Resources Secretary John Laird announced last week that, as expected, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) won’t meet its June deadline for producing a draft plan and environmental documents.  State and federal fish agencies and environmental groups keep saying that BDCP won’t do what a habitat conservation plan is supposed to do: in this case,...Read More

Among the scientists who have been scrutinizing the BDCP is a panel of Independent Science Advisors reporting to the Delta Stewardship Council.  This panel met over two days last week on whether BDCP is meeting the best available science standard in analyzing the effects of the planned project on species. The half-dozen scientists on the...Read More

The Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) met week before last, completing their business in one day instead of two and with all commissioners and staff present (although some commissioners stepped out for significant periods). Discussion items included the normal legislative update; continued science program funding; and an update on the Little Hoover Commission’s consideration of the...Read More

The Delta Protection Commission and the Water Education Foundation co-sponsored a Delta Levee Standards Conference in Sacramento last week – coincidentally, just when the Department of Water Resources (DRW) is proposing to adopt a weak standard as a baseline for future state investments in Delta levees. Central Delta Water Agency attorney Dante Nomellini provided background...Read More

Resources Deputy Secretary Jerry Meral said that the state has, in the past, had a plan to protect Delta levees (although the “plan” seems to have been somewhat piecemeal).  This “plan” was supported by annual general fund appropriations, but support will have to come from bonds in the future.  Meral said that the BDCP would...Read More

A couple of weeks ago, we looked at Buttonwillow Land and Cattle, one of the growers using water from Kern County’s Semitropic Water Storage District.  This district was created to receive State Water Project water, improve water supply reliability for a fairly arid region, make water cheaper for big growers, and fix an overdrafted groundwater...Read More

Turning our attention from Semitropic, let’s look at another farming operation that receives Delta water:  Woolf Farming and Processing, a member of the Westlands Water District.  A very nice website reports that this family-owned business is “committed to sustainably farming each crop to ensure the highest quality product while conserving our precious natural resources.”  It...Read More

At last week’s California Water Commission meeting, Jerry Meral gave a rosy update on BDCP, including how it will be financed.  (Handouts from BDCP and BDCP EIR on finance here)  Interestingly, Meral claimed that the BDCP could still go forward without the Water Bond even though the draft Implementation Costs and Funding Sources chapter of...Read More

Governor Brown’s administration has proposed a government reorganization that would include making the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) part of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) rather than an independent entity.  This week the Little Hoover Commission (an independent state oversight agency that investigates government operations) considered the reorganization plan and heard testimony on its effect...Read More

H.R. 1837 may reappear in an omnibus energy/land use bill being introduced by Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah).  The omnibus bill will include several bills that have passed the House over the last year but have stalled in the Senate due to Democratic opposition. Also in Washington D.C., the Senate appropriations committee is set to approve...Read More