The Disadvantaged Community Involvement (DACI) Program is an element of the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR’s) Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program. The IRWM Program is a collaborative effort to identify and implement water management solutions on a regional scale. This approach is intended to increase regional self-reliance, reduce conflict, and concurrently achieve social, environmental, and economic objectives.
The intent of the DACI Program is to ensure the involvement of DACs, economically distressed areas (EDAs), or underrepresented communities (collectively referred to as DACs) in IRWM planning efforts. DWR established the DACI Program in order to advance the following objectives:
- Work collaboratively to involve DACs, community-based organizations, and stakeholders in IRWM planning efforts to ensure balanced access and opportunity for participation in the IRWM planning process
- Increase the understanding and, where necessary, identify the water management needs of DACs on a Funding Area basis
- Develop strategies and long-term solutions that appropriately address the identified DAC water management needs
The San Joaquin River Funding Area (SJRFA) received funding through the DACI Program. Per the Program requirements, the SJRFA conducted a DAC Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment is ultimately intended to provide a better understanding of water management needs to help direct resources and funding.
San Joaquin Funding Area Overview
Seven IRWM Regions within the SJRFA are participating in the DACI Program. Participating regions are the Eastern San Joaquin, East Stanislaus, Merced, East Contra Costa, American River Basin, Madera, and Westside-San Joaquin IRWM Regions. The Cosumnes, American, Bear, Yuba (CABY) Region, Tuolumne-Stanislaus Region, and Mokelumne-Amador-Calaveras (MAC) Region are partially within the SJRFA as well but chose not to participate in the grant proposal or Needs Assessment.
The SJRFA includes much of the San Joaquin River drainage area. Water supplies in the SJRFA include both surface water and groundwater. Much of the surface water used in the SJRFA comes from the Central Valley Project (CVP). The tributaries of the San Joaquin River, such as the Merced, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus Rivers, also provide surface water supply to the SJRFA. Groundwater is a highly important water source in the SJRFA. Alluvial aquifers underlie the valley floor to the east and west of the San Joaquin River; these aquifers are tapped by drinking water and agricultural supply wells managed by various agencies, as well as private domestic wells. DWR estimates that roughly 40% of water supply in the San Joaquin River Hydrologic Region is met by groundwater, with most being used for agriculture (DWR, 2014). Land use on the San Joaquin Valley floor is generally agricultural in nature, although urban areas also exist and are expanding. Portions of the SJRFA are susceptible to flooding, which is generally driven by melting of the Sierra snowpack in the spring, and by rainfall events.
The SJRFA is generally rural, with scattered urban areas where the majority of the population resides. Notable cities include Stockton, Antioch, Tracy, Lodi, Modesto, Turlock, Manteca, Lathrop, Merced, Patterson, Los Banos and Madera. Many counties have high proportions of Hispanic or Latino residents; therefore, language accessibility is an important consideration in the SJRFA. San Joaquin River Funding Area Overview
Complete San Joaquin Funding Area DAC Needs Assessment Report
If you are interested in getting involved, please fill out the Task Force form and submit by Friday July 3, 2020. Form located here.