOP 568,060
1,393,949 1,024,019
- 26,500
1,393,949 1,050,519
Water Forum Successor Effort (WFSE)
Fund 7103 FY26
Projected Costs
Account
Codes
City of Sacramento/HME - Shared Resources Costs
Consulting Services for General Operations
Total Expenses
Staff / Labor and Benefits
Operating Services and Supplies
Office and Supplies
Travel and Training
Information Technology
Human Resources (recruitment, memberships)
Operating Reserve Needs(3)
Total Revenue Need
Notes:
1) There are no assumptions for additional staff; however, if the Water Forum is successful in obtaining substantial grant funding, an augmentation could be needed in the future. 2) The Accounting budgeted transfer will be deleted in FY26 when the Citywide Cost Plan charges are implemented. The City of Sacramento has covered the Citywide Costs in error since WF inception. The Citywide Cost Plan includes all citywide shared services including but not limited to Finance, Human Resources, City Council, City Clerk, Information Technology, etc. 3) The Operating Reserve will be funded over the first five years of the new agreement to minimize funding impacts to purveyors and to maintain at least $100,000 in available fund balance for unplanned needs. The Operating Reserve excludes costs associated with operating programs. In the event of full revenue loss, programs will be suspended until revenues are available.
4) FY26 Final includes the adjustments for the final position budgeting report, updated liability insurance premium, final adjustments to COS cost share, final adjustments to citywide cost plan, and misc. IT adjustments. Savings will be added to professional services that will later be applied to employee services to support possible overages for Executive Director or Senior Engineer when either position is filled at a higher total compensation rate.

FY 25 FY 26
Adopted Proposed
495,286 451,215
WFSE Cost Share Reimbursement 495,286 451,215
445,000 591,406
Grant Support 30,000 76,406
River Corridor Health - Habitat Enhancement Projects 150,000 - River Corridor Health - Required Monitoring and Decision Support 95,000 120,000 State of the River - Metrics Reporting and Data Informatics/Visualization - 150,000 River Corridor Health Program - Technical Support - 110,000 Flows and Operations - Technical Expertise 170,000 135,000 940,286 1,042,621
491,000 296,000
Grant Reserve Annual Allocation - 18,500
River Corridor Health - Science and Monitoring - (120,000) Grant Match for USBR WaterSMART Grant ($650,000) (195,000) - 296,000 194,500
940,286 922,621
Water Forum Habitat Management Element (HME) Fund 7104 FY26 Projected Costs
Total Revenue Needs
Grant Reserve Funds
Remaining Grant Reserve
City of Sacramento/WFSE - Shared Resources Costs
Consulting Services for Core Programs
Total Expenses
FY25 FY 26 FY 27 FY 28 FY 29 FY 30
Fund Balance & Reserves
Beginning Fund Balance(1) 285,000 275,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 Fund Balance Changes(2) (10,000) 26,500 26,500 26,500 26,500 23,258 Emergency Operating Reserve Balance(3) - (201,500) (26,500) (26,500) (26,500) (23,258) Ending Fund Balance 275,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 Operating Reserve Balance 201,500 228,000 254,500 281,000 304,258 Notes:
2) FY25 Fund Balance usage is estimated at $10K for the University Enterprises contract that was not fully spent in FY24.

Future years will be used to fund the Emergency Operating Reserve for WFSE operating costs only. 3) The Emergency Operating Reserve will be funded over the first five years to minimize funding impacts to purveyors. Initial funding comes from remaining WFSE fund balance (7103). In the event of full revenue loss, programs will be suspended until revenues are available. The Reserve will be available for emergencies and will cover 120-day of operating costs, and excludes costs associated with consulting services for general operations and core programs. In addition, the Water Forum will maintain at least $100,000 in available fund balance for unplanned needs.

Water Forum Successor Effort (WFSE - 7103)
Fund 7103 FY26 - FY30
WFSE (7103 Fund) Projected Fund Balance and Reserve Needs Projected
1) FY24 Yearend Actuals have not been audited. The ending fund balance for FY24 and beginning fund balance for FY25 are subject to change until the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) is released in January 2025.

FY25 FY 26 FY 27 FY 28 FY 29 FY 30
Fund Balance & Reserves
Beginning Fund Balance(1) 541,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 Fund Balance Changes(2) (491,000) 18,500 18,500 18,500 18,500 - Transfers to Grant Reserve - (18,500) (18,500) (18,500) (18,500) - Ending Fund Balance 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 Grant Fund Reduction for Projects/Matches (195,000) (120,000) - - - - Grant Reserve Balance 296,000 194,500$ 213,000$ 231,500$ 250,000$ 250,000$ Notes:
2) Water Forum will create a grant reserve at the end of FY25 to ensure funding availability to pursue grants by using all but $50,000 of the remaining HME fund balance (7104). There is a need of $195,000 for a grant match in FY25 and grant related operating expenses of $120,000. If grant reserves are used in any given Fiscal Year, the reserve will be replenished to $250,000 over the next five years to limit the impacts on contributors. HME funding was contributed by the County of Sacramento Zone 13 and the City of Sacramento. Funding from the grant match will be used to fund grant related HME efforts only.

Water Forum FY26 - FY30
HME (7104 Fund) Projected Fund Balance and Reserve Needs Projected
1) FY24 Yearend Actuals have not been audited. The ending fund balance for FY24 and beginning fund balance for FY25 are subject to change until the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) is released in January 2026.

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A12-1
Appendix 12: Cost Allocation Methodology Description
During negotiations, it was determined that a new cost allocation methodology would be necessary to fund the work of the Water Forum, commencing in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY26).

Previously, funding for multiple agencies was derived from assessments through the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) Zone 13. However, Zone 13 was established 38 years prior without an inflation adjustment, and its revenue has remained static while the Water Forum’s budget grew annually to accommodate inflation. As a result, contributions from Zone 13 towards the Water Forum’s work became unsustainable. Zone 13 funds historically comprised nearly 50% of the Water Forum’s annual budget.

Over several months, water agencies and other funders explored several new funding models to distribute the Water Forum costs equitably. In November 2024, stakeholders agreed on an approach involving proportional cost allocations based on agency connection counts, five-year average groundwater production, and a five-year average of American River diversions. Each dataset is weighted relative to the benefits derived from Water Forum participation (as
summarized in Table 1 below).

Specific adjustments were made for the agencies summarized below to fully capture the unique benefits and opportunities derived from Water Forum membership and participation:

EBMUD: EBMUD’s data was adjusted for the cost allocation calculation to reflect unique characteristics of its service area and water usage relative to the Water Forum. The adjustment was made based on the following factors:

1. EBMUD’s service area lies entirely outside the Sacramento region.

2. EBMUD uses water from the American River only as a dry-year supply and does not rely on groundwater from the Sacramento regional groundwater basins.

3. The American River water used by EBMUD flows through the lower American River (LAR) before being diverted at the Freeport intake.

To account for these considerations, EBMUD’s connection count was adjusted to reflect the proportion of its service area supplied with American River water on an annual basis, using a five-year average.

PCWA: PCWA’s water collection and distribution system is complex, relying on multiple sources and diversion points for its surface water supply. PCWA is also both a wholesaler and a retailer of both treated and untreated water from these multiple sources. For the purposes of the Water Forum cost allocation calculations, only the volume of American River water that is diverted and used within PCWA’s own retail service area, treated and untreated, is included.

PCWA water diverted by or on behalf of its wholesale customers is excluded from PCWA’s cost calculations
Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A12-2
Golden State: An adjustment was made to GSWC’s data within the Water Forum cost allocation model to account for its unique water supplies and operations. GSWC uses treated groundwater that is discharged into the American River and later diverted at the Carmichael Water District’s intake on the LAR, then the treated water is delivered to GSWC, putting the groundwater back to beneficial use. To accurately reflect this process, both GSWC’s American River diversion and groundwater production volumes were adjusted accordingly in the model.

Table 2 illustrates the application of the agreed-upon funding allocation methodology, which includes the relative percentages for each of the respective datasets, the resulting weighted percentage calculated using the factors listed in Table 1, and the final cost allocations for FY26 for each relevant funder. The weighted percentage shown in Table 2 for each agency will be used for five years, and an updated weighted percentage will be calculated in 2030 to be applied in FY2030-2031 and the subsequent five years (pending approval from the funders).

