Department of Water Resources

Our Mission

Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

Strategic Vision

The Department of Water Resources is responsible for securing water responsibility, ensuring public safety, and preserving our environment for future generations.  The following pillars serve as guide posts for all strategic planning documents and actions: 

  • Secure the functions of the State Water Project for future generations
  • Implement a comprehensive and system-wide approach to dam safety, flood protection, and emergency management
  • Improve and expand integrated watershed management and bring groundwater basins into balance
  • Make the Department an employer of choice for our field of expertise and practitioners of good government

DWR Culture

We strive to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  As we work to solve complex problems, employees often collaborate across multiple divisions and at various levels within the organization.  All employees are encouraged to promote innovation and sustainability, seek new ideas from other sectors, and actively engage with the international engineering, environmental, and safety communities.