From the State Water Contractors:
Today, DWR, Reclamation and public water agencies participating in the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program provided responses to questions and comments raised during the April 2024 workshops or submitted to the State Water Board during its public comment period for the Draft Staff Report in support of potential updates to the Bay-Delta Plan. The responses were developed in collaboration with program proponents across the state and highlight how transparency, enforceability and accountability are fundamental components of the program.
“Public water agencies from Redding to the Mexican border are working with state and federal agencies to advance the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program as a new and transformational approach to managing California’s water,” said Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors. “The collaboration in developing these responses demonstrates broad commitment by these agencies to manage the delta watershed in a way that is inclusive, science-based and responsive to climate extremes.”
The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program, included as an alternative implementation action in the State Water Board’s update to the Bay-Delta Plan, will increase flows through the Delta and significantly improve habitat while implementing a modern science and governance structure that will meet state regulatory requirements and improve conditions for the environment, farms, homes and businesses.
“California’s water challenges remind us how quickly we need to move and how much we can get done with a mutual commitment to additional flows, accelerated habitat restoration and accountability. We’ve learned together what works best to meet the needs of the environment and local communities. Now we need to do much more of it, and quickly,” said David Guy, President of the Northern California Water Association.
Responses to common questions cover a wide range of topics, including inclusion and outreach, program funding, accounting for habitat and flow assets, enforcement and accountability, and modeling, among others.
“The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program offers a more impactful approach to managing the Delta and its tributaries,” said Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. “Understanding that the status quo is not a viable option, we’ve been working closely with state, federal and local leaders to develop a program that will improve environmental conditions more quickly and holistically than traditional regulatory requirements that narrowly focus on flows without pairing that with necessary habitat to support species recovery. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with our partners and the public to advance this important work.”
“We look forward to continued collaboration with the State Water Board, the public, natural resources experts, and other stakeholders in implementing the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. This program can improve resilience for fish in the Delta and its tributaries while balancing water supply needs for communities,” said Mike Tognolini, Director of Water and Natural Resources for the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
A broad coalition of supporters are working with the State Water Board to implement the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program (see next page).
