Water resources impacts

This chapter examines the potential impacts of climate change on the long-term performance and management of California's water system. Taking a comprehensive approach, it models the entire interconnected statewide water supply—including ground and surface waters, agricultural and urban demands, environmental flows, and hydropower—using CALVIN, an integrated economic-engineering optimization model. Unlike conventional simulation approaches, CALVIN economically optimizes system adaptation to changes in climate, population, land use, and agricultural technology, rather than being constrained by present-day operating rules and allocation policies. This approach has limitations but provides valuable insights for water policy and planning.