Table 1. Water Forum Cost Allocation Weighting Factors and Benefits Agency Data Set Weighting Factor Associated Benefits
Connection Counts 0.40
• Environmental Stewardship
• Maintaining peace on the river
• Assistance in the regulatory settings
Groundwater Production 0.20
• Regional water supply reliability
• Support for more conjunctive use
activities
• Regional collaboration and partnerships
for projects, programs, and funding
American River Diversions 0.40
• Regional coordination and strategy with
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Protecting the value and function of the
Lower American River corridor

Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A12-3
Table 2. Water Forum Cost Allocation Results

Agency
Connections
American River
Diversions
Groundwater
ProductionWeighted %
FY 26 Contribution
Based on
5-Year Avg
2019-2023
El Dorado Irrigation District 0.07 0.09 0.00 0.07 $128,452 Placer County Water Agency 0.07 0.07 0.00 0.06 $109,635 City of Folsom (minus Ashland) 0.04 0.12 0.00 0.06 $119,623 City of Roseville 0.09 0.19 0.00 0.11 $212,506
San Juan Water District - Wholesale1 0.09 0.21 0.05 0.13 $106,938 Citrus Heights Water District 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.04 $81,691 Fair Oaks Water District 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.03 $63,181
Carmichael Water District 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 $53,445
City of Sacramento 0.25 0.19 0.21 0.22 $422,537
Sacramento Suburban Water District 0.08 0.06 0.21 0.10 $187,724 Golden State Water Company 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.03 $61,706
California American Water 0.11 0.00 0.24 0.09 $179,501
Sacramento County Water Agency 0.11 0.00 0.21 0.08 $160,600 East Bay MUD 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.02 $29,602
Total2

1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 $1,917,140

1. San Juan Water District Wholesale contributions include San Juan Retail, Orange Vale, and Ashland (Folsom) service areas.

2. Total funding amount shown excludes contributions of flat fee contributions from SMUD, SAFCA, and EDWA.

Base %
Water Forum Agreement 2050
February 2026 A13-1
Appendix 13: Interagency Agreement for Water Forum
Administration
See the following page.

THIRD INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER FORUM

THIS THIRD INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER FORUM (“AGREEMENT”) is made and entered into this __ day of _______ 2025, by and among the City of Sacramento, the El Dorado Irrigation District, the Placer County Water Agency, the City of Folsom, the City of Roseville, the San Juan Water District (retail), Citrus Heights Water District, Fair Oaks Water District, Orange Vale Water Company, Carmichael Water District, Sacramento Suburban Water District, Golden State Water Company, California-American Water, Sacramento County Water Agency (“SCWA”), County of Sacramento, and East Bay Municipal Utility District referred to collectively as “the Parties.”

RECITALS
A. Each of the Parties to this Agreement is a local governmental entity or public water supplier functioning within or adjacent to the Sacramento Metropolitan Area.

B. On October 30, 1991, the Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of SCWA authorized the execution of the "Interagency Agreement for the City-County Office of Water Planning" to create a City County organization known as the City-County Office of Water Planning.

C. The City-County Office of Water Planning, subsequently renamed the City-County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning (hereafter referred to as the “CCOMWP”), was formed to provide City-County staffing necessary to undertake planning and analysis needed for, and to facilitate the participation of numerous stakeholders in, the development of a comprehensive plan to provide a reliable water supply for the region while protecting the environmental values of the area's water resources.

D. On January 9, 2001, the Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of SCWA entered into the “Second Interagency Agreement for the City-County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning” to provide for the continued existence and operation of the CCOMWP.

E. The Parties are all members of the Water Forum, a coalition of business leaders, citizens, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments (individually “Members”).

The Water Forum was governed by the 2000 Water Forum Agreement, updated in October 2015 (the “Water Forum Agreement”). The renegotiation of the Water Forum Agreement through the Water Forum 2050 process resulted in a need to update the Second Interagency Agreement for the City-County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning to reflect participation of all of the Parties. The purpose of this Agreement is to delineate an efficient and effective arrangement for administration and management of Water Forum staff. Funding for the Water Forum staff and operations will be allocated on a cost-share basis between the Parties in a separate funding agreement for the Water Forum (“Funding Agreement”).

F. The City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento wish to express their long time and continuing support for the Water Forum and its mission of the co-equal objectives.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Water Forum Office. The renegotiated Water Forum Agreement has restructured roles and responsibilities of the participating water agencies. To reflect those changes, the name of the CCOMWP is hereby changed to the Water Forum Office. The Water Forum Office is a division of the City of Sacramento, not an independent legal entity.

The Water Forum Office is hereby authorized to continue operating in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement replaces and supersedes the Second Interagency Agreement for the City-County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning.

2. Objectives and Duties of the Water Forum Office. The objective of the Water Forum Office is to promote the implementation and continued vitality of the Water Forum Agreement. This objective shall be accomplished by providing administrative support and assistance to the Water Forum Members as the Members oversee, monitor, and report on implementation of the Water Forum Agreement. Specific tasks necessary to accomplish this purpose may be performed by Water Forum Office staff, or by other individuals, firms or entities pursuant to contracts or agreements authorized as set forth in Section 5, below.

3. Water Forum Office Operations. The City of Sacramento shall continue to provide the Water Forum Office with suitable office space and administrative, clerical, and technical support resources as an entity of the City of Sacramento. The City of Sacramento will be responsible for overseeing the following arrangements for the Water Forum Office:
a. Procurement of leased office space including conference facilities and necessary furnishings to house the Water Forum Office.
b. Preparation of an operating budget, operating reserves of 120 days, and necessary appropriation resolutions.
c. Establishment of accounting records and procedures for capturing expenditures of the Water Forum Office.
d. Allocation of operating costs for the Water Forum Office on a cost-share basis among the Parties pursuant to the Funding Agreement. "Operating costs" shall include all office lease, equipment, personnel and other staffing costs, contracting costs, and other costs incurred in the performance of the Water Forum Office's duties, together with associated direct and indirect overhead and other administrative costs.
e. Implementation of the staffing plan for the Water Forum Office including such things as classification of positions, salary resolution amendments, recruitment, and selection.

4. Water Forum Office Costs. The Parties shall fund the Water Forum Office operating costs in accordance with the cost-sharing provisions of the Funding Agreement.

Annual Operating costs shall not exceed the funding available for such costs under the Funding Agreement or available from other funding sources approved by the Parties and shall be consistent with the Water Forum Office budget approved by the Parties.

5. Staff Arrangements.
a. The Water Forum Office shall have an Executive Director and adequate staff to support the following functions: River Corridor Health Program, Water Resources engineering, and administrative support staff. These positions, whether new hires or existing staff, shall be considered City of Sacramento employees. These employees shall continue to be paid at the designated salaries and employee benefits for their respective classifications within the City of Sacramento, and shall be entitled to the same promotions, and merit or other salary increases as City of Sacramento fulltime employees. In addition, the services of other City of Sacramento staff may be used from time to time to provide technical assistance for the Water Forum Office. b. As an entity of the City of Sacramento, the Water Forum Office has established funds that pay the full cost of the assigned positions and any staff assistance for all salaries, employee benefits and indirect employee costs. c. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative officer of the Water Forum Office, shall supervise the Water Forum Office employees, and shall be responsible for the administration of the Water Forum Office pursuant to this Agreement. The Executive Director shall report to the Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (“DOU Director”). The DOU Director shall implement a process to solicit the Parties’ input on the selection and performance of the Executive Director but shall retain sole authority to take any and all employment actions related to the Executive Director. d. Water Forum Office staff, including but not limited to the Executive Director, are not employees of any Party other than the City of Sacramento and shall not be entitled to any wages, retirement benefits, or other benefits enjoyed by employees of any Party other than the City of Sacramento. e. When requested by the Water Forum’s Coordinating Committee, or at least every five years, the Water Forum may conduct a compensation survey to ensure that the total compensation of the Executive Director is appropriate.

The compensation survey will be paid for by the Water Forum office. Should the survey indicate the compensation should be adjusted, the City of Sacramento shall consider adjusting the compensation accordingly, but is not required to do so. All Water Forum office employee salaries are funded by the water agencies that contribute to the Water Forum office, the funding for their salaries does not come solely from the City of Sacramento. Nothing in this agreement, in action or intent, will preempt City of Sacramento employment practices.

6. Contracting Procedures. All Water Forum Office contracting shall follow procedures used by the City of Sacramento. The Executive Director may recommend the approval of contracts for services required by the Water Forum Office and the Sacramento City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall be authorized to approve and execute such contracts in accordance with applicable provisions of the Sacramento City Code relating to authority to enter into contracts. All other contracts shall be submitted to the Sacramento City Council for approval and execution. All contracts shall be approved as to form by the Sacramento City Attorney or use standard formats approved by the Sacramento City Attorney. The City shall require and verify that all contractors and subcontractors maintain insurance coverage that meets the minimum scope and limits of insurance coverage appropriate for the work performed. Costs incurred under contracts that are consistent with the Water Forum Office budget approved by the Parties shall be allocated on a cost-share basis between the Parties as specified in the Funding Agreement.

