If 2024 and 2025 were about preparing California’s water sector for legislative change, 2026 is about execution.
The Making Conservation a California Way of Life framework and AB 1572 have moved from regulation to reality. For water agencies across the state, the questions are no longer "what is required?", but "how do do we implement it effectively, equitably, and at scale?"
At CalWEP, our role is clear: help agencies move from compliance pressure to operational confidence.
What We’re Hearing from Agencies
Over the past year, we’ve heard consistent themes from our members and partners:
- Agencies are being asked to deliver new programs while managing limited staffing, funding, and technical capacity.
- Inconsistent data systems and reporting pathways slow implementation and increase risk.
- Agencies need clarity on “how” and “in what order,” not just “what” to do.
- Without shared tools, agencies are forced to build one-off solutions.
- Limited resources make efficiency and coordination essential, not optional.
Regulatory expectations are advancing faster than implementation guidance and local capacity. Many agencies are navigating unclear requirements with limited resources, making external support essential, not optional.
CalWEP’s Focus in 2026
In 2026, CalWEP is leaning into what our community does best - working together to turn shared knowledge into implementation and turning policy into progress. Our work this year is centered on three priorities:
1. Turning Requirements into Opportunities and Usable Tools
We are expanding practical, agency-facing resources that translate policy into action: step-by-step guides, decision frameworks, templates, and data pathways that agencies can actually deploy.
This includes continued development of:
- AB 1572 and nonfunctional turf implementation resources
- CII BMPs and reporting support tools
- Monitoring, evaluation, and data-alignment guidance
The goal is to make it easier for agencies to check off compliance requirements while also using new tools and better-aligned data to become stronger water managers, supporting smarter decisions today and a more resilient California tomorrow.
2. Strengthening Peer Learning and Shared Solutions
Agencies should not have to solve the same problems in isolation. In 2026, CalWEP is deepening collaborative working groups, pilots, and peer exchanges focused on:
- What is working in implementation
- What is not
- And how solutions can be adapted across different agency sizes and regions
We believe the fastest progress happens when agencies learn directly from one another: supported by shared structure and facilitation. We’ll continue and enhance the incredible work coming out of committees and task forces, and provide both in-person and virtual events to keep the conversations going.
3. Centering Equity, Capacity, and Real-World Constraints
Successful implementation must reflect real operating conditions: staffing limitations, funding gaps, data challenges, and community needs. In 2026, CalWEP is prioritizing:
- Capacity-building support for agencies with limited internal resources
- Practical approaches that balance conservation goals with affordability and equity
- Tools and outreach strategies that work across diverse communities
Equity is not an add-on. It is a core implementation requirement. Stay tuned to hear how we’re looking both internally at CalWEP and externally across the state to advance equitable water solutions.
Moving Forward, Together
The pace of change in California water management is not slowing and agencies should not face it alone. In 2026, CalWEP remains focused on one outcome: helping water agencies succeed in turning policy into progress. We are grateful for the leadership, collaboration, and trust of our members, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
With Gratitude,
Tia Fleming
Executive Director
Melissa Matlock
Deputy Director