Adoption of the 2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan and 2025 Desert Water Agency Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Summary
SCH Number
2026060241
Public Agency
Desert Water Agency
Document Title
Adoption of the 2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan and 2025 Desert Water Agency Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/5/2026
Document Description
Desert Water Agency (DWA) is required to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years. The UWMPs for the 2025 reporting cycle are due to be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources by July 1, 2026. This UWMP describes anticipated urban water demands and supplies for the next 25 years, as well as programs to promote efficient water use. It also describes the programs that are in place to encourage efficient water use.
DWA’s Board of Directors will consider adopting the 2025 Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP) and the 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) at a public hearing. The public hearing will be held to provide an opportunity for the public to provide input to the 2025 RUWMP and 2025 WSCP before it is adopted. Notice of the public hearing was provided in accordance with applicable provisions of the California Water Code and Government Code, including publication for two successive weeks in a local newspaper within the DWA service area.
In an effort to improve coordination and create a unified approach for water management throughout the region, the six water agencies in the Coachella Valley worked together to develop a Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP). Six agencies in the Coachella Valley worked together to develop the 2025 RUWMP. In
addition to DWA, these agencies included:
• Coachella Valley Water District
• Coachella Water Authority
• City of Indio
• Mission Springs Water District
• Myoma Dunes Mutual Water Company
Contact Information
Name
Sarah Rapolla
Agency Name
Desert Water Agency
Job Title
Water Resources Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Within Desert Water Agency's jurisdictional service area
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guideline § 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
State CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) (Review for Exemption) states an activity is covered by the common sense exemption where CEQA applies only to a project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment and where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The discretionary action of adopting the 2025 Coachella Valley RUWMP and the 2025 WSCP is a project; however, the adoption of the plans would not pose the possibility of a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Water Code Section 10652
Reasons for Exemption
The Board of Directors finds and determines that this resolution is not subject to CEQA pursuant to Water Code Section 10652 because CEQA does not apply to the preparation and adoption, including addenda thereto, of an urban water management plan or to the implementation of the actions taken pursuant to such plans. Because this resolution comprises DWA's adoption of the 2025 RUWMP and 2025 WSCP, no CEQA review is required. Preparation and adoption of the WSCP is required as part of the specified content of UWMPs (Water Code Section 10632). Part 2.6. Urban Water Management Planning (Section 10652) states the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) does not apply to the preparation and adoption of plans pursuant to this part or to the implementation of actions taken pursuant to Section 10632. Nothing in this part shall be interpreted as exempting from the California Environmental Quality Act any project that would significantly affect water supplies for fish and wildlife, or any project for implementation of the plan, other than projects implementing Section 10632, or any project for expanded or additional water supplies.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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