Title
[Contract] Water Forum 2050 Agreement
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00588
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Pass a Motion: 1) authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Water Forum 2050 Agreement, including the City of Sacramento’s Purveyor Specific Agreement; and 2) execute the Third Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum to support water reliability for the City of Sacramento.
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Contact
Contact: Brett Ewart, Supervising Engineer, (916) 808-1725, bewart@cityofsacramento.org; Anne Sanger, Government Affairs Manager, (916) 808-5378, asanger@cityofsacramento.org; Dalia Fadl, Director, (916) 808-3765, dfadl@cityofsacramento.org; Department of Utilities
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Presenter
Presenter: Brett Ewart, Supervising Engineer, (916) 808-1725, bewart@cityofsacramento.org, Department of Utilities
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Water Forum 2050 Agreement
3-Third Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum
4-WF2050 Executive Summary
5-WF2050 Fact Sheet
6-ARCAP Fact Sheet
7-PowerPoint Presentation & Support Video
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: Staff recommends that Council approve the Water Forum 2050 Agreement and the Third Interagency Agreement.
The original Water Forum Agreement was signed in 2000 and expires in 2030. Conditions affecting water management have changed significantly during this time with climate change being the most substantial new challenge. These changes affect not only snowpack as well as runoff that results in less surface water reliability, but also hotter temperatures and increased stress on fish and water quality, more frequent and severe droughts and floods, and increased competition and regulatory pressure. Water Forum 2050 modernizes the original agreement while retaining its proven collaborative framework.
Water Forum 2050 reaffirms the two coequal objectives that have guided the Water Forum for over 25 years:
1. Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development.
2. Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River.
The agreement is voluntary and implemented through mutual commitments rather than regulation. Over 40 signatories are expected to execute the Agreement in addition to the City of Sacramento.
Separately, the Third Interagency Agreement for the Administration and Management of the Water Forum, will be signed by the Water Caucus members and is binding. The IAA defines the objectives and duties of the Water Forum Office to implement and monitor the Water Forum agreement and support Water Forum members. The IAA outlines responsibilities and procedures for the Water Forum Office operations including procurement, budget, accounting, and cost sharing.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: Section 3.04.010 of the Sacramento City Code requires that agreements above the authorization amount of $250,000 be approved by City Council.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The proposed activity is not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378(b) (2 and 5) and is not subject to CEQA [CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3)]. Approving the 2050 Water Forum Agreement and participation in the Water Forum is an organizational and administrative activity that will not have a significant effect on the environment.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: The proposed project is consistent with the 2040 General Plan Policies, notably PFS-3.5 “Collaboration on regional water supply solutions.”
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: In 2000, the City of Sacramento signed the original Water Forum Agreement which is set to expire in 2030. The Water Forum 2050 Agreement will continue the City of Sacramento’s participation in good stewardship of its water resources and protection of the lower American River.
The Agreement explicitly recognizes the role of Sacramento City Council in future determinations and broadly integrates existing City of Sacramento relevant programs and policies into continued stewardship efforts.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: There are no General Funds allocated or planned for this project.
Through a separate agreement, the funders of the Water Forum agreed on an approach to pay for the Water Forum’s functions and staff. This agreement involves proportional cost allocations based on water agency connection counts, five-year average groundwater production, and a five-year average of American River diversions. The annual Water Forum Budget is approved by City Council every year under a regularly agendized matter. City of Sacramento contributions towards the Water Forum budget are included within the annual Department of Utilities budget.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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Background
Background: What is the Water Forum?
The Water Forum is a long-standing regional partnership that brings together water providers, environmental organizations, business interests, local governments, and community groups to resolve complex water management issues collaboratively. The Water Forum stakeholders are organized within four caucuses: environmental, water, business, and public (a list of members is provided at the end of this report).
