Photo of Twitchell Island by the Department of Water Resources
The California Natural Resources Agency, along with the participating federal agencies, have released the Bay Delta Conservation Plan for formal public review, the 34,000+ pages of documents that latest milestone in a planning process that has been in process since 2007.
The controversial $25-billion plan proposes to fix the Delta’s ailing ecosystem by restoring over 100,000 acres of habitat while also constructing new intakes in the North Delta that would route freshwater flows through two tunnels to the existing infrastructure in the south Delta. State officials say the Plan is necessary in order to correct the reverse flows that confuse migrating fish and remove restrictions that currently restrict water supply deliveries. Delta advocates say that the expensive plan will certainly mean death for the Delta by depriving the estuary of the freshwater flows its needs.
“This is a rational, balanced plan to help meet the needs of all Californians for generations to come,” said California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird. “By meeting the state’s dual goals for BDCP of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability, we will stabilize and secure against catastrophe the water deliveries that sustain our homes, jobs, and farms, and do so in a way that not only protects but enhances the environment.”
The release of the public review draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and its corresponding Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) now triggers the start of a 120-day public comment period, from Dec. 13, 2013 through April 14, 2014. During January and February, a dozen separate public meetings are scheduled up and down the state.
“We look forward to hearing from members of the public on this proposal as we work to forge a lasting and sustainable solution that strengthens California’s water security and restores the health of the Delta,” the federal agencies said. “Through our joint federal-state partnership, and with science as our guide, we need to take a comprehensive approach to tackling California’s water problems.”
For more information and to read the public review draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan and visit http://baydeltaconservationplan.com
Written by Chris “Maven” Austin
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