California regulators have unveiled a strategy to revise the management of water extraction from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a proposal that would grant water agencies greater flexibility in adhering to regulations.
The Delta serves as the key hub of California’s water infrastructure, supplying water to nearly 30 million residents and 4 million acres of agricultural land. The state’s heavy reliance on its water resources has negatively impacted the Delta’s ecosystem, leading to a decline in native fish populations.
“We believe a new strategy is essential. A plan that achieves equilibrium between ecosystem requirements and human water needs is vital,” stated Eric Oppenheimer, the executive director of the State Water Resources Control Board.
The draft Bay-Delta plan, released by the board on Wednesday, adopts “an innovative approach that combines voluntary actions with a robust regulatory framework” to safeguard the Sacramento River and the Delta, in addition to San Francisco Bay, according to Oppenheimer.
This proposal, echoing a previous draft issued in December, invites controversy. Advocates for environmental protection argue it could deprive the Delta of essential water and jeopardize already endangered fish species.
Should the State Water Resources Control Board approve the plan in October, it would offer water agencies two compliance options for Delta water quality standards. They could either restrict pumping to maintain essential water levels in rivers and the estuary, per traditional methods, or engage in “voluntary agreements,” where water agencies commit to ensuring specific river flows for ecological purposes while funding habitat restoration projects in the Delta.
This model, referred to by state officials as the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program, receives backing from Governor Gavin Newsom and enjoys considerable support among water agencies catering to agricultural and urban areas.
It represents a “collaborative, modern, and comprehensive approach” aimed at effectively preserving and revitalizing the Bay-Delta ecosystem, asserted Stephen Pang, state relations advocate for the Assn. of California Water Agencies, which encompasses around 470 public entities.
Participating agencies have committed to embarking on a collaborative initiative to restore wetlands and develop a scientific program to steer the project. State officials report that agencies have pledged $2.9 billion toward this initiative, primarily for restoring aquatic habitats for fish in the Delta.
Gary Bobker, program director for the environmental organization Friends of the River, voiced concerns that this approach would allow major water suppliers to “write their own ticket” and withdraw excessive amounts of water from the Delta.
“This plan is destined to fail,” Bobker remarked.
He and other advocates for the environment argue that the voluntary arrangements made by significant water agencies could be catastrophic for at-risk fish species, such as salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon, longfin smelt, and Delta smelt. They are advocating for more stringent flow requirements to aid fish recovery.
Bobker emphasized that it is unsurprising that numerous major water agencies are rallying behind these voluntary agreements, as it permits them to maintain largely “business-as-usual” operations while the ecosystem continues to decline.
“We are currently depriving the Bay-Delta estuary of necessary resources, and we understand the need for change if we genuinely wish to preserve that ecosystem and all the benefits it offers,” he said. “The board is neglecting its duties.”
State officials assert that if the collaborative approach fails and a water agency does not fulfill its commitments, they still reserve the right to revert to traditional regulations.
“We believe this fosters a significant level of cooperation among public water agencies,” Oppenheimer noted.
The revision of the Bay-Delta plan has been years in the making.
The last major updates to the plan were made in 1995 for most of the watershed. In 2018, the state water board established new regulations aimed at increasing water flows in the San Joaquin River.
The updated plan will establish guidelines for the Sacramento River and the remaining Delta, where pumps operated by state and federal bodies direct water through aqueducts to agriculture and urban areas.
The state water board is currently accepting feedback on the plan until September 18 and will consider adopting it at a hearing scheduled for October 28-29.