7. Insurance; Excess liability.
a. The City of Sacramento shall procure and maintain a liability insurance policy sufficient to cover the Water Forum Office’s potential liabilities, with a minimum limit of $1 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate. The Parties recognize that the coverage and terms of insurance may be subject to change based on insurance market conditions, but the City of Sacramento shall immediately disclose changes and obtain approval of the other Parties to an approach that most closely preserves compliance with requirements of this section. The coverage must be at least as broad in scope as Insurance Services Office (ISO) Commercial General Liability Coverage (Occurrence Form CG00 01) including products and completed operations, property damage, bodily injury, personal and advertising injury, and contractual liability coverage for liabilities assumed under this Agreement as an “insured contract.” The City of Sacramento will provide proof of this insurance to each Party on an annual basis for the duration of this Agreement and will immediately notify Parties of any changes in coverage. Liability coverage will be in effect for Water Forum work plan activities or activities communicated in writing to the Plenary Water Forum.
b. The City of Sacramento shall use available insurance proceeds to defray the cost of liability arising from the Water Forum Office or its functions or work.

If the Water Forum Office’s liability insurance, or any other available insurance policy, does not fully cover all liability of the Water Forum Office or of the City of Sacramento arising from a covered employee action, omission, or injuries, then any excess amount of such liability (“Excess Liability”), except Excluded Liability, shall be allocated among the Parties pursuant to the cost allocation formula specified in the Funding Agreement. The term “Excluded Liability” includes each of the following: (i) any liability arising from any employee action, omission, or injury that is intentional, fraudulent, reckless, or outside the course or scope of the employee’s position with the Water Forum; (ii) any liability arising from any class actions, representative actions, actions under the Private Attorneys General Act; or (iii) any liability arising from claims for punitive or exemplary damages; or (iv) recovery of attorneys’ fees. Excess liability costs for Excluded Liability may be submitted to the Parties for consideration through the annual budget process. The Parties (as defined in Attachment A) are to be covered as additional insureds on the Water Forum Office’s CGL policy with respect to liability arising out of this Agreement. For any claims related to this Agreement, the Water Forum Office’s insurance coverage shall be primary and non-contributory as respects the Parties. The Water Forum Office will promptly notify each Party of any claim that has arisen or that may arise and keep them informed as to the status of the claim until resolved.

The City of Sacramento shall procure, maintain, and be solely responsible for the provision of workers’ compensation insurance for its employees assigned to the Water Forum Office or performing duties related to the Water Forum Office. The City shall maintain excess workers’ compensation insurance and waive subrogation against the Parties.

8. Disclaimer of Liability; Mutual Indemnification. No Party nor any officer or employee thereof shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by another Party under or in connection with any work, authority, or jurisdiction delegated to another Party. Each Party shall fully defend (upon the request of the indemnitee), indemnify, and hold each Party harmless from and against all claims, losses and liabilities occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by the indemnifying Party under or in connection with any work, authority, or jurisdiction delegated to the indemnifying Party under this Agreement.

Except as limited by this section 8, Excess Liability, except Excluded Liability, may be allocated among the Parties in the manner and circumstances described in subsection (b) of section 7.

9. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when it has been signed by each Party.

10. Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect until December 31, 2050, unless terminated sooner in the manner described herein. This Agreement may be terminated by two-thirds written consent of the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any individual Party from withdrawing as provided in this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, any surplus funds on hand shall be returned to the then Parties in proportion to the contributions made.

A Party may unilaterally withdraw from this Agreement without requiring termination of this Agreement, effective upon 90 days’ written notice to the other Parties, provided that the withdrawing Party shall remain responsible for any indebtedness incurred by the Party under the Funding Agreement, and further provided that the withdrawing Party pays or agrees to pay its share of debts, liabilities and obligations of the Water Forum Office incurred by the Party under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such withdrawal. Terms of the Funding Agreement may include a not-to-exceed amount equaling a two-year funding obligation from each agency.

If the City of Sacramento wishes to withdraw from this Agreement, the City of Sacramento shall provide 180 days’ written notice to the other Parties; provided that the City of Sacramento shall remain responsible for any indebtedness incurred by the City of Sacramento under any funding agreement, and further provided that the City of Sacramento pays or agrees to pay its share of debts, liabilities and obligations of the Water Forum Office incurred by the City of Sacramento under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such withdrawal. In such case, the City of Sacramento shall cooperate in good faith with other Parties if they wish to continue the Water Forum Office under the auspices of another entity.

11. Notices. Any notices or other communication to be given Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing by U.S. Mail, email, or by personal delivery to the Parties at the addresses set forth in Attachment B, incorporated herein by this reference.

12. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a subsequent writing, approved and signed by the authorized representative or agent for each Party, except the representatives and contact information contained in Attachment B may be amended by providing an updated copy of Attachment B to all Parties.

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and any attachments hereto constitute the entire Agreement and understanding among the Parties regarding the administration and management of the Water Forum Office. If any provision of this Agreement conflicts with any provision of any other agreement related to the Water Forum Office, the conflicting provision of this Agreement shall control.

14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind, and inure to the benefit of, the successors, assigns, heirs, and legal representatives of the Parties hereto.

15. Waiver. The waiver at any time by any Party of its rights with respect to a default or other matter arising in connection with this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any subsequent default or matter.

16. Construction and Interpretation. The Parties agree and acknowledge that this Agreement has been arrived at through negotiation, and that each Party has had a full and fair opportunity to revise the terms of this Agreement. Consequently, the normal rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not apply in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

17. Counterparts and Digital Signatures. This Agreement may be executed by the Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original. All such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Signatures scanned and transmitted electronically shall be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement, with such scanned signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. This Agreement may be executed through the use of an electronic signature and will be binding on each party as if it were physically executed.

18. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.

19. Severability. If one or more clauses, sentences, paragraphs or provisions of this Agreement is held to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, it is hereby agreed by the Parties that the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

ATTACHMENT A

ADDITIONAL INSURED

The following Parties to this Agreement are named as additional insured pursuant to Section 7.b of this Agreement:
 City of Sacramento
 El Dorado Irrigation District
 Placer County Water Agency
 City of Folsom
 City of Roseville
 San Juan Water District
 Citrus Heights Water District
 Fair Oaks Water District
 Orange Vale Water Company
 Carmichael Water District
 Sacramento Suburban Water District
 Golden State Water Company
 California-American Water Company
 Sacramento County Water Agency
 County of Sacramento
 East Bay Municipal Utility District

THIRD INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER FORUM

THIS THIRD INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER FORUM (“AGREEMENT”) is made and entered into this __ day of _______ 2025, by and among the City of Sacramento, the El Dorado Irrigation District, the Placer County Water Agency, the City of Folsom, the City of Roseville, the San Juan Water District (retail), Citrus Heights Water District, Fair Oaks Water District, Orange Vale Water Company, Carmichael Water District, Sacramento Suburban Water District, Golden State Water Company, California -American Water, Sacramento County Water Agency (“SCWA”), County of Sacramento, and East Bay Municipal Utility District referred to collectively as “the Parties.”

RECITALS
A. Each of the Parties to this Agreement is a local governmental entity or public water supplier functioning within or adjacent to the Sacramento Metropolitan Area.

B. On October 30, 1991, the Sacramento City Council, the Sa cramento County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of SCWA authorized the execution of the "Interagency Agreement for the City -County Office of Water Planning" to create a City County organization known as the City-County Office of Water Planning.

D. On January 9, 2001, t he Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of SCWA entered into the “Second Interagency Agreement for the City -County Office of Metropolitan Water Planning ” to provide for the continued existence and operation of the CCOMWP.

E. The Parties are all members of the Water Forum, a coalition of business leaders, citizens, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments (individually “Members”).

The Water Forum was governed by the 2000 Water Forum Agreement, updated in October 2015 (the “Water Forum Agreement ”). The renegotiation of the Water Forum Agreement through the Water Forum 2050 process resulted in a need to update the Second Interagency Agreement for the City -County Office of Metropolitan W ater Planning to reflect participation of all of the Parties. The purpose of this Agreement is to delineate an efficient and effective arrangement for administration and management of Water Forum staff. Funding for the Water Forum staff and operations will be allocated on a cost-share basis between the Parties in a separate funding agreement for the Water Forum (“Funding Agreement”).

