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 DeltaThe Bay-Delta Conservation PlanDale AndersonPWS225Rocklin, CABrotherGrimm/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.”2CA 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 BDCPIn 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-supplyhttp://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 20081. http://deltavision.ca.gov/DV_Committee/Jan2009/08-1231_Delta_Vision_Committee_Implementation_Report.pdf

6. BDCP: Lead AgenciesFederalStateIn 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: OVERVIEWLargest Estuary on the Pacific CoastReceives almost half of the State’s runoffCovers 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 protectionHome to over 720 species of plants and animalsProvides drinking water for 25 million peopleSource of water for half of the nation’s fresh produceProvides recreation, flood control and wildlife habitatBlue Ribbon Task Force- Delta Vision Final Report 29 Jan 2008http://deltavision.ca.gov/BlueRibbonTaskForce/FinalVision/Delta_Vision_Final.pdf

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

9. CONTROL OF THE DELTASTATEFEDCalifornia State Water Project stores and delivers water to urban and ag suppliers throughout CaliforniaManaged by the Dept. of Water Resources Delivers water to two-thirds of California ‘s population30% irrigates the San Joaquin70% supplies residential, municipal, and industrial usersProject also operated to improve;Delta water qualityControl floodwatersProvide recreationEnhance fish and wildlifeThe 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 farmlandProvides drinking water to about 2 million peoplehttp://search.mtdemocrat.com/display.php?id=55978

10. CONTROL: cont.-A multitude of projects and legislation to control flooding and habitat...Flood ControlProtecting Habitat1861-State Legislature created Board of Swamp and Overflowed Land Commissioners to manage reclamation projects1880-State Engineer designed a flood control plan using a system of levees and bypasses1917-Sacramento Flood Control Project completed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in 1960-more levees1988-The Delta Flood Protection Act contained an environmental mandate protecting existing habitat1992-The Central Valley Project Improvement Act passed to balance the water demands of farms and cities with Delta’s fisheries protection1994-Bay Delta Accords another attempt at balancing water needsCALFED-a ten year period of state/federal collaborative management…and that ain’t all!!!http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/sdb/tbp/deltaoverview/index.cfmhttp://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C=

11. STRESSORSStorm water runoff from urban areasWater Exports to ag and urban usersWildlife Harvest – commercial, sport, poachingContaminantsAmmonia and endocrine disruptors from wastewater treatment plantsMethylmercury from legacy mines in Sierra watershedsInvasive speciesEntrainment at diversion pumpsSalinity – good for the ecosystem, bad for crops/drinking waterSeawater intrusion from over-pumping/over-allocatingAgricultural drainageWater quality – dissolved O2 , temperature, disease organismshttp://www.baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/Other_Stressors_Fact_Sheet_-_WEB.pdf

12. STRESSORS: ExampleTHE HARVEY O. BANKS PUMPING PLANTTwo 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: contDramatically alters the hydrology of the Delta by re-orienting flows from east to west to north to southInterrupts a natural cycle of tidal influences that bring brackish nutrient-rich flows through the DeltaSmelt, which are weak swimmers, are drawn into the pumps and pulverizedBlue Ribbon Task Force. Delta Vision Strategic Plan. Pp27-8 Oct 2008 http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdfHigh Country News. “Breakdown...” p3. 11 Jan 2010http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown/article_view?b_start:int=2&-C=

14. THE DELTA SMELTThe 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: contAlso 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 Newshttp://www.hcn.org/issues/42.1/breakdown

16. BDCP: Conservation StrategyProvide a comprehensive habitat conservation and restoration program for the DeltaProvide the basis for permits under federal and State endangered species laws for the activities covered by the plan based on the best available scienceIdentify sources of funding and new methods of decision-making for ecosystem improvementsProvide for an “adaptive management”and monitoring program to enable the plan to adapt as conditions change and new information emergesStreamline permitting for projects covered by the planhttp://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 restorationDesign adaptive management programContinue to develop biological goals and objectivesAnalysis of effects on water quality and bio-resourcesCost and financingImplementation structure and scheduleCommunity workshopsPublic comment on Draft BDCPhttp://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/BDCP%20Brochure%200909.pdf

20. MORE HELP FOR THE DELTA2009 COMPREHENSIVE WATER PACKAGESenate Bills and the Water Bond

21. 2009 COMPREHENSIVE WATER PACKAGESenate Bills and the Water Bondhttp://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. OPPONENTSTo 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 CoalitionIn addition to some Delta farmers and water districts and othershttp://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PeripheralCanal

25. Links and additional resourcesBay-Delta Conservation Plan – Brochurehttp://baydeltaconservationplan.com/GeneralDocuments/BDCP_Brochure.pdfBay Delta Conservation Plan – Fact Sheethttp://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FactSheetLibrary/BDCP%20Brochure%200909.pdfBay-Delta Conservation Plan, What is the BDCP? 15 Jan 2010.http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/BDCPPages/aboutBDCP.aspxBlue Ribbon Task Force- Final Report 29 Jan 2008http://deltavision.ca.gov/BlueRibbonTaskForce/FinalVision/Delta_Vision_Final.pdfBlue Ribbon Task Force-Delta Vision Strategic Plan, Oct 2008http://deltavision.ca.gov/StrategicPlanningProcess/StaffDraft/Delta_Vision_Strategic_Plan_standard_resolution.pdfDelta Overview,http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/sdb/tbp/deltaoverview/index.cfmDelta Vision-Abouthttp://www.deltavision.ca.gov/AboutDeltaVision.shtml

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