Delta Flow Criteria Released by State Board

The State Water Resources Control Board today released new flow recommendations for the Delta to protect public trust resources.

The recommendations call for significantly increased flows into and through the Delta, particularly during the 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 recommends additional measures to improve water quality and restore natural habitat, noting that protection of public trust resources “cannot be achieved solely through flows.”

The 2009 comprehensive water package required the State Board to develop new flow criteria for the Delta for the purpose of informing two planning processes now under way for the Delta.

Once adopted by the Board, the criteria will be submitted to the Delta Stewardship Council to help guide development of the Delta Plan. The criteria will also inform the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, a multi-species conservation plan being developed separately by federal and state agencies as well as water users and environmental organizations.

As specified by the legislative package, the flow criteria are not binding or considered pre-decisional in any future State Board action.

Written comments on the draft criteria are due by noon Thursday, July 29. The State Board will consider adopting the criteria at its Aug. 3 meeting.

The draft criteria and related information can be found here.