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State Water Board reports progress on Racial Equity Action Plan; staff reorganize public engagement office and launch data tools
Summary
State Water Board staff reported progress on the 2024 racial equity action plan on March 4, highlighting a new Office of Public Engagement, Equity and Tribal Affairs, new equity-data tools, expanded tribal outreach and workforce training.
The State Water Resources Control Board received a detailed annual update on the racial equity action plan during the March 4 meeting. Staff described accomplishments from 2024 and plans for 2025, emphasizing new staffing, data tools and expanded tribal and community outreach.
Office transformation and staffing. The board’s Office of Public Participation was reorganized: staff created a new Office of Public Engagement, Equity and Tribal Affairs (OPETA or OPTA in staff shorthand). Staff said the new office reports directly to the executive director and includes new roles for tribal affairs, equity data and workforce equity. New hires cited in the presentation included positions for tribal affairs program manager and specialist, an equity data specialist and a workforce-equity and inclusion advisor.
Equity data and tools. The Office of Information Management and Analysis and OPETA described work on an "equity data handbook" for staff, a public-data resource hub (a GIS-based “tribal water data map”) and an internal data subcommittee that will coordinate equity-centered data use across divisions. Staff said they provided a tribal-focused GIS training series to roughly 75 participants representing about 50 tribes in 2024 and that recordings and slides will be made available.
Workforce and training. Staff reported progress on workforce equity training and described a workforce equity and inclusion plan in development. The board’s training office described new course reviews and a “Train the Trainer” approach so agency staff can deliver more water-board-specific equity training.
Enforcement, permits and regional work. Enforcement and other program offices described how environmental justice considerations are being incorporated into enforcement prioritization and public engagement. Division leaders highlighted program-level work to improve engagement, language access, and project-level equity-centered outreach and permitting.
Tribal consultation and outreach. The office said a revised tribal consultation policy and a related protocol are under development; staff will solicit early tribal consultation requests through March 24 and expects to release draft documents in the summer for additional engagement.
Public comment and board discussion. Several public commenters, tribal representatives and community groups (Community Water Center, Central California Environmental Justice Network and others) praised the plan’s progress and urged specific steps: clearer goals and timelines for domestic well solutions; funding and capacity-building for communities; continued language access; and stronger alignment between the board’s SAFER funding decisions and the action plan’s commitments.
Board members thanked staff and emphasized the centrality of racial equity work to the agency’s mission, praised the Office reorganization and data work and asked staff to continue refining priorities, training and outreach.
