Abstract:

As catastrophic wildfires grow more frequent and severe across the western United States, water systems face rising pressure to support emergency response while continuing to provide safe drinking water, maintain financial stability, and protect affordability. This report examines a central, but largely unexplored issue: how water systems should finance infrastructure and services related to wildfire preparedness and response. Drawing on a January 2026 workshop convened by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the report synthesizes insights from 54 participants representing water systems, fire agencies, regulators, nonprofit organizations, technical experts, and researchers. The workshop found that existing infrastructure, legal frameworks, and funding mechanisms are poorly suited to support major wildfire-specific investments. Expanding fire-flow capacity could strain affordability, water quality, and system viability, especially for small and medium-sized systems. The findings underscore the need for clearer roles, stronger interagency coordination, and durable funding strategies. This research can help policymakers and practitioners develop more equitable, realistic financing approaches to wildfire resilience.