First Draft of Delta Plan Released

Draft will elicit stakeholder and public involvement in the development of the Delta Plan

SACRAMENTO – The first draft of the Delta Plan is being released and posted onto the DSC website. It is the first of four drafts that will be developed and released over the next three months before the plan goes under an environmental review in June. It is designed to put the key issues on the table for the Council to discuss and receive input from stakeholders and the public. It’s expected that three subsequent drafts will be released following the environmental review.

“This is just the beginning of the process and it is expected the final Delta Plan will be considerably different,” said Joe Grindstaff, Executive Officer of the Delta Stewardship Council. “The final Delta Plan will be released on Jan. 1, 2012 as directed by the Delta Reform Act of 2009. It will be a major step toward furthering the coequal goals that will be used in guiding actions impacting the Delta.”

“‘Coequal goals’ means the two goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem. The coequal goals shall be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place.” (CA Water Code §85054)

The issues encompassed on the first draft will be discussed in public Delta Stewardship Council meetings. During the Council meetings, specific components of the Delta Plan will be discussed and debated in a workshop environment. Overall the Delta Plan addresses: 1) key findings relating to the objectives set for the in the Delta Reform Act; 2) an overview of the kinds of strategies necessary to achieve those objectives.

Following the Council meetings and workshops revisions will be made and three subsequent drafts of the Delta Plan will be released in March, April and May. An administrative draft Delta Plan will be released in June as part of the formal environmental review process. Subsequent drafts will address: 1) performance measures and targets; 2) linkages and integrations of components; 3) phasing of various components; 4) cost sharing among all interests.

A copy of the first draft of the Delta Plan and a full release schedule of subsequent draft Delta Plans can be found on the DSC website at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov