What is the Open and Transparent Data Act?
"The Open and Transparent Water Data Act (AB 1755, Dodd) requires the Department of Water Resources, in consultation with the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated water data platform; and to develop protocols for data sharing, documentation, quality control, public access, and promotion of open-source platforms and decision support tools related to water data.
A team of partner agencies is collaborating with and learning from others – including State and federal agencies, data experts, data providers, and data consumers – to chart a successful path forward."
Why is an open data platform important?
Integration of existing water and ecological/fisheries data will: support analysis across datasets and disciplines; help water managers operate more efficiently; and help water users make informed decisions based on water availability and allocation
State agencies should promote openness and interoperability of water data
Increased transparency of public data is good government
Water data and information technology tools and applications developed and gathered using state funds should be made publicly accessible and open-source, whenever possible
Increased access to data will support better-informed decisions and cost-effective investments
AB 1755 will support greater use of data collected and increase awareness of the importance of data in water management
Making information accessible, discoverable, and usable by the public can foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and scientific discovery
More comprehensive and interoperable datasets will provide unique opportunities to develop data-search and data-packaging products and services
Goals
In support of the vision, four goals have been articulated, as follows:
Data are sufficient: Data are sufficient to support water resources management and answer water resource-related questions.
Data are accessible: Data are available for use and discoverable.
Data are useful: Data are available in a form that facilitates use in various models, visualizations, and reports.
Data are used: Data are put to work in decision-making and innovation.
The implementing agencies developed a Strategic Plan for Assembly Bill 1755, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act. This Strategic plan will help to guide implementation of the program to achieve the Vision, Goal, Objectives, and Strategic Actions as described in the plan."