F. The City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento wish to express their long time and continuing support for the Water Forum and its mission of the co-equal objectives.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

2. Objectives and Duties of the Water Forum Office. The objective of the Water Forum Office is to promote the implementation and continued vitality of the Water Forum Agreement. This objective shall be acc omplished by providing administrative support and assistance to the Water Forum Members as the Members oversee, monitor, and report on implementation of the Water Forum Agreement. Specific tasks necessary to accomplish this purpose may be performed by Water Forum Office staff, or by other individuals, firms or entities pursuant to contracts or agreements authorized as set forth in Section 5, below.

3. Water Forum Office Operations. The City of Sacramento shall continue to provide the Water Forum Office with suitable office space and administrative, cleri cal, and technical support resources as an entity of the City of Sacramento. The City of Sacramento will be responsible for overseeing the following arrangement s for the Water Forum Office:
a. Procurement of leased office space including conference facilities and necessary furnishings to house the Water Forum Office.
b. Preparation of an operating budget, operating reserves of 120 days, and necessary appropriation resolutions.
c. Establishment of accounting records and procedures for capturing expenditures of the Water Forum Office.
d. Allocation of operating costs for the Water Forum Office on a cost-share basis among the Parties pursuant to the Funding Agreement. "Operating costs" shall include all office lease, equipment, personnel and other staffing costs, contracting costs, and other costs incurred in the performance of the Water Forum Office's duties, together with associated direct and indirect overhead and other administrative costs.
e. Implementation of the staffing plan for the Water Forum Office including such things as classification of positions, salary resolution amendments, recruitment, and selection.

4. Water Forum Office Costs. The Parties shall fund the Water Forum Office operating costs in accordance with the cost -sharing provisions of the Funding Agreement.

5. Staff Arrangements.
a. The Water Forum Office shall have an Executive Director and adequate staff to support the following functions: River Corridor Health Program, Water Resources engineering, and administrative support staff. These positions , whether new hires or existing staff , shall be considered City of Sacramento employees. These employees shall continue to be paid at the designated salaries and employee benefits for their respective classifications within the City of Sacramento, and shall be entitled to the same promotions, and merit or other salary increases as City of Sacramento fulltime employees. In addition, the services of othe r City of Sacramento staff may be used from time to time to provide technical assistance for the Water Forum Office. b. As an entity of the City of Sacramento, the Water Forum Office has established funds that pay the full cost of the assigned positions and any staff assistance for all salaries, employee benefits and indirect employee costs. c. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative officer of the Water Forum Office, shall supervise the Water Forum Office employees, and shall be responsible for the administration of the Water Forum Office pursuant to this Agreement. The Executive Director shall report to the Director of the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (“DOU Director”). The DOU Director shall implement a process to solicit the Parties’ input on the selection and performance of the Executive Director but shall retain sole authority to take any and all employment actions related to the Executive Director. d. Water Forum Office staff, including but not limited to the Executive Director, are not employees of any Party other than the City of Sacramento and shall not be entitled to any wages, retirement benefits, or other benefits enjoyed by employees of any Party other than the City of Sacramento. e. When requested by the Water Fo rum’s Coordinating Committee, or at least every five years, the Water Forum may conduct a compensation survey to ensure that the total compensation of the Executive Director is appropriate.

The compensation survey will be paid for by the Water Forum. Shoul d the survey indicate the compensation should be adjusted, the City of Sacramento shall consider adjusting the compensation accordingly, but is not required to do so. All Water Forum employee salaries are funded by the water agencies that contribute to the Water Forum, the funding for their salaries does not come solely from the City of Sacramento. Nothing in this agreement, in action or intent, will preempt City of Sacramento employment practices.

6. Contracting Procedures. All Water Forum Office contracting shall follow procedures used by the City of Sacramento. The Executive Director may recommend the approval of contracts for services required by the Water Forum Office and the Sacramento City Manager or the City Manager ’s designee shall be authorized to approve and execute such contracts in accordance with applicable provisions of the Sacramento City Code relating to authority to enter into contracts. All other contracts shall be submitted to the Sacramento City Council for approval and execution. All contr acts shall be approved as to form by the Sacramento City Attorney or use standard formats approved by the Sacramento City Attorney. The City shall require and verify that all contractors and subcontractors maintain insurance coverage that meets the minimum scope and limits of insurance coverage appropriate for the work performed. Costs incurred under contracts that are consistent with the Water Forum Office budget approved by the Parties shall be allocated on a cost-share basis between the Parties as specified in the Funding Agreement.

7. Insurance; Excess liability.
a. The City of Sacramento shall procure and maintain a liability insurance policy sufficient to cover the Water Forum Office ’s potential liabilities , with a minimum limit of $ 1 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate . The Parties recognize that the coverage and terms of insurance may be subject to change based on insurance market conditions, but the City of Sacramento shall immediately disclose changes and obtain approva l of the other Parties to an approach that most closely preserves compliance with requirements of this section. The coverage must be at least as br oad in scope as Insurance Services Office (ISO) Commercial General Liability Coverage (Occurrence Form CG00 01) including products and completed operations, property damage, bodily injury, personal and advertising injury , and contractual liability coverage for liabilities assumed under this Agreement as an “insured contract.” The City of Sacramento will provide p roof of this insurance to each Party on an annual basis for the duration of this Agreement and will immediately notify Parties of any changes in coverage. Liability coverage will be in effect for Water Forum work plan activities or activities communicated in writing to the Plenary Water Forum.
b. The City of Sacramento shall use available insurance proceeds to defray the cost of liability arising from the Water Forum Office or its functions or work.

If the Water Forum Office’s liability insurance, or any other available insurance policy, does not fully cover all liability of the Water Forum Office or of the City of Sacramento arising from a covered employee action, omission, or injuries, then any excess amount of such liability (“Excess Liability”), except Excluded Liability, shall be allocated among the Parties pursuant to the cost allocation formula specified in the Funding Agreement. The term “Excluded Liability” includes each of the following: (i) any liability arising from any employee action, omission, or injury that is intentional, fraudulent, reckless, or outside the course or scope of the employee’s position with the Water Forum; (ii) any liability arising from any class actions, representative actions, actions under the Private Attorneys General Act ; or (iii) any liability arising from claims for punitive or exemplary damages ; or (iv) recovery of attorneys ’ fees. Excess liability costs for Excluded Liability may be submitted to the Parties for consideration through the annual budget process. The Parties (as defined in Attachment A) are to be covered as additional insureds on the Water Forum Office’s CGL policy with respect to liability arising out this Agreement. For any claims related to this Agreement, the Water Forum Office’s insurance coverage shall be primary and non -contributory as respects the Parties. The Water Forum Office will promptly notify each Par ty of any claim that has arisen or that may arise and keep them informed as to the status of the claim until resolved.

The City of Sacramento shall procure, maintain, and be solely responsible for the provision of workers’ compensation insurance for its employees assigned to the Water Forum Office or performing duties related to the Water Forum Office. The City shall maint ain excess workers’ compensation insurance and waive subrogation against the Parties.

8. Disclaimer of Liability; Mutual Indemnification . No Party nor any officer or employee thereof shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by another Party under or in connection with any work, authority, or jurisdiction delegated to another Party. Each Party shall fully defend (upon the request of the indemnitee), indemnify, and hold each Party harmless from and against all claims, losses and liabilities occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by the indemnifying Party under or in connection with any work, authority, or jurisdiction delegated to the indemnifying Party under this Agreement.

Except as limited by this section 8, Excess Liability, except Excluded Liability, may be allocated among the Parties in the manner and circumstances described in subsection (b) of section 7.

9. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when it has been signed by each Party.

A Party may unilaterally withdraw from this Agreement without requiring termination of this Agreement, effective upon 90 days’ written notice to the other Parties, provided that the withdrawing Party shall remain responsible for any indebtedness incurred b y the Party under the Funding Agreement , and further provided that the withdrawing Party pays or agrees to pay its share of debts, liabilities and obligations of the Water Forum Office incurred by the Party under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such withdrawal. Terms of the Funding Agreement may include a not -to-exceed amount equaling a two-year funding obligation from each agency.

If the City of Sacramento wishes to withdraw from this Agreement, the City of Sacramento shall provide 180 day s’ written notice to the other Parties; provided that the City of Sacramento shall remain responsible for any indebtedness incurred by the City of Sacramento under any funding agreement, and further provided that the City of Sacramento pays or agrees to pay its share of debts, liabilities and obligations of the Water Forum Office incurred by the City of Sacramento under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such withdrawal. In such case, the City of Sacramento shall cooperate in good faith with othe r Parties if they wish to continue the Water Forum Office under the auspices of another entity.

