The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously adopted a utility wildfire order effective October 20, 2027, and certified its programmatic environmental impact report. Staff will return with a proposed erosivity pathway and pesticide-reporting recommendations. Water Year 2026 tied for the warmest on record, with a potentially very strong El Niño ahead. Parts of the Scott River went dry; statewide performance target achievement improved in fiscal year 2025–26.
The State Water Resources Control Board adopted Proposition 4 stormwater grant guidelines, reviewed salinity risks in 25 Central Valley areas and 2025 recycled-water results, and workshopped a draft drinking-water fund plan. Staff projected a SAFER-wide funding gap exceeding $1 billion over three years. The draft proposes reserving $61.6 million for future project demand; no fund-plan vote was taken.
The board approved a biological water quality objective for the San Diego region using the California Stream Condition Index. It also approved the Drinking Water SRF Intended Use Plan and discussed a projected $1.1 billion funding gap. A public hearing on the statewide plans/policies review drew comment; no action was taken; written comments due Sept. 21, 2026.
Federal and state drinking water grant funding is projected to fall sharply by FY 2027-28 (84% federal, 79% state), threatening hundreds of failing water systems still awaiting infrastructure solutions. The Board adopted the FY 2026-27 Clean Water SRF Intended Use Plan, lowering small community wastewater construction grant caps from $50M to $30M per project. UCLA's wastewater needs assessment continues, with a final report due June 2027.
Staff reported Sites next steps in the WSIP update: federal permitting/ROD, draft water rights and draft public benefit contracts possibly in April, and final award likely late 2026. DWR presented the SB 72 framework for the 2028 Water Plan (9M AF target by 2040; advisory committee aimed for March). Kern Fan requested a conjunctive-use reclassification and ~$5.5M early funding; staff recommended approval.
