Thursday March 27, 2025
Maven’s Notebook —
California is taking a major step forward in transforming how water is managed and monitored with the roll out of a groundbreaking tool aimed at modernizing water rights data. Launching this summer, the State Water Board’s $60 million Updating Water Rights Data for California (UPWARD) project is set to replace the outdated, paper-based system with a streamlined, user-friendly platform. By tackling the inefficiencies of the current system, UPWARD will provide timely, accessible information for better decision-making, especially critical during water shortages and droughts. This innovative effort promises to enhance the state’s ability to safeguard its most precious resource.
The overarching goal of the UPWARD project is to create new digital infrastructure and data governance processes to improve the quality and accessibility of water rights data. The project will replace the current eWRIMS system with a modern data system, digitize paper records and make them accessible online, and create the teams, policies, and protocols to properly manage the data into perpetuity.
The new system will guide the user through the reporting process and use verification and validation processes to ensure data is correct. Water rights information for each diverter will be organized and include information such as reminders when reports are due; larger organizations with multiple water rights can arrange them by branch or regional office. The system will include GIS capabilities so points of diversion, place of use, and other features can be mapped. The data will be available on a searchable map where users can drill down to find points of diversion and be able to access scanned documents related to the water right.