13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and any attachments hereto constitute the entire Agreement and unders tanding among the Parties regarding the administration and management of the Water Forum Office. If any provision of this Agreement conflicts with any provision of any other agreement related to the Water Forum Office, the conflicting provision of this Agreement shall control.

14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind, and inure to the benefit of, the successors, assigns, heirs, and legal representatives of the Parties hereto.

16. Construction and Interpretation . The Parties agree and acknowledge that t his Agreement has been arrived at through negotiation, and that each Party has had a full and fair opportunity to revise the terms of this Agreement. Consequently, the normal rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not apply in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

17. Counterparts and Digital Signatures. This Agreement may be executed by the Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original. All such c ounterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Signatures scanned and transmitted electronically shall be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement, with such scanned signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. This Agreement may be executed through the use of an electronic signature and will be binding on each party as if it were physically executed.

18. Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.

ATTACHMENT A

ADDITIONAL INSURED

ATTACHMENT B

REPRESENTATIVES AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE PARTIES

2050
Water Forum Agreement 2050

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY
A stronger, modernized
Water Forum Agreement to
face today’s water management
challenges and ensure
continued success and relevance
in the evolving landscape.

Agreement Signed Month, XX 2025January 2026

WATER FORUM

COEQUAL OBJECTIVES
Provide a reliable and safe water supply for
the region’s economic health and planned
development through to the year 2050; and
Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and
aesthetic values of the lower American River.

The WF2050 agreement is a voluntary agreement between signatories that functions through mutual commitments made to support the coequal objectives, implement the guiding principles, and uphold the specific commitments as relevant.

Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
1 The lower American River is an essential part of life in the Sacramento region. It provides drinking water to nearly 2 million people, is home to 43 species of fish, helps
protect Sacramento-area communities from floods, and
offers invaluable recreational and aesthetic value.

The original Water Forum Agreement was a bold experiment. People with vastly different views on the best uses of water agreed to work together toward mutual goals. Water agencies, environmental organizations, business groups, and other interested parties negotiated a 30-year plan for how the American River basin’s water would be managed and protected. The aim was to reduce the persistent conflicts over water resources that had historically plagued the region. In 2000, 40 agencies, organizations, citizen groups, and businesses came together to sign the landmark Water Forum Agreement, a visionary long-term plan created to balance the long-term reliability of the region’s water supplies, the health of the American River, and the economic vitality for the region.

Now, after 25 years of successful cooperation, the region is advancing the next generation of water management: Water Forum 2050 (WF2050).

WATER FORUM AGREEMENT
2050

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
2 The renewed and updated WF2050 maintains the foundational coequal objectives from the original Agreement:

Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through to the year 2050; and Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River.

WF2050 is designed to balance these priority goals while addressing new challenges such as climate change and economic pressures. It remains grounded in collaboration among a diverse group of businesses, citizen groups, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties.

The Challenge of Climate Change
Water Forum members recognize that climate change presents the most significant threat to achieving the coequal objectives. Key risks include:
• Accelerated decline of salmonids, recreation, and water quality due to decreased flows and increased river temperatures in the lower American River.
• Decreased reliability of the region’s urban water supply due to changes in hydrology, and increased strain on statewide water project operations.
• Increased threat of external claims for American River water due to water-shortage pressure elsewhere in the state.
• Increased drying of soils and plants due to higher temperatures. • Increased need for overall regional water resilience due to evolving regulatory requirements.

WF2050 provides a collaborative path forward in the face of these challenges—one that supports and drives investments in projects and programs to build regional resiliency and addresses current and emerging water management challenges, while safeguarding the region’s environmental and economic health for future generations.

COEQUAL

OBJECTIVES
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
3 Program Areas and Strategic Framework
WF2050 is presented in five key Program Areas: (1) American River Flows and Operations, (2) American River Corridor Health, (3) Regional Water Supply Sustainability, (4) Science, Monitoring, and Decision Support, and (5) Governance, Funding, and Administration.

These Program Areas are designed to support the coequal objectives and incorporate many elements from the expiring agreement while adapting to meet the region’s evolving needs over the next 25 years. Each Program Area outlines specific guiding principles, commitments, and activities directed to its corresponding Program Area.

Additionally, WF2050 introduces the American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP), an ambitious cross-cutting program intended to make additional volumes of water—referred to as ARCAP Water—available to support both environmental and supply objectives. ARCAP enhances the five Program Areas by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure, and policies so that water is managed by agencies to be available when and where it’s needed which helps preserve cold water in the American River for fish and protects future supply.

Following are brief summaries of ARCAP and each of the five Program Areas.

PROGRAM
AREA 1

PROGRAM
AREA 2

PROGRAM
AREA 3

PROGRAM
AREA 5

PROGRAM
AREA 4
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
4 WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
The American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP) is a cornerstone of WF2050, designed to create a dedicated, measurable supply of water—referred to as ARCAP Water—that can be deployed strategically to protect both water supply reliability and river health under increasingly variable climate conditions.

This cross-cutting program expands the region’s ability to adapt by coordinating and aligning new and existing efforts such as groundwater recharge, source shifting, conservation, and flexible reservoir operations. Together, these strategies aim to store more water in wet years and make it available when it’s needed most—during droughts, critically dry conditions, or times when fish and wildlife require cooler flows in the lower American River.

Several important issues need to be addressed before ARCAP is operational. To implement ARCAP , the Water Forum commits to the actions and activities below:
• Technical, Operational, Regulatory, and Legal Issues: Several issues must be resolved before the ARCAP can come to fruition.

ARCAP will develop a process for identifying and analyzing issues required for implementation.
• External Engagement Strategy: The ARCAP will require partners beyond the signatories to WF2050 to be successful. ARCAP includes sustained efforts to communicate with potential partners to maximize the probability of success.
• Coordination, Management, and Implementation of ARCAP Water: The implementation and management of ARCAP Water will be coordinated with regional and external partners.
• Program Review and Refinement: It will be necessary to periodically evaluate and refine the ARCAP given its scope and complexity. A work group will be established to oversee and guide American River Climate
Adaptation Program
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
5 the ongoing work for ARCAP . A workplan, including a budget and scope of work, will be reviewed and updated annually.

ARCAP aims to better manage water in the face of climate by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure, and policies—creating a truly regional water system where water is available when and where it’s needed, and cold water is preserved in the American River for fish and future supply.

Developing and implementing the ARCAP will be a long-term endeavor, but it will progress incrementally to build confidence and support with early implementation resulting in collective successes.

Regional
Water Supply
Sustainability
American
River Flows and
Operations
Governance,
Funding &
Administration
American River
Corridor Health
Science,
Monitoring &
Decision
Support
American River Climate Adaptation Program
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
6 The first Program Area focuses on managing American River Flows and Operations (ARFO). Temperature models project that river temperatures under climate change will routinely exceed suitable ranges for resident salmonids for nearly half of the year, creating unhealthy, or even lethal, conditions for fish. In addition, changes in hydrology, with more extremes in dry and wet conditions, are expected to challenge water storage at Folsom Reservoir. Targeted and creative solutions will be needed to maintain the lower American River’s health while providing regional water supply sustainability.

Key strategies include:
• Flow Management Standard (FMS): A foundational element of WF2050, the FMS provides guidelines for operations of Folsom Dam and on the lower American River that help protect river health and preserve water supply reliability, particularly during drought when water supplies are reduced and there are competing demands. FMS contents include minimum reservoir releases based on regional hydrology, storage targets at key times in the year, and temperature management protocols tailored to conditions within any given year. • Flood Operations: Supports enhanced operational flexibility within the American River watershed through improvements in infrastructure and procedures that mitigate impacts of climate change on regional water supply and river temperatures while increasing flood protection for the Sacramento region.
• Temperature and Other Water Management Infrastructure:

Advocates for projects that contribute to more effective water temperature management, and other important water quality attributes, to protect the river’s health.

American River Flows
and Operations
Program Area 1
WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
7 Reclamation is the principal implementing agency for operating Folsom Dam releases, storage, and temperature management; state and federal resource agencies also have critical roles in the oversight and regulation of Folsom operations. Active relationships with these external partners are necessary to advocate for changes in operations and infrastructure that support the coequal objectives.

The flows and river temperatures on the lower American River are directly related to the operations of Folsom Dam, which is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). Active relationships with Reclamation and other federal, state, and regional partners will be necessary for the Water Forum to continue promoting its coequal objectives via American River Flows and Operations.

