ACWA Submits Comments on Draft Delta Flow Criteria

ACWA submitted comments this week on new flow criteria for the Delta proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The flow criteria, issued July 21, call for significantly increased flows into and through the Delta, particularly during winter and spring months, and limits on reverse flows associated with pumping by the state and federal export pumps in the South Delta. The State Board was required to develop the criteria as part of the comprehensive water package enacted by the Legislature in November 2009.

In its comment letter, ACWA acknowledges the accelerated timeframe required by the legislation. It also voices concern that the draft criteria, as the State Board recognizes, fail to consider the co-equal goals of water supply reliability and Delta ecosystem sustainability and fall short of meeting the Board’s public trust responsibilities.

All comment letters submitted to the State Board to date can be found here.