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Policy Proposals Make Modest Progress Toward Implementing theDelta Vision Strategic Plan

Delta Vision Foundation

Since the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously approvedthe Delta Vision Strategic Plan (October 2008), progress toward im-plementing their recommendations has been modest. The

Delta Vision Cabinet Committee

, created by Executive Or-der S-17-06, supported all seven goals o the Blue Ribbon Task Force,modiying only the governance recommendations.

The

Governor

has not responded to the recommendations o theDelta Vision Strategic Plan or the Cabinet Committee’s action. TheGovernor advocates water conservation, continues to support the Bay Delta Conservation Plan process and construction o improved Deltaconveyance acilities--plus additional dams--but has no integrated orlinked policy on overall water or Delta ecosystem problems.In the

California Legislature

, sixteen bills related to the Task Forcerecommendations remain under consideration. Though some legis-lative bills seek to be comprehensive, the existing bills--i enacted-- would not achieve the Delta Vision Strategic Plan recommendations.For example, no bill advances coherent Delta ecosystem restoration,and the nancing provisions o all bills together are inadequate.

recommenDations

The Governor should state his position on the recommendations o the Delta Vision Task Force and the largely supportive response tothose recommendations rom his Cabinet Committee. The urgency o Caliornia’s water supply problems and the crisis o the Delta eco-system can be addressed by a clear statement o support or the linkedand integrated recommendations proposed by the Task Force and sup-ported by his Cabinet Committee. The Legislature leadership should impose consistent policy direc-tion on water and Delta ecosystem bills to achieve coherent overall water and Delta ecosystem policy this year. Legislative work groupscontinue to devote an impressive amount o time and intelligence toconsidering state water policy, energies that can be harnessed to moreeective results.

seVen Goals in tHe DeltaVision strateGic plan

1. Make the co-equal goals of water supply reliability andecosystem restoration the legalfoundation of Delta and waterpolicy making.2. Recognize and enhance theunique cultural, recreationaland agricultural values of theCalifornