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Climate Change

Public Affairs Office
Department of Water Resources

1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236

Climate change is already impacting California’s water resources. In the future, warmer temperatures, different patterns of precipitation and runoff, and rising sea levels will profoundly affect the ability to manage water supplies and other natural resources. Adapting California’s water management systems to climate change presents one of the most significant challenges for the 21st century.
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graphic of ways climate change affects california's water
An increase in extreme weather will lead to higher winter river flows, runoff and flooding. Higher temperatures and changing precipitation will intensify drought impacts. Mixed impacts to crop productivity and irrigation demand. Changes in flow decrease power generation. A 25% reduction of snowpack will change water supply. Changes in river flow impact water supply, water quality, fisheries and recreation. Warmer river temperatures stress cold-water species such as salmon. Sea level rise will threaten Delta levees. Salt water intrusion from rising sea levels will affect the Delta and coastal aquifers. Demand for agriculture, urban and environmental water will increase. Lower water tables due to greater demand cause some shallow wells to go dry.