Recasting the California Water Plan: From Reference Document to Strategic Framework

California Water Plan 2028 represents a marked departure from the Water Plan’s traditional role as a retrospective reference document. SB 72 recasts it as a strategic, target‑driven planning instrument—one that sets measurable statewide water supply goals and aligns regional actions through standardized data and place‑specific strategies.

Beyond the statutory changes, Water Plan 2028 reframes the Plan’s fundamental purpose. Earlier updates functioned as broad, descriptive snapshots of statewide conditions; the 2028 update is being built as a strategic planning tool that sets direction, identifies priorities, and links statewide goals to regional actions. The emphasis moves from cataloging what exists to clarifying what must happen and how the state intends to drive that work.