Our Policy and Advocacy Program promotes the sustainable, equitable management of water resources throughout the State of California through policy research and evaluation, as well as direct advocacy. In collaboration with diverse coalitions of Tribal Nations, policy experts, environmental advocates, community organizations, farmers, and community members, we educate elected leaders, hold government agencies responsible through legal action and public dialogue, introduce policy proposals, and organize campaigns to build broad support for equitable water management solutions.
The Delta Conveyance Project ( i.e. Delta Tunnel) is a state-proposed 45-mile tunnel that would divert “excess” flows from the Sacramento River to Southern California. The proposal would limit flows through the Delta that safeguard water quality for drinking, irrigation of the largest strip of prime farmland in California, passage for migratory fish species that are important to Tribes and fishers, recreation, and the regional economy as a whole. Diverting more water from the Delta will not solve California’s water crisis. Altered far from its natural state, California’s water system is already causing irreparable harm to tribes, communities, and estuarine wildlife.
For more than a decade, the State Water Board has recognized that the Delta is in a state of ecological crisis, and has promised to update outdated 1995 water quality standards to ensure healthy and thriving Delta waterways. Seven native fish species, including the Chinook Salmon, are now threatened or endangered due to water diversions from Central Valley rivers and the Delta, which has severely impacted Tribal subsistence fishing. In partnership with the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition and other partners in the region, we’re calling for science-based standards that protect water quality for communities and fisheries.
Restore the Delta is a founding partner of the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition (DTEC), which has filed a historic Title VI Civil Rights Act complaint with the US EPA. The complaint is driven by the State Water Board’s failure to uphold basic environmental protections in the Bay-Delta, disproportionately harming Tribes and other communities of color. Supported by dozens of regional and statewide tribes and tribal organizations, environmental justice, environmental, and fishing groups, DTEC’s petition was accepted in August, 2023 for investigation by the US EPA.
Restore the Delta maintains a strong legislative presence, regularly engaging with state and federal legislators for solutions to Delta challenges with members. From hosting rallies and in-person advocacy days at the State Capitol to phone, email, and public comment campaigns and community teach-ins, we bring community members together to build a unified voice for the Bay-Delta.
Morgen Snyder is the Director of Policy and Programs at Restore The Delta. She was raised in Naperville, IL, and now calls Northern California home. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2017 with a degree in Political Science and Legal Studies, and has a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of California, Davis. Morgen is interested in water quality issues, both marine and freshwater, and hopes to develop sustainable and equitable water policies across California. She believes that community engagement and grassroots efforts are the key to creating continuous change.
Morgen is excited to be a part of Restore the Delta’s mission of achieving water quality protections for critical habitats and communities across the Bay-Delta. In addition to working with Restore the Delta, Morgen serves as the Chief of Staff for Climate Tech Circle, where she applies her passion for the environment by promoting innovative technologies to solve the climate crisis. In her free time, Morgen enjoys hiking with her dog, Buster, cooking vegan goodies, and tending to her garden and ever-growing collection of house plants. She was a 2024 Restore the Delta Climate Water Advocate before joining the RTD senior staff.
Connect: Morgen@restorethedelta.org
Cintia Cortez is the Policy Manager at Restore the Delta. She is a first-generation graduate from the University of the Pacific. Cintia received her degree in Geology and Environmental Science. She was inspired by Dr. Camarillo from the University of the Pacific to work in water conservation, after having done research with her in methods of data analysis for environmental scientists and engineers. Cintia was a Climate Leader with Stockton Public Health Advocates, and previously worked as a Climate Water Advocate intern for Restore the Delta, as well as a community organizer for Communities for a New California, where she promoted healthy equity in the Stockton community. Having been raised in a low-income, minority household in South Stockton, Cintia is honored to be working with Restore the Delta to bring awareness and resolutions to her community. In her spare time, she enjoys thrifting, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family.
Connect: Cintia@restorethedelta.org