CLIMATE LITERACY 201

Sustainability at DWR

Jennifer Morales

Environmental Scientist

Jennifer.Morales@water.ca.gov

Department of Water Resources

DWR’s Sustainability Policy

DWR will be a sustainability leader and ecosystem

steward within State government and the California

water community.

DWR will Promote & Facilitate sustainability practices

throughout its business operations and the State

Water Project (SWP).

Current DWR Targets/Goals

Carbon: Waste: Energy: Water: 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

% Reduction by 2020 &2050

2020 2050

Current DWR Actions

• Environmental Stewardship

• Waste Reduction

• Environmental Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

• Documentum

• Energy Star Purchasing

• Renewable Energy/Carbon Offsets

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED) Standards in New Construction

Current DWR Initiatives

• Water and Energy Efficiency Unit

• Executive Printer Upgrade and Consolidation

• UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center Affiliation

• NRO Sustainability Pilot Project

Current DWR Initiatives

Polices Under Development

• Sustainability Principles

• Exploration of Sustainable

Infrastructure Guidelines

/Rating Systems

• Sustainable Engineering

• Natural Resources

Management

• Zero Waste

• Herbicide/Pesticide Reduction

Making Better Informed

Choices• Starts with New Information that

- Makes us Aware of Choices

- Guides our Actions

- Produces New Results

- Leads to more

Sustainable Systems

Sustainability Activity!

DWR Implementing

Sustainability - • Regional Advance Mitigation Program (RAMP)

• California Water Plan Sustainability Indicators

• DWR’s Environmental Stewardship Policy/

WREM58 b

• Climate Action Plan

From Pilot Projects to Programs1. Payroll Deduction Transit Pass

Program

2. Vehicle Pool for Sacramento Area

3. Tire Pressure Monitoring Program

Real Results!

https://sustainability.water.ca.gov/

Take Aways!

1. DWR has a Sustainability Policy.

2. DWR has Sustainability Goals.

3. DWR is taking Sustainable Actions.

4. Sustainability is not maintaining the Status Quo!

Sustainability Goals will evolve over time!

5. Sustainability requires new knowledge, and making better

choices based on that knowledge.

6. DWR has a Collaboration Portal to help employees get

sustainability information. http://sustainability.water.ca.gov

7. DWR has a Sustainability Coordinator to help employees

implement Sustainable Actions. msimmere@water.ca.gov