American
River Flows and
Operations
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
8 In the second Program Area, Water Forum partners commit to sustaining an American River Corridor Health (ARCH) Program to further improve, recover, enhance, and maintain the lower American River’s natural resources. Building on the success of the habitat program established with the original Water Forum Agreement, the ARCH Program expands to take a multi-faceted approach to lead habitat and science efforts for the lower American River, as well as collaborate with partners to support a thriving river corridor and region.

The ARCH Program includes the following strategies:
• Project Implementation and Funding Leverage: Habitat projects support the Water Forum’s coequal objectives, address a vital need on the lower American River, and leverage Water Forum funding, when appropriate, to maximize available local, state, and federal grant funding.
• Advocacy and Partnerships: Sustained engagement with partners is a primary tool for the ARCH Program. This applies to both the Water Forum signatories and partners with shared goals supporting Water Forum efforts on the lower American River, as well as advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels to support the coequal objectives. • Adaptive Management: Active and focused planning and adaptive management allows flexibility to address emerging issues and nimbly respond to changing conditions as additional scientific information and funding become available. As such, the ARCH Program Planning Matrix is a “living” list of ongoing and potential projects and broader program areas that may address emerging issues, allowing the Water Forum and its partners to seize funding and coordination opportunities as they arise.
• Urban River Considerations: The ARCH Program works in a manner that acknowledges changes in the nature and magnitude of human and societal effects on the natural resources of the lower American American River
Corridor Health
WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Program Area 2
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
9 The ARCH Program is designed to implement native salmonid habitat and multi-benefit natural resource projects within the LAR corridor. Program activities focus on the 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.

River. Understanding that the Water Forum does not work in a vacuum, the ARCH Program recognizes the practical realities of working on an urban river corridor that is also designated as a federal and state Wild and Scenic River. The Water Forum Is aware of and will continue to work to understand the challenges members and partners face given the tension that exists between the river’s ecological importance as a habitat for corridor species, and human usage of the American River Parkway as a recreational amenity and for other purposes.

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

American River
Corridor Health
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
10 Regional Water
Supply Sustainability
WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Balancing the coequal objectives to provide a reliable regional water supply and protect the health of the lower American River requires thoughtfully planned, proactive water management that is focused on Regional Water Supply Sustainability (WSS). Since the original Water Forum Agreement was signed, the region has successfully practiced conjunctive use (alternating the use of surface and groundwater supplies based on their availability), and WF2050 aims to support and emphasize these practices to protect the region’s groundwater supplies and the health of the lower American River.

Key elements of WF2050’s Regional Water Supply Sustainability strategy are:
• Surface Water Management: Considerable diversity exists among the regional water purveyors in terms of supply portfolios, locations of diversions, types of entitlements, and amount of growth projected. This presents a variety of opportunities and challenges for supporting the coequal objectives through surface water management. WF2050 establishes principles for surface water management that prioritize alternative supplies to the American River in dry conditions and prioritize surface water in wet conditions. A key feature for implementing these principles is the Purveyor Specific Agreements (PSAs).
• Groundwater Management and Conjunctive Use: Groundwater is an essential part of the region’s water supply, especially in dry years. Water providers and groundwater management agencies have made significant investments in protecting the quality and quantity of groundwater and to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. WF2050 establishes principles to leverage and enhance the collective resources of its signatories to support groundwater sustainability by providing additional opportunities for regional collaboration and information sharing while avoiding Program Area 3
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
11 Uncertainty in surface
water availability due
to climate change, and
the associated changes
in hydrology, must be
carefully weighed when
planning to support
Water Forum’s coequal
objectives under
future conditions.
duplicative efforts. A cornerstone of this
effort is conjunctive use—the coordinated
management of surface and groundwater
supplies to improve overall reliability
and flexibility. This includes in-lieu
recharge during wet years and increased
groundwater pumping during dry
years to leave more surface water in
the river when it is most needed for fish.

WF2050 supports principles to enhance
conjunctive use practices across the region.
• Demand Management: Demand
management (actions to manage the
consumptive use of water) can contribute to
improved water supply reliability while making more
water available to support the health of the river. WF2050 establishes principles for demand management and outlines activities to improve regional awareness and understanding of water use trends and implications for the coequal objectives.
• Dry Times Actions: During dry conditions, balancing the need to provide a reliable regional water supply and protect the health of the lower American River can be particularly challenging. Careful planning for and diligent coordination and strategy during dry times will be required to ensure that both coequal objectives are supported. WF2050 includes “Dry-Time Actions,” such as prioritizing alternative supplies and consistent messaging, that address signatory commitments specific to dry times. Dry Time Actions also include a process for Water Forum members to conference during times of shortage to confer and work together to identify solutions during such challenging periods. • Land Use Decisions: Water Forum signatories recognize the benefit of coordination between water resources planning and land use decision- making and acknowledge the extensive requirements linking the two through state law. The Water Forum will synthesize and communicate data and information related to water supply and demand to provide a regional overview of trends and projections.

Regional
Water Supply
Sustainability
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
12 WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Program Area 4
This Program Area provides the technical foundation for the Water Forum’s adaptive management approach and long-term success in meeting its coequal objectives. The Water Forum commits to developing and sustaining 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 provide timely and defensible decision support for the effective management of resources along the lower American River corridor in support of the coequal objectives.

Key elements include:
• Support of Effective River Corridor and Watershed Adaptive Management: Continue to co-produce and contribute information regarding corridor health and watershed conditions to inform flow and operational discussions, project planning, and support decision-making on the lower American River and region.
• Maintain Appropriate Scientific Standards: Standardized, peer- reviewed information and protocols incorporating best available science and methods 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 be used for adaptive management, reporting, and decision support. • Communication and Data Access: Provide easily accessible and interactive information associated with the work of the Water Forum for the members, public, and agency partners.
• Metrics and Reporting: Identifies metrics to be utilized to track and provide transparency in reporting progress toward both coequal objectives and the agreement’s guiding principles. Outlines regular tracking and reporting to share information about the value of the Water Forum’s presence, the organization’s role in the region., and the status of the coequal objectives. Reporting of consistent metrics overtime will Science, Monitoring, and
Decision Support
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
13 Sharing well-organized information through open data initiatives and clearinghouses, the Water Forum website, conferences, and special events will support the Water Forum’s reputation for producing reliable, credible, and rigorous technical information to share publicly.

Science,
Monitoring &
Decision
Supportinform adaptive management and decision-making, and will enhance the general understanding of water supply sustainability and river health which fosters trust with interested parties.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: The Water Forum will continue to build and maintain data-sharing channels and supportive relationships with partners to support and advance understanding of the Water Forum’s work and status of the coequal objectives and support regional and statewide planning and science efforts, as appropriate.

Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
14 WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Program Area 5
The final Program Area addresses Governance, Funding, and Administration (GFA), the structure and mechanisms necessary to implement and sustain WF2050 over its 25-year term.

Core aspects include:
• Governance: The Water Forum’s governance structure is intended to support programs through the 25-year life of WF2050. The Governance description provides guiding principles to maintain the long-term integrity and efficacy of the Water Forum as an interest-based organization and documents its governance structure, decision-making process, external representation, implementation partners, and the importance of community outreach and engagement.
• Funding: Addressing the Water Forum’s coequal objectives requires a significant investment of time and financial resources by its partners.

The Funding description provides guiding principles for budgeting and funding activities and documents the budget process, sources and cost-allocation methodologies, and five-year progress reviews. • Administration: The Water Forum is administered under the auspices of the City of Sacramento. The Administration description addresses the administrative structure, reporting and monitoring, changed conditions and amendments to WF2050, legal considerations, and land use decisions.

Governance, Funding,
and Administration
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
15 Water Forum Governance Structure
Governance,
Funding &
Administration
Water Forum Plenary
Coordinating
Committee
Water Forum Staff
Other Committees
and Workgroups
Business
Caucus
Public
Caucus
Water
Caucus
Plenary: Main decision-making and information-
sharing body for the Water Forum and sets policy
direction for staff.

Caucuses: Coalesces diverse interests
in the region with a common interest
and drive to work collaboratively to
further the coequal objectives.

Coordinating Committee: Provides fiscal oversight
and guidance for the Water Forum, including working
closely with staff on the annual budget process and
recommending a proposed budget to the Water Forum
Plenary for approval.

Other Committees: Facilitate the accomplishment of
the WF2050’s program elements and annual priorities.

Standing committees have a specific focus and work
plan aligned with a major Program Area.

