Water security and management is essential to installation water resilience, or the ability to mitigate and adapt to loss of mission-essential functions as a result of disruptions to built and natural water sources, infrastructure, and systems. Improving water security and management is particularly crucial for installations located in California, which is at risk of extreme drought conditions.  

The objective of this study is to understand how the existing water transfer program in California could be utilized on Department of Defense (DoD) installations for the purpose of continuing safe and reliable access to water. 

Water transfers have been part of California water policy since 1978. It involves changing the place of water use to a new location either within or outside the watershed of origin. This has been an effective water management tool and has been utilized in California especially in periods of drought.  

This study will span two years with the first year to include data collection, analysis, and information gathering. There will be an emphasis on the policy surrounding water transfers in California. The study team will define key terms such as physical water conveyance versus paper-water market transfers. 

Once it is determined that a water transfer could be beneficial to DoD installations the team will perform an economic analysis of water as a commodity for a given installation's context and needs, attempting to elucidate its true value to the installation. This will help determine if it is economically beneficial to the DoD to pursue water transfers. Further, an infrastructure analysis will be performed to determine which installations are connected to the Central Valley Project (CVP). Next steps and recommendations can be established for DoD installations within the CVP.

The study’s expected benefit is the validation and technology transition of a powerful new method for improving military installation water security and resilience.

Military installations in arid of water-scarce regions, such as California, may face challenges in securing reliable safe water sources. Water transfers can be a strategic tool to improve or mitigate this risk. By arranging water transfers, military bases can ensure they have access to the necessary water supplies to maintain operations, even during droughts or emergencies. This capability adds a layer of resilience by providing a flexible water supply option that can be adjusted based on current and future needs. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2027)