The Agricultural Water Management Council was formed in 1996, following the work of the advisory committee formed by AB 3616, Agricultural Efficient Water Management Act of 1990. The Council consists of members of the agricultural and environmental communities and other interested parties with the expressed goal for water suppliers to voluntarily develop Water Management Plans and implement Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMPs) to further advance water use efficiency while maintaining and enhancing economic, environmental and social viability and sustainability of soil and crop production. Members signing the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Efficient Water Management Practices by Agricultural Water Suppliers in California (MOU) are placed into one of three groups.

Group 1: agricultural
Group 2: environmental
Group 3: other interested parties

Groups one and two are full voting members of the Council. Currently the Council consists of 50 agricultural water suppliers, representing over 4.7 million irrigated acres, 3 environmental interest groups and 41 other interested parties that have signed the MOU.

The Memorandum of Understanding includes a comprehensive methodology by which each and every Efficient Water Management Practices are analyzed and provides a consistent analysis by all participating water suppliers.

The strength of the Council lies in its consensus based approach to water management in California.