Environmental
Caucus
Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
16 WATER FORUM AGREEMENT 2050
Companion Documents
WF2050 concludes with a description of overarching Caveats and Assurances, Purveyor Specific Agreements, and the following Appendices:
• Appendix 1: Advancing the Seven Elements of the First Water Forum Agreement
• Appendix 2: American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP) Two-Year Workplan
• Appendix 3: Engagement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation • Appendix 4: List of Temperature Management Projects
and Programs
• Appendix 5: American River Corridor Health (ARCH) Program Planning Matrix
• Appendix 6: Declaration of Full Appropriation Context • Appendix 7: Sacramento Groundwater Authority Bridge Document • Appendix 8: Water Supply Sustainability (WSS) Demand
Management Actions
• Appendix 9: Metrics and Reporting Table
• Appendix 10: Water Forum and Department of Utilities Memorandum of Understanding
• Appendix 11: Five- and One-Year Budget for Water Forum • Appendix 12: Cost Allocation Method Description
• Appendix 13: Interagency Agreement for Water Forum Administration Executive Summary—Water Forum Agreement 2050
17 Acknowledgments
Thank you to the organizations and their representatives who devoted countless hours to participating in Water
Forum 2050 negotiations. The Water Forum would not be
possible without the dedication of its members.

Business Caucus
AKT Development*
Associated General Contractors*
North State Building Industry Association*
Sacramento Association of Realtors*
Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce*
Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
Green Acres Nursery & Supply
Environmental Caucus
Environmental Council of Sacramento*
Friends of the River*
Save the American River Association*
Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter*
Public Caucus
American River Flood Control District
American River Parkway Foundation
City of Rancho Cordova
City of Sacramento*
League of Women Voters, Sacramento County *
Placer County
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
Sacramento County*
Sacramento Regional Parks
Sacramento Valley Conservancy
Sacramento Municipal Utility District*
Water Caucus
California American Water*
Carmichael Water District*
Citrus Heights Water District*
City of Folsom*
City of Roseville*
City of Sacramento*
East Bay Municipal Utility District
El Dorado Irrigation District*
El Dorado Water Agency*
Fair Oaks Water District*
Golden State Water Company*
Orange Vale Water Company*
Placer County Water Agency*
Regional Water Authority*
Sacramento Suburban Water District*
Sacramento County Water Agency*
San Juan Water District*
* Denotes an organization that was a Signatory to the 2000 agreement. 1330 21st Street Suite 103
Sacramento, CA 95811
waterforum.org

THE WATER FORUM
A New Agreement for Addressing Threats
from Climate Change
The lower American River is a crown jewel of the Sacramento region.

It provides drinking water to nearly 2 million people, supports 43 fish species, protects communities from flooding, and offers recreation for thousands of residents. But climate change is putting all of this at risk:
• Hotter temperatures and more frequent droughts reduce river flows and water quality
• Changes in snowpack and runoff threaten surface water supplies • Increased demand strains local sources
• External claims on American River water are likely to grow • Regulations are evolving, requiring new tools and strategies To meet these challenges, Water Forum members are finalizing a new, forward-looking agreement— Water Forum 2050—to guide regional action for the next 25 years.

A Regional Commitment to Water
Reliability and a Healthy River
For more than 25 years, the Water Forum has brought together business leaders, environmental advocates, water providers, community groups, and local governments to protect the Sacramento region’s water supply and the lower American River. This unique partnership helps resolve conflicts, invest in sustainable water solutions, and protect one of the region’s most valuable natural assets— the lower American River.

As a result of the original Water Forum Agreement, signed in 2000, the region has advanced major infrastructure projects with broad regional support. The Water Forum has also improved the health of the lower American River through its habitat program, enhanced scientific understanding gained through monitoring activities, and developed and implemented a Flow Management Standard. This alignment of regional priorities has fostered a culture of trust and transparency among diverse interests, enabling the region to respond more quickly to crises—such as extended drought—without high levels of conflict.

The Water Forum
• A collaborative venue for diverse interests to address complex water issues. • A regional voice in state and federal water policy. • Crucial for navigating climate change impacts on the region’s water supplies and lower American River environment.
• Unmatched contributions to enhancing and investing in the lower American River environment.
• An essential foundation for sustainable water management.

Water Forum 2050
Water Forum Coequal Objectives: Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through to the year 2050; and Preserve the lower American River’s fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values.

American River
Flows &
Operations
Governance,
Funding &
Administration
Science,
Monitoring
& Decision
Support
American River
Corridor Health
Regional
Water Supply
Sustainability
Am
erican River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP)
ARCAP enhances the five Program Areas by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure, and policies so that water is available when and where it’s needed, and cold water is preserved in the American River for fish and future supply.

Science, Monitoring, & Decision Support
Provides the scientific foundation for Water Forum programs and supports adaptive management of the lower American
River and regional water resources.
• Tracks progress toward the coequal objectives through measurable indicators
• Collects and analyzes data to guide habitat enhancement, flow, and water management decisions
• Shares findings through public reports, symposia,
and partnerships
Governance, Funding, & Administration
Provides a path for the Water Forum to remain an effective, well-resourced, and transparent organization.
• Defines roles, responsibilities, and representation of members
• Establishes cost-sharing, budgeting, and
progress tracking
• Maintains a structure that supports public engagement and accountability
Regional Water Supply Sustainability
Supports regional water providers in managing surface and groundwater supplies to improve long-term water security and reduce pressure on the river.
• Provides tools and principles for surface water,
groundwater, and demand management
• Coordinates “Dry Time Actions” to safeguard supply and river health during drought
• Promotes demand management and water efficiency
Water Forum 2050 is organized into five key program
areas. Each supports the coequal objectives and provides a framework for action, collaboration, adaptation, and
accountability over the next 25 years.

American River Flows and Operations
Focuses on protecting flows and water temperatures in the lower American River to support fish and ecosystem health while maintaining regional water supply reliability.
• Implements a Flow Management Standard for dam
operations and river health
• Advocates for flexible flood operations that also support water storage and temperature management
• Promotes partnerships with federal agencies to support the coequal objectives in managing Folsom Reservoir
American River Corridor Health
Builds on past success to enhance habitat, restore natural resources, and balance human and environmental needs in the lower American River corridor.
• Coordinates habitat enhancement, monitoring, and
adaptive management
• Leverages local, state, and federal funding
• Navigates the unique challenges of managing an urban Wild and Scenic River
A Roadmap for Resilience:

Five Program Areas
Water Forum 2050
American
River
Climate
Adaptation
Program
(ARCAP)
ARCAP offers a better way for the region to manage water as climate conditions become more extreme. It enhances the five Program Areas by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure, and policies—creating a truly regional water system where water is managed by agencies to be available when and where it’s needed, and cold water is preserved in the American River for fish and future supply is protected.

The program centers on identifying, evaluating, and directing additional volumes of regionally developed water—called ARCAP water—through conservation, groundwater recharge, upstream reservoir operations, and shifts in supply sources.

The goal of ARCAP will be for the water to be stored and managed for use during critically dry periods, providing benefits when they’re needed most: reducing river temperatures, supporting fish and wildlife, and helping avoid shortages for communities across the region.

For more information contact
Ashlee Casey, Water Forum Executive Director,
at [email protected] or (916) 715-4629.
1330 21st Street Suite 103 | Sacramento | CA 95811
WATERFORUM.ORG
Invested in
Our Future
The following are involved in
negotiating Water Forum 2050
Business Caucus
AKT Development*
Associated General
Contractors*
North State Building Industry
Association*
Sacramento Association of
Realtors*
Sacramento Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce*
Sacramento Regional Builders
Exchange (SRBX)
Green Acres Nursery & Supply
Environmental Caucus
Environmental Council of
Sacramento*
Friends of the River*
Save the American River
Association*
Sierra Club Mother Lode
Chapter*
Public Caucus
American River Flood Control
District
American River Parkway
Foundation
City of Rancho Cordova
City of Sacramento*
League of Women Voters,
Sacramento County *
Placer County
Sacramento Area Council of
Governments
Sacramento Area Flood
Control Agency (SAFCA)
Sacramento County*
Sacramento Regional Parks
Sacramento Valley
Conservancy
Sacramento Municipal
Utility District*
Water Caucus
California American Water*
Carmichael Water District*
Citrus Heights Water District*
City of Folsom*
City of Roseville*
City of Sacramento*
East Bay Municipal Utility
District
El Dorado Irrigation District*
El Dorado Water Agency*
Fair Oaks Water District*
Golden State Water Company*
Orange Vale Water Company*
Placer County Water Agency*
Regional Water Authority*
Sacramento Suburban Water
District*
Sacramento County Water
Agency*
San Juan Water District*
*Denotes an organization that was a signatory to the 2000 agreement.

