Council Reviews Draft Delta Plan, Delta Water Quality

Water quality in the Delta and the first staff draft of the Delta Plan were the focus of the Delta Stewardship Council’s meeting today in West Sacramento.

The council heard a presentation by the Environmental Protection Agency on its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) for water quality issues in the Delta, released Feb. 10 for public comment. EPA's officials explained that its review of Delta water quality under the Clean Water Act will focus on identifying gaps in state and federal water quality programs and potential tools under the CWA to address the effects of pesticides, ammonia and other contaminants that are contributing to the Delta’s decline. The agency is soliciting public comments on possible EPA and state actions to achieve water quality and resource protection goals and best use the CWA to improve Delta water quality.

“The purpose of the ANPR is to ask whether the Clean Water Act programs are sufficiently protecting Delta waterways and, if not, what should we be doing about it?” said the EPA’s Erin Foresman.

Following their presentation, the EPA officials expressed an interest in engaging with the council as it shapes its Delta Plan.

“Please share any information you have with us and recommendations,” Council Member Gloria Gray said in response.

The council also held a discussion on the first staff draft of the Delta Plan, released Feb. 14. Staff legal counsel provided an overview of the timeline of the Delta Plan Environmental Impact Report, the first draft of which is scheduled for release on June 15. At that time, the council will receive public comment on the draft, and make any appropriate revisions to the plan. The final EIR is expected to be completed in September.

During a discussion on managing water resources, Council Member Randy Fiorini reminded staff and the council that groundwater overdraft in California is occurring as cities and farms supplement surface water shortfalls with groundwater. He emphasized that groundwater overdraft and water shortages are regional issues and that the local dynamics of an area must be reviewed.

Council Member Frank Nordhoff noted that much of the data presented to the council over the last several months proved to be in conflict with other data, and urged his fellow members to focus only on the irrefutable facts relating to the Delta and not findings that were deemed likely or inconclusive.

A public comment period was held.

The meeting continues tomorrow at 9 a.m. in West Sacramento. It will also be webcast at www.cal-span.org.