The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is under threat due to increasing water demands and changing environmental conditions. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan aims to protect endangered species and restore water supplies through habitat conservation and restoration. It also establishes an adaptive management program to address changing conditions over time. The BDCP seeks to balance the needs of the environment, agriculture and growing urban populations through a comprehensive strategy.

1. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta The Bay-Delta Conservation Plan Dale Anderson PWS225 Rocklin, CA BrotherGrimm/Wikipedia

2. “The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a great natural treasure and a vital link in the state’s water system… as a result of the State’s increasing population, demand for water and changing environmental conditions, the Delta is in jeopardy of collapse”1 “The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) is being developed to promote the recovery of endangered, threatened and sensitive fish and wildlife species and their habitats in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in a way that will also protect and restore water supplies.”2 CA Dept of Water Resources, Delta Initiatives 15 Jan 2010 http://www.dwr.water.ca.gov/deltainit/ 2. Bay-Delta Conservation Plan-What is the BDCP? http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/BDCPPages/aboutBDCP.aspx

3. A brief history leading up to the BDCP In response to a steep decline in the health of the Delta ecosystem and competing priorities for a limited water supply, a top to bottom review of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta management was begun. In September 2006 with Executive Order S-17-06 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the State Legislature initiated “Delta Vision” http://gov.ca.gov/issue/water-supply http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdf

4. http://www.deltavision.ca.gov/AboutDeltaVision.shtml

5. BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCEDelta Vision Strategic Plan, Oct 2008 1. http://deltavision.ca.gov/DV_Committee/Jan2009/08-1231_Delta_Vision_Committee_Implementation_Report.pdf

6. BDCP: Lead Agencies Federal State In addition to nearly 20 other Federal, State, local, and non-governmental groups as BDCP Steering Committee Participants. http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/BDCPPages/Partners.aspx

7. THE DELTA: OVERVIEW Largest Estuary on the Pacific Coast Receives almost half of the State’s runoff Covers 738,000 acres of lowland channels, islands, and sloughs, much of it below sea level Relies on more than 1,000 miles of levees for flood protection Home to over 720 species of plants and animals Provides drinking water for 25 million people Source of water for half of the nation’s fresh produce Provides recreation, flood control and wildlife habitat Blue Ribbon Task Force- Delta Vision Final Report 29 Jan 2008 http://deltavision.ca.gov/BlueRibbonTaskForce/FinalVision/Delta_Vision_Final.pdf

8. REGIONAL MAP Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta Westlands Water District, the largest irrigation district in the United States, relies on 1.15 million acre feet of Delta water annually. High Country News http://www.westlandswater.org/resources/watersupply/overview.asp?title=Overview&cwide=1600 http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C=

9. CONTROL OF THE DELTA STATE FED California State Water Project stores and delivers water to urban and ag suppliers throughout California Managed by the Dept. of Water Resources Delivers water to two-thirds of California ‘s population 30% irrigates the San Joaquin 70% supplies residential, municipal, and industrial users Project also operated to improve; Delta water quality Control floodwaters Provide recreation Enhance fish and wildlife The Central Valley Project inaugurated in 1957, one of the world’s largest water and transport systems. Managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Irrigates over 3 million acres of farmland Provides drinking water to about 2 million people http://search.mtdemocrat.com/display.php?id=55978

10. CONTROL: cont.-A multitude of projects and legislation to control flooding and habitat... Flood Control Protecting Habitat 1861-State Legislature created Board of Swamp and Overflowed Land Commissioners to manage reclamation projects 1880-State Engineer designed a flood control plan using a system of levees and bypasses 1917-Sacramento Flood Control Project completed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in 1960-more levees 1988-The Delta Flood Protection Act contained an environmental mandate protecting existing habitat 1992-The Central Valley Project Improvement Act passed to balance the water demands of farms and cities with Delta’s fisheries protection 1994-Bay Delta Accords another attempt at balancing water needs CALFED-a ten year period of state/federal collaborative management …and that ain’t all!!! http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/sdb/tbp/deltaoverview/index.cfm http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C=

11. STRESSORS Storm water runoff from urban areas Water Exports to ag and urban users Wildlife Harvest – commercial, sport, poaching Contaminants Ammonia and endocrine disruptors from wastewater treatment plants Methylmercury from legacy mines in Sierra watersheds Invasive species Entrainment at diversion pumps Salinity – good for the ecosystem, bad for crops/drinking water Seawater intrusion from over-pumping/over-allocating Agricultural drainage Water quality – dissolved O2 , temperature, disease organisms http://www.baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/Other_Stressors_Fact_Sheet_-_WEB.pdf

12. STRESSORS: Example THE HARVEY O. BANKS PUMPING PLANT Two batteries of pumps draw water from the east edge of the Delta to feed the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Able to move 21,ooo acre-feet a day to supply 1.2 million acres of farmland and serve an additional 25 million people in Los Angeles and San Diego. Calif. Dept. of Water Resources

13. HARVEY O. BANKS PUMPS: cont Dramatically alters the hydrology of the Delta by re-orienting flows from east to west to north to south Interrupts a natural cycle of tidal influences that bring brackish nutrient-rich flows through the Delta Smelt, which are weak swimmers, are drawn into the pumps and pulverized Blue Ribbon Task Force. Delta Vision Strategic Plan. Pp27-8 Oct 2008 http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdf High Country News. “Breakdown...” p3. 11 Jan 2010 http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C=

