Amid controversy, California officials release long-awaited Delta water plan

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Set us as preferred California regulators have released a plan to change how the state governs the pumping of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a proposal that would give water agencies more leeway in how they comply with the rules.The Delta is the central hub of California’s water system, providing water for nearly 30 million people and 4 million acres of farmland.As the state has relied heavily on its water, the Delta’s ecosystem has suffered, and native fish populations have declined.“We believe we need a new approach.

We need a plan that balances ecosystem needs and human water demands,” said Eric Oppenheimer, executive director of the State Water Resources Control Board.The draft Bay-Delta plan, which the board released Wednesday, takes “an innovative approach that pairs voluntary actions with a strong regulatory backstop” to protect the Sacramento River and the Delta, as well as San Francisco Bay, Oppenheimer said.Climate & Environment California is moving toward a new water plan for the Delta.

Regulators are supporting a plan backed by Gov.Newsom to allow water agencies to operate under ‘voluntary agreements.’The plan, which is similar to a previous draft released in December, is controversial.

Environmental advocates say it would starve the Delta of needed water and threaten fish that are already in severe decline.If the plan is adopted in October by the State Water Resources Control Board, it would give water agencies two ways of complying with Delta water quality rules.They could either limit pumping to maintain required minimum levels of water in rivers and the estuary, as has traditionally been done, or take part in so-called “voluntary agreements,” in which water agencies commit to ensuring certain river flows for the environment while contributing funds for projects tha...