Draft EIR for Delta Plan Set to Be Posted Nov. 4

The Delta Stewardship Council issued a formal notice today saying the draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the Delta Plan will be available Friday, Nov. 4.

The release of the draft EIR will trigger a 60-day comment period that will end Jan. 3, 2012. The document is expected to be about 2,000 pages.

According to the notice, the draft Delta Plan covers five topic areas and goals: increased water supply reliability, restoration of the Delta ecosystem, improved water quality, reduced risks of flooding in the Delta, and protection and enhancement of the Delta as an evolving place.

The draft Delta Plan does not propose construction or operation of any facilities related to the five topic areas. It does, however, “set forth regulatory policies and recommendations that seek to influence the actions, activities and projects of cities, counties, and state, federal, regional and local agencies toward meeting the goals in the five topic areas,” according to the notice.

Examples of these actions and activities include new or expanded water storage reservoirs; wetlands and riparian restoration; invasive species management; water flow patterns in the Delta; water, wastewater, stormwater and agricultural runoff water treatment; levee modification and construction; floodplain expansion; new/improved active and passive recreation opportunities in the Delta.

The Delta Stewardship Council will convene public hearings on Nov. 17 and Dec. 15 to gather comment on the draft plan.

ACWA and a coalition of urban and agricultural water agencies, statewide associations and other organizations submitted an Alternate Delta Plan to the Delta Stewardship Council in June as an alternative to staff drafts of the Delta Plan.

The coalition’s alternative is expected to be among five alternatives analyzed in the draft EIR.