Overview
The SEI US Water Program works with policy-makers and stakeholders throughout California to model complex water systems and explore sustainable management options. Using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool, SEI helps local, regional and state-wide agencies create a shared “mental model” of watersheds that brings diverse interests and perspectives to the table.
Click on the image below to see an interactive presentation about SEI’s focus areas and work, and explore our projects, stories and publications through the menu on the left.
SEI is designing water allocation models that explicitly represent every water right and assess the impact of in-stream flow requirements on water users.
- Project
- Water
- 2017
- California
SEI adapted WEAP to assess the needs of chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
- Project
- Water
- 2015
- California
A team led by SEI worked with water managers in California's Yolo County to prepare for implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
- Project
- Water
- 2016 - 2022
- California
SEI worked with the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to produce a Stormwater Resources Plan.
- Project
- Water
- 2017 - 2018
- California
The Water Evaluation and Planning tool (WEAP) provides a comprehensive, flexible and user-friendly framework for policy analysis in water resources planning.
- Tool
- Water
- 1 January 2020
- United States of America
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Africa
- Mekong
The Sacramento Water Allocation Model enables policy-makers to weigh difficult trade-offs in water use, by simulating a complex water system in the US.
- Project
- Water
- 2014
- California
This study analyses how managed aquifer recharge might affect irrigated agriculture in California's Kings Groundwater Basin during drought.
- Journal articles
- Climate
- Governance
- Water
- 28 May 2022
- California
This article discusses how different climate scenarios affect the water-energy nexus in California, employing the WEAP modelling tool.
- Journal articles
- Climate
- Energy
- Governance
- Water
- 29 September 2021
- United States of America
- California
The Sacramento Water Allocation Model, known as SacWAM, mimics one of the most complex water systems in the US.
- SEI briefs
- Water
- 7 May 2019
- California
Policy-makers can now model the effect of management options on the availability of habitat and the viability of aquatic species.
- SEI briefs
- Water
- 6 May 2019
- California
RDS helps stakeholders create a shared mental model of available opportunities and potential trade-offs for various objectives.
- SEI briefs
- Water
- 6 May 2019
- California
The authors explore early classical writing from Plato and Aristotle to find a new approach to water resource planning and decision-making.
- Journal articles
- Water
- Governance
- 31 July 2018
- California
This article describes the development of a groundwater sustainability plan for California's Yolo County, using a participatory decision-making process.
- Journal articles
- Water
- 13 March 2018
- California
- Journal articles
- Water
- 2 November 2016
- California
- Journal articles
- Water
- 27 January 2014
- California
SEI Senior Scientist Chuck A. Young explains why California saw severe water shortages this year and how better forecasting can help alleviate those challenges.
- Feature
- Water
- Climate
- Governance
- 29 November 2021
- California
- United States of America
The eWRIMS Analyzer transforms California’s water rights data into accessible reports on monthly water use in each watershed.
- Feature
- Water
- 18 August 2021
- United States of America
- California
SEI's flagship water modelling tool helped a San Jose-area water district identify an opportunity to help protected steelhead in the wake of dam construction.
- Feature
- Water
- 25 August 2021
- California
SEI is working with the U.S. Department of Energy and the California and Chinese governments to help policy-makers plan for resilient water and energy systems.
- Feature
- Water
- Energy
- 23 May 2019
- California
- China
SEI's Charles Young and Stantec's Andy Draper won for their work on an unprecedented water model of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
- Feature
- Water
- 26 April 2019
- California
- SEI US Water Program Director
- SEI US
- @MEscobar_Agua
- Scientist
- SEI US
- Scientist
- SEI US
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- @ahuberlee
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- Finance and Operations Special Projects Advisor
- SEI US
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- @cyoung_sei