14. THE DELTA SMELT The delta smelt, a crucial link in the food web, spends its entire one-year life span in the Delta and is an indicator species on the health of the Delta ecosystem. Listed as threatened in 1993. Being used by those working to save the Delta as a tool through the Endangered Species Act to improve flows and water quality. High Country News. “Breakdown...” p3. 11 Jan 2010 http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C= Photo USFWS

15. THE DELTA SMELT: cont Also being used by farm corporations to fuel a political “fish versus people” debate in order to increase diversions for water-intensive cash crops. Also note that these farms typically do not have primary water rights under California’s water rights process. Photos High Country News http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown

16. BDCP: Conservation Strategy Provide a comprehensive habitat conservation and restoration program for the Delta Provide the basis for permits under federal and State endangered species laws for the activities covered by the plan based on the best available science Identify sources of funding and new methods of decision-making for ecosystem improvements Provide for an “adaptive management”and monitoring program to enable the plan to adapt as conditions change and new information emerges Streamline permitting for projects covered by the plan http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/GeneralDocuments/BDCP_Brochure.pdf

17. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT “A type of natural resource management in which decisions are made as part of an ongoing science-based process, adaptive management involves testing monitoring, and evaluating applied strategies, and incorporating new knowledge into management approaches that are based on scientific findings and the needs of society. Results are used to modify management policy, strategies and practices.” United Federal Policy for a Watershed approach to Federal Lands and Resource Management, 65 Fed. Reg. 62565. 62572, Oct 18, 2000. Delta Vision Strategic Plan p 47 http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdf

18. http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/BDCP%20Brochure%200909.pdf

19. BDCP: Where do we go from here? Refine conservation measures, delta operations, and habitat restoration Design adaptive management program Continue to develop biological goals and objectives Analysis of effects on water quality and bio-resources Cost and financing Implementation structure and schedule Community workshops Public comment on Draft BDCP http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/BDCP%20Brochure%200909.pdf

20. MORE HELP FOR THE DELTA 2009 COMPREHENSIVE WATER PACKAGESenate Bills and the Water Bond

21. 2009 COMPREHENSIVE WATER PACKAGESenate Bills and the Water Bond http://gov.ca.gov/issue/water-supply/

22. 2009 Water Package: cont. http://gov.ca.gov/issue/water-supply/

23. 2009 Water Package: cont. http://gov.ca.gov/issue/water-supply/

24. OPPONENTS To be sure, there is not unanimous support for the BDCP and Water Package. Calling it a “conveyance” plan not a “conservation” plan. Those include; Planning and Conservation League Friends of the River Restore The Delta Sierra Club California Sport Fishing Alliance Clean Water Action Environmental Justice Water Coalition In addition to some Delta farmers and water districts and others http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PeripheralCanal

25. Links and additional resources Bay-Delta Conservation Plan – Brochure http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/GeneralDocuments/BDCP_Brochure.pdf Bay Delta Conservation Plan – Fact Sheet http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/BDCP%20Brochure%200909.pdf Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, What is the BDCP? 15 Jan 2010. http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/BDCPPages/aboutBDCP.aspx Blue Ribbon Task Force- Final Report 29 Jan 2008 http://deltavision.ca.gov/BlueRibbonTaskForce/FinalVision/Delta_Vision_Final.pdf Blue Ribbon Task Force-Delta Vision Strategic Plan, Oct 2008 http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdf Delta Overview, http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/sdb/tbp/deltaoverview/index.cfm Delta Vision-About http://www.deltavision.ca.gov/AboutDeltaVision.shtml

26. Links and additional resources Delta Vision Committee Implementation Report- 31 Dec 2008 http://www.deltavision.ca.gov/DV_Committee/Jan2009/08-1231_Delta_Vision_Committee_Implementation_Report.pdf Delta Vision Timeline and Glossary http://deltavision.ca.gov/TimelineAndGlossary/DV_BRTF_ArticulationGlossary_07-17-08.pdf Friends of the River http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PeripheralCanal Grossi, Mark and Rodriquez, Robert “Pumps Blast Water to West Valley Farmers” Fresno Bee 8 Feb 2010 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/1814319.html?storylink=omni_popular Jenkins, Matt. “Breakdown” High Country News 11 Jan 2010 http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown Public Policy Institute of California, “California Water Myths”, . 12 Jan 2010 http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_1209EHR.pdf

27. WATER RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA Riparian water rights Established in 1850 Followed English common law Owners of land bordering water have first right to reasonable amount of that water Appropriative rights Developed from practice of appropriating water for mining claims-even if far from the source Lead to the principle “first in time, first in right” Secondary to Riparian rights

28. SUBSIDENCE Prior to 1850 delta soils were rich in organic peat from natural vegetation and fed by seasonal flooding Construction of levees to reclaim land for farming cut off flood deposition Farming peat soils exposes it to oxygen causing them to breakdown – compaction and loss of volume As a result some Delta lands are more than 15 feet below sea level Creates pressure on levees increasing risk of failure