CALFED: Assessment of Water Use Efficiency Technical Assistance (2006-2007)

As part of ongoing inter-agency efforts to implement a Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Program in California, in 2007, the US Bureau of Reclamation asked CONCUR, Inc. to conduct an assessment of the technical assistance provided in support of local WUE programs. CONCUR gathered information from two main sources: a set of approximately 40 confidential stakeholder interviews, and a more broadly targeted web-based survey. The interviews and survey targeted users and providers of both agricultural and urban WUE technical assistance. Participants included representatives of water agencies, growers, university specialists, commodity groups, water conservation consultants, and other organizations.

The goals of the assessment were to: (1) assess the role and importance of technical assistance to the WUE Program; (2) help document ways that technical assistance has supported sound water use efficiency projects; (3) identify and characterize barriers to the provision and use of WUE technical assistance; and (4) identify needs and ways to improve implementation of WUE technical assistance. The assessment was also intended to inform federal and state agency investment of technical assistance funding as well as ongoing statewide WUE Program strategic planning. CONCUR prepared a summary report in September 2007, synthesizing the assessment results. The report focused on key findings, implications for the WUE Program, and recommended next steps.