Support
the Water
Forum
2050
Agreement
Help carry forward more than 25 years of
collaboration, problem-solving, and progress.

By approving the Water Forum 2050
Agreement, your organization can play a
vital role in protecting the Sacramento
region’s water future—setting the course
for reliable water supplies, a healthy lower
American River, and a resilient response to
climate change for decades to come.

Invested in
Our Future
The following are involved in
negotiating Water Forum 2050
Business Caucus
AKT Development*
Associated General Contractors*
North State Building Industry
Association*
Sacramento Association
of Realtors*
Sacramento Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce*
Sacramento Regional Builders
Exchange (SRBX)
Green Acres Nursery & Supply
Environmental Caucus
Environmental Council
of Sacramento*
Friends of the River*
Save the American River
Association*
Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter*
Public Caucus
American River Flood
Control District
American River Parkway Foundation
City of Rancho Cordova
City of Sacramento*
League of Women Voters,
Sacramento County *
Placer County
Sacramento Area Council
of Governments
Sacramento Area
Flood Control Agency (SAFCA)
Sacramento County*
Sacramento Regional Parks
Sacramento Valley Conservancy
Sacramento Municipal
Utility District*
Water Caucus
California American Water*
Carmichael Water District*
Citrus Heights Water District*
City of Folsom*
City of Roseville*
City of Sacramento*
East Bay Municipal Utility District
El Dorado Irrigation District*
El Dorado Water Agency*
Fair Oaks Water District*
Golden State Water Company*
Orange Vale Water Company*
Placer County Water Agency*
Regional Water Authority*
Sacramento Suburban
Water District*
Sacramento County Water Agency*
San Juan Water District*
* Denotes an organization that was a
signatory to the 2000 agreement.

American River Climate
Adaptation Program (ARCAP)

THE WATER FORUM
Securing a Resilient Future for our
Water Supply and Environment
The Greatest Threat to Our Water Supply
is Climate Change
In the Sacramento region, climate change is already having a profound impact on our water supply and the lower American River’s environment The Water Forum’s analysis highlights key challenges: more frequent and severe droughts and floods, reduced snowpack and reservoir storage, decreased river flows, and rising river temperatures. These changes threaten the fish populations, particularly salmon and steelhead, by creating unhealthy habitat conditions. Additionally, “dead pool” conditions at Folsom Reservoir—when water levels drop too low to meet supply needs—are projected to occur more frequently.

ARCAP: A Proactive, Multi-Benefit Solution
to Climate Change
In the face of these challenges, the American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP) offers a better way for the region to manage water as climate conditions become more extreme. It enhances the five Program Areas by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure,
and policies—creating a truly regional water
system where water is managed by agencies to
be available when and where it’s needed, and cold
water is preserved in the American River for fish
and future supply is protected.

The program centers on identifying, enhancing, and
directing additional volumes of regionally developed
water—called ARCAP water—through conservation,
groundwater recharge, upstream reservoir operations, and shifts in supply sources. The goal of ARCAP will be
for the water to be stored and managed
for use during critically dry periods,
providing benefits when they’re needed
most: reducing river temperatures,
supporting fish and wildlife, and helping
avoid shortages for communities across
the region.

To help illustrate ARCP’s potential
scale, consider that increasing Folsom
Reservoir’s storage by 70,000 acre-
feet (equivalent to about 20% of the
region’s water supply) in low storage
conditions has the potential to lower river
temperatures by one degree Fahrenheit,
which is beneficial for fish and wildlife.

This storage increase would also reduce
the risk of “dead pool” conditions at
Folsom Reservoir.

How ARCAP Will Work
ARCAP will explore multiple water sources to identify and create ARCAP water:
• Groundwater Recharge: Storing water in groundwater aquifers for use during dry periods, potentially through the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. • Shifting Sources: Shifting water supplies from the American River to the Sacramento River through operations like the River Arc Project. • Expanding Water Sources: Exploring options like expanding water treatment plants.
• Water Conservation: Reducing demand to increase the available water supply.

Turning ARCAP into Reality
ARCAP is an ambitious program that requires addressing critical issues, including technical analysis, modeling, and coordination with federal and state stakeholders such as the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources. While important work remains, much of the foundational infrastructure needed to make ARCAP a reality is already in place.

Continued investment will support the buildout of groundwater wells, transmission pipelines, and infrastructure to manage and distribute water across the region based on priorities and availability.

The Water Forum: A Legacy of Collaboration
ARCAP is a key component of the Water Forum 2050 Agreement, currently under negotiation and nearing completion. This renewed agreement, which will guide the region for the next 25 years, builds on the foundation established by the original Water Forum Agreement signed in 2000. For over 25 years, the Water Forum has brought together business leaders, citizen groups, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments to resolve conflicts and implement a shared vision for protecting the region’s water supply and economic health, while enhancing the Lower American River.

Reliable water supplies for communities facing shortages during droughts and dry periods.

Cooler water in Folsom Reservoir and enhanced flows and temperatures in the lower American River to support fish and wildlife.

Increased operational flexibility at Folsom Reservoir to benefit the statewide water system.

Better management of floodwater through enhanced capture and storage.

Expanded groundwater storage to support regional water resilience.

A focus on collaborative problem-solving for the members of the Water Forum and the communities they serve.

Key
Benefits
for the
Region
For more information contact
Ashlee Casey, Water Forum Executive Director,
at [email protected] or (916) 715-4629.
1330 21st Street Suite 103 | Sacramento | CA 95811
WATERFORUM.ORG
Water Forum 2050March 17, 2026Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River 2 Coequal Objectives:Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through to the year 2050; andPreserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River Water Forum 2050: Vision and Goals
Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River SecuringOur Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River A Legacy of Regional CollaborationAbout the Water Forum40 agencies and organizations united around shared goals: Protecting our water supplies and the lower American River25+ years of building trust, resolving conflicts, and investing in long-term sustainability 3 Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River The Impact of Water Forum 2000About the Water ForumAdvanced critical infrastructure projectsLed significant habitat enhancements and a science-based flow standard for the LARProvided foundation for regional groundwater management and enhanced conjunctive useFostered rapid, unified responses to droughtGained reputation as leading scientific voice on the LARCreated a strong regional culture of trust, collaboration, and transparency4

Why a New Agreement is NeededAbout Water Forum 2050
5Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River Photo credit: CA DWRClimate change, droughts, and extreme weatherGrowing pressures from new regulations and affordability challengesGroundwater sustainability (SGMA)Permanent statewide conservation mandatesRising operational and compliance costs for water providers

6Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River Water Forum 2050Program AreasAddresses critical water management issuesContinuesand modernizesthe work of the Water ForumA framework for:•Collaboration•Action•Adaptive Management•Regional Planning American River Climate Adaptation ProgramAbout Water Forum 2050Improved way to manage water as climate conditions become more extremeEnhances Program Areas by voluntarily linking agencies, infrastructure, and policiesCreating a truly regional water systemAims to make water available when and where it’s neededCold water is preserved in the American River for fish and future supply.7Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River

Water Forum 2050 Participants
8 Invested in Our Future
Securing Our Water Supplies and Protecting the Lower American River Business CaucusAKT Development*Association General Contractors*North State Building Industry Association*Sacramento Association of Realtors*Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce*Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX)Green Acres Nursery & SupplyEnvironmental CaucusEnvironmental Council of Sacramento*Friends of the River*Save the American River Association*Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter*Public CaucusAmerican River Flood Control DistrictAmerican River Parkway FoundationCity of Rancho CordovaCity of Sacramento*League of Women Voters, Sacramento County *Placer CountySacramento Area Council of GovernmentsSacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA)Sacramento County*Sacramento Regional ParksSacramento Valley ConservancySMUD*Water CaucusCalifornia American Water*Carmichael Water District*Citrus Heights Water District*City of Folsom*City of Roseville*City of Sacramento*East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictEl Dorado Irrigation District*El Dorado Water Agency*Elk Grove Water District*Fair Oaks Water District*Golden State Water Company / Arden-Cordova Water District*Orange Vale Water Company*Placer County Water Agency*Regional Water Authority*Sacramento Suburban Water District*Sacramento County Water Agency*San Juan Water District**Denotes an organization that was a signatory to the 2000 agreement

Support Video

21THANKYOU!
Ashlee Casey, Executive Director, [email protected]

Sacramento City CouncilMarch 17, 2026

Sacramento City Council
March 17, 2026