“Data can be beneficial to water users, to agencies, and to everyone who needs it to make informed decisions.” — Frost Pauli, Owner, Pauli Ranch
California’s water future depends on timely, accurate information—and on collaboration between the people who use water and the agencies that manage it. The Telemetered Water Monitoring Project brings together farmers, local water managers, state regulators, and community members to explore how real-time data can reduce reporting burdens, improve water management, and build shared understanding.
The Challenge
California currently lacks timely data on how much water is available, how much is being used, when, and by whom. This makes it difficult to administer water rights, prepare for droughts and floods, ensure community water supplies, and protect ecosystems.
At the same time, water users face complex, time-consuming reporting requirements. As one farmer told us: “Time spent managing water monitoring and reporting efforts often detracts from the essential work of farming.”
What Is Telemetry?
Telemetry is the automated collection and transmission of data—via cellular, radio, or satellite—to a central location. It can provide near real-time information directly to data systems, reducing the labor, delays, and inaccuracies that come with manual reporting.
For water users, this means less time on paperwork. For regulators and water managers, it means better information for better decisions.
Russian River Telemetry Study
To test how telemetry works in real-world conditions, the State Water Resources Control Board is implementing a Telemetry Study in the Russian River watershed from 2025 to 2027.
What participants receive:
New telemetered water monitoring equipment at no cost
Free installation and maintenance during the study
Technical support for integrating with state reporting systems
A voice in shaping how the study evolves
Participation is completely voluntary and for research purposes only.
The Russian River watershed is an ideal testing ground: the region is undergoing significant changes, including potential dam removals and shifts in water supply, making accurate monitoring more critical than ever.
“This is a first attempt to interact collaboratively with the local community [on telemetered data] so that moving forward, the Water Board can make regulations and reporting requirements that align with their reality.” — Laurel Dodgen, Ph.D., Telemetry Research Unit Lead, State Water Resources Control Board
“The risks of being part of the study are pretty minimal, and the benefits are gonna be fantastic for the agricultural community.” — Tyler Nelson, Owner-Operator, Nelson Family Vineyards
Our Approach: Collaboration from the Ground Up
What makes this project different? We started by listening.
We visited farms, toured diversion points, and sat down with the people who manage water every day. We heard about failing meters, confusing reporting requirements, and the real costs of data gaps. We also heard hope—that better data, developed collaboratively, could work for everyone.
“It’s one thing to sit at a desk and assess data, but it’s another thing to go out and see where the data comes from and what it means to the people who own those lands and operate those farms.” — Laurel D., Telemetry Research Unit
In this project, the California Water Data Consortium serves as an independent, third-party convener helping to scale fit-for-purpose telemetry applications across the state—bringing together state agencies, local water managers, farmers, and community members to develop recommendations that work for everyone.
We don’t collect data. We create the trusted, neutral space where people with different perspectives can find common ground.
Our work on this project has included:
Learning from others. Analyzing telemetry networks across California, other states, and other countries to identify best practices and common challenges.
Developing local recommendations. Working in partnership with the Russian River community to co-develop study recommendations responsive to local conditions and practices.
Scaling what works. Convening a Telemetry Technical Advisory Committee of experts, water users, academics, and government representatives to identify statewide applications of telemetry in California.
Moving forward, the Consortium is supporting outreach in the Russian River watershed and helping to plan for the transition of the telemetry network to the community after the Study concludes. Through the collection and dissemination of community feedback, we will work to ensure that lessons learned in this study support the scaling and broader application of telemetry for beneficial water management outcomes across the state.