About Us

The California Water Data Consortium is a place for coming together. We bring communities, nonprofits, agencies, and partners into a trusted, neutral space where open data and open conversation help us better understand California’s water and the systems it supports. Founded in 2019 to support the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (AB 1755, Dodd), our work is rooted in the belief that shared, accessible data, and the relationships built around them, create common ground. As climate change and competing demands place increasing strain on our water system, collaboration and clarity matter more than ever. By centering diverse voices and working side by side, we help turn information into insight and insight into action—so together, we can make decisions with confidence and build a more equitable and resilient water future for California.

 

Download Our Overview

Why Data?

Water data may not be as visible as reservoirs or canals, but it is critical to managing California’s water future. Today, our information landscape is uneven: some regions are drowning in data, others face real gaps — and even where data exists, it is often fragmented or difficult to apply across systems. In a state where nearly 40 million people and much of the nation’s food supply depend on a carefully managed water system, data clarity isn’t optional—it’s essential. By working together, pooling our data and unique perspectives, we create a collective, reality-based picture of California’s water — and make more confident decisions for a resilient, equitable future.

Our Goals and Priorities


Put Data to Work

Advance collaborative solutions and data-driven tools

Testing and demonstrating applications and tools that make water and ecological data more useful, accessible, and actionable for communities and decision makers.

Inform Policies

Shape and promote policies, programs and investments that modernize and sustain California’s water data infrastructure for long-term resilience.

Making the case for sustained investment in water data through policy engagement, roadmap development, and targeted outreach to the legislators and agencies who shape California’s water future.

Tell Stories and Communicate

Cultivate broad recognition of water and ecological data as essential foundations for sustainable water management and climate resilience in California.

Demonstrating the value of water and ecological data through publications, events, and public engagement — building a community that understands and champions open data.

Facilitate Collaboration

Build and convene a diverse, collaborative, and empowered community committed to advancing California’s water data ecosystem.

Creating trusted, neutral spaces where diverse partners — state agencies, local governments, nongovernmental agencies, Tribes, researchers, and communities — can work together on shared data governance and solutions.