Institute of Urban and Regional Development

The Sacramento Area Water Forum was a consensus-based collaboration among multiple parties having interests in the water resources and ecological health of the lower American River in northern California. Beginning in the fall of 1993, individuals representing nearly 15 stakeholder organizations worked to develop an agreement on water management in the lower American River region. In the course of the process, additional stakeholders were brought in, and several other entities that were not official members of the Forum participated in the development of some elements of the agreement. In six years and at a cost of nearly $10 million, more than 41 entities developed and committed to carrying out a plan for regional water management for the next 30 years. The large number of stakeholder organizations and participants represented the many and diverse interests touched by issues of water management and river protection. The effort was sponsored primarily by the two largest water purveyors in the region—the City and the County of Sacramento—and included the many smaller urban and agricultural water purveyors also serving the region, along with organizations representing businesses (including developers); taxpayers’, citizens’ and neighborhood groups; and environmentalists.

Over the course of six years, these parties worked together within their own stakeholder organizations, and in the wider community, to develop the Water Forum Agreement, which they entered into by signing a memorandum of understanding in the spring of 2000. The Water Forum described its agreement as a comprehensive package of linked actions that will achieve two co-equal objectives:

(1) Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development to the year 2030; and

(2) Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River.

The “comprehensive package of linked actions” sets forth provisions to increase surface water diversions; reduce diversions during the dry years; assure a water flow regime that more closely matches the needs of fish; monitor and restore fish habitat; improve recreation opportunities; conserve water; and manage ground water and surface water in an integrated manner. The agreement also creates a successor effort responsible for overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the agreement. The successor effort will provide a forum in which any disputes or new needs can be addressed as they arise.

In addition to the formal outcomes articulated in the written agreement, the Water Forum has produced a number of other results, including the development of productive working relationships among former foes and the development of a stronger culture of collaboration within the Sacramento region.