Since the original Water Forum Agreement was signed in 2000, this approach has:
• Reduced conflict over water management decisions
• Supported major infrastructure and water reliability investments
• Improved habitat and ecological conditions on the lower American River
• Improved scientific understanding of the American River system
• Created a trusted regional voice in state and federal water policy discussions
• Fostered a culture of trust and transparency among historically competing interests
Why an Updated Agreement Is Needed
The original agreement is nearing the end of its term, and conditions affecting water management have changed substantially since 2000. Climate change is the most significant new challenge, driving changes in snowpack and runoff that affect surface water reliability, hotter temperatures and increased stress on fish and water quality, more frequent and severe droughts and floods, and increased competition and regulatory pressure on American River water supplies.
Water Forum 2050 Agreement (WF2050) modernizes the original agreement while retaining its proven collaborative framework.
Coequal Objectives
WF2050 reaffirms the two coequal objectives that have guided the Water Forum for over 25 years:
3. Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development.
4. Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River.
The agreement is voluntary and implemented through mutual commitments rather than regulation.
Water Forum 2050 Negotiation Process
WF2050 was developed through a multi-year, consensus-based negotiation process involving representatives from the four caucuses.
Participants devoted substantial time to technical analysis, facilitated discussions, and iterative drafting to ensure that the updated agreement reflects shared values, incorporates best available science, and remains implementable for diverse signatories. The process emphasized transparency, mutual respect, and voluntary commitments rather than regulatory mandates.
How WF2050 Works
Agreement Framework
WF2050 is organized into five key integrated program areas that work together to advance the coequal objectives and includes a cross-cutting initiative with the American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP).
Key Program Areas
1. American River Flows and Operations - Protects river flows and temperatures while maintaining water supply reliability, including implementation of a Flow Management Standard and advocacy for flexible reservoir operations.
2. American River Corridor Health - Builds on successful habitat efforts to restore and manage the lower American River corridor through adaptive management, partnerships, and leveraged funding.
3. Regional Water Supply Sustainability - Supports long-term reliability through conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, demand management, and coordinated actions during droughts.
4. Science, Monitoring, and Decision Support - Provides the technical foundation for adaptive management, transparency, and performance tracking.
5. Governance, Funding, and Administration - Establishes decision-making, cost-sharing, and administrative structures to support implementation over the 25-year term.
American River Climate Adaptation Program (ARCAP)
ARCAP is a cross-cutting initiative and a cornerstone of WF2050. It focuses on identifying and managing regionally developed water-stored in wet years and used strategically during critically dry periods to:
• Improve regional water storage
• Reduce river temperatures to protect fish and water supply
• Improve drought resilience
• Safeguard future regional water supplies
What Approval Means for the City of Sacramento
Approval of WF2050 is beneficial for the City of Sacramento in several ways:
• Improves water reliability for the City of Sacramento and the region
• Contributes to the ongoing protection of the lower American River
• Strengthens regional resilience to climate-driven water challenges
• Continues participation in a trusted regional collaboration
• Promotes improved science and data for the lower American River conditions and trends
• Improves coordination with neighboring agencies, regional interested parties, and regulators
• Does not supersede existing water rights or regulatory authority
Operating costs for the Water Forum are covered through the negotiated cost allocation model that distributes costs proportionally to water purveyors based on agency connection counts, five-year average groundwater production, and a five-year average of American River diversions.
Conclusion
WF2050 positions the Sacramento region to proactively address climate change impacts on water supply and river health while continuing a 25-year legacy of collaboration, shared problem-solving, and regional stewardship. Approval allows the City of Sacramento to remain at the table shaping solutions that protect both water reliability and the lower American River.
Water Forum Members
*Denotes Original Signatory
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 Planning Department*
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 Utilities District *
Water Caucus
California American Water*
Carmichael Water District*
Citrus Heights Water District*
City of Folsom*
City of Roseville*
City of Sacramento*
Del Paso Manor Water District*
East Bay Municipal Utility District
El Dorado Irrigation District*
El Dorado Water Agency*
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*
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