Delta Vision: governor's task force proposes plan for fixing Delta's woes

The recent recommendations of the governor's Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force present an enlightened vision for the future of California's Delta. The report provides a clear discussion of existing and emerging risks to the Delta and of the elements for a solution to the Delta's problems. The recommendations form a plan of 12 interrelated elements; the document states that its success is contingent on addressing all these elements together. But since the Task Force's findings merely represent a "vision" for long-term sustainability in the Delta, the major task remains to see that the positive aspects of its vision are carried forward into implementation.

According to Task Force chair Phil Isenberg, the group started with the understanding that the Delta ecosystem and a reliable water supply for the state are co-equal values; both must be accommodated. The awareness of the importance of the Delta ecosystem is in itself a welcome shift forward. The Task Force also recognized that the state's water resources are finite and fully (or over-) exploited. These premises led to recommendations to significantly increase conservation and water-system efficiency, and to reduce the volume of water diversions from the Delta, and/or adjust the timing of those diversions.

Some of the Task Force's recommendations, however, should be viewed very cautiously. The report recommends "new facilities for conveyance and storage, and better linkage between the two". Conveyance in this context usually means some sort of peripheral canal or "isolated facility" to move water from northern California to southern California. This could conceivably protect the Delta from some of the worst effects of pumping - or could merely increase the volume of water diverted. New storage could mean either storage in the ground by recharging depleted aquifers, which usually requires little new infrastructure, and/or capturing more river flow behind new or enlarged dams. These proposals could be beneficial or harmful - depending upon how they are implemented. The panel concluded that sufficient information is not currently available to guarantee that new conveyance and storage would work to improve the reliability of water delivery while restoring the Delta. The Task Force did not identify any specific location for storage or a specific conveyance plan, but some legislators and water managers are already hard at work to secure funding for pet projects.

The Task Force says that discouraging inappropriate urbanization of the Delta is critical both to preserve the Delta's unique character and to ensure public safety. The report recommends strengthening levees and purchasing floodplain easements. Sierra Club California agrees with the recommendations that the state should prohibit new urban development in flood-prone areas; in fact, the Task Force should call for an immediate moratorium on such development. We also agree that the state should set aside land for flood bypasses.

The Delta Vision authors specifically warn against cherry-picking among the recommendations, and focusing only on those that are favorable to particular interests. The report cover letter states that "[f]or those who rush to discuss Delta water conveyance as if no other issue is of importance, we caution that decisions about storage and conveyance flow from all twelve recommendations in our Vision, and cannot be decided by themselves." The panel members recommended that a dual conveyance system (use of both through-Delta pumping and a new around-the-Delta facility to transport water to southern California) be evaluated in terms of water-supply reliability, seismic and flood durability, ecosystem health and resilience, water quality, and cost.

For the long term, the Task Force recommended creation of a new independent governing body to integrate ecosystem and water-supply goals into policy and investment decisions. The new body would have authority to plan and direct spending on infrastructure and restoration projects, and to control the volume and timing of water exports. This and other recommendations face tremendous hurdles. There is legislation pending, Senate Bill 27 by Sen. Joseph Simitian (D-Palo Alto), which would create a governing body for the Delta called the Delta Water and Land Use Authority.

Sierra Club California will weigh in on the issues raised by the Delta Vision Task Force as it moves to develop a Strategic Implementation Plan by October 2008. Any vision for the Delta should focus on restoring the ecosystem and establishing regionally self-sufficient, reliable water supplies for California.

Water exports from the Delta must be reduced, and new appropriations and diversions in the watershed should not be allowed. Success of the Task Force's vision will require the adoption of clear and measurable targets to protect the values the Delta provides. This means targets for restoring native-fish populations, restoring tidal and freshwater wetland habitat, improving water quality, and reducing urban and agricultural water use statewide. California must protect the Delta as an ecosystem, a special place, and a sustainable resource into the future.

The Delta Vision panel's report and summary are available here.

Jim Metropulos and Jody Zaitlin

Jim Metropulos represents Sierra Club California on statewide water issues.