Groundbreaking proposal combines science, habitat restoration, innovation and enforceable protections to safeguard the Sacramento River and Delta
From the State Water Board:
California took a major step today to protect one of the state’s most important and threatened ecosystems as the State Water Resources Control Board released its final draft plan to modernize water quality protections for the Sacramento River and San Francisco Bay-Delta.
The State Water Board will consider adopting the updated Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan) at a public hearing Oct. 28-29.
The Bay-Delta is the heart of California’s water system. It supports some of the state’s most iconic and threatened fish and wildlife, sustains tribes and other local communities, and provides water for nearly 30 million Californians and 4 million acres of farmland. These benefits are essential to the economy and environment.
But the Delta and its tributaries have long been under threat. Native fish populations have suffered, habitat has been lost, and the watershed faces increasing pressure from climate change and competing demands for water.
The board’s proposal combines strong standards, new partnerships, major investments and rigorous accountability to protect the Bay-Delta, water supply and wildlife.
“This is California’s opportunity to manage the Bay-Delta for the twenty-first century,” said State Water Board Executive Director Eric Oppenheimer. “We can protect rivers, fish, wildlife and tribal cultural uses while building greater resilience and security for communities, farms and the state’s economy. This proposal combines the best available science with adaptability, collaboration and accountability. We are creating a framework that can protect the Bay-Delta and adapt as conditions change.”
If adopted, the updated plan would:
- Establish enforceable protections to ensure that water right holders meet a clear environmental standard, either through an approved voluntary pathway or regulatory pathway.
- Harness creativity and collaboration to allow water users, farmers, landowners, conservation organizations and government agencies to develop and implement projects that deliver environmental benefits.
- Recognize “Tribal Tradition and Culture” as a protected beneficial use of water for the first time, reflecting the deep cultural connections between tribes, rivers and native fish such as salmon.
- Lessen periods of reduced water supply for municipalities and water districts while maintaining protection for Delta flows in drier times.
- Focus on the protection of fish and wildlife, including increased river flows and restoration of more than 27,000 acres of aquatic habitat.
- Facilitate $2.9 billion in restoration and related actions through the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program.
- Use science to measure results, with annual reporting, triennial board review and a dedicated science program to determine whether restoration efforts are improving ecological conditions.
At the center of the proposal is a new model for environmental protection that pairs commitments under the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) program with a strong regulatory backstop. Water users participating in the HRL program would have the opportunity to satisfy new requirements through a combination of flow and habitat. The program would have regulatory effect and be subject to ongoing monitoring and review.
For those who do not participate, or if the HRL program does not deliver the required results, the regulatory pathway provides an enforceable alternative. If the plan is adopted, the board will immediately begin developing a methodology to protect flows under both pathways.
The public comment period on the proposed amendments begins today. Written comments are due Sep. 18.
The board will consider the proposed amendments at its Oct. 28-29 public hearing.
More information is available on the board’s website.
You can access the documents here:
- Final draft Bay-Delta Plan
- Final Staff Report, including written responses to previously submitted comments
- Final Scientific Basis Report Supplement in support of Voluntary Agreements (also referred to as the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal)
The State Water Board’s mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper resource allocation and efficient use for present and future generations.
