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Ebb and Flow Stories about protecting California's water

About Ebb and Flow

Water shapes everything in California. These are stories about how it flows, why it matters, and how we protect it — together — which will shape our future.

California faces unprecedented water challenges. Climate change is reshaping our hydrology through wet and dry extremes. Aging infrastructure is struggling to meet modern demands. Households, business, agriculture and the environment must adapt to a hotter, drier climate.

Ebb and Flow is a digital publication of the California State Water Resources Control Board that explores the science, policy, history and human stories of the state's most precious resource.

About the California Water Boards

Together with the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the State Water Board protects California's 3,000 lakes, 211,000 miles of rivers and streams and groundwater supplies that sustain nearly 40 million people, the nation's largest agricultural industry and an exceptional variety of wildlife and ecosystems. The board also administers the water rights system, regulates drinking water systems and provides over $1 billion dollars each year for water and wastewater infrastructure.

Through policies, permitting and enforcement, the Water Boards make decisions about how to protect the state's water supply and quality in a changing climate of more frequent droughts and severe storms. A robust public process is core to our decision-making, and we encourage all Californians to participate in this process and make their voices heard.

Learn more on our website.

Contact Us

Have a question about a story? Want to learn more about water issues in your community? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at opa@waterboards.ca.gov.

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