Alternate Delta Plan Developed to Trigger Much-Needed Discussion

With the Delta Stewardship Council poised to release the fourth staff draft of its Delta Plan today, a broad coalition of water agencies and organizations is hoping an alternative plan submitted Friday will help trigger much-needed discussion by the council in the coming days and weeks.

The coalition, a large and diverse group known as the Ag-Urban Coalition, has been deeply concerned that the council has not yet addressed some essential questions in its quest to produce the Delta Plan. During a series of meetings convened by ACWA President Paul Kelley, the coalition made a bold decision to develop an alternative plan to frame those key questions and ensure the council has a full range of options before it as it carries out its important work.

Our 50-page Alternate Delta Plan was submitted to the council Friday, along with a seven-page policy letter signed by 28 organizations and agencies asking that the plan be included and analyzed in the council’s upcoming environmental review process.

Approving our request would not require the council to choose between our proposal and the staff drafts at this time. It would, however, ensure that the council has a complete range of options to consider as it formulates a final Delta Plan by the Jan. 1, 2012, statutory deadline.

Our Alternate Delta Plan deserves a careful look by the Council and the Brown Administration. It was produced by a staggeringly diverse coalition as demonstrated by the signatures on the policy letter. A lot of people contributed mightily to drafting the plan, and compromises were made to maintain solidarity. I extend my appreciation to each and every one of those who dedicated so much of their time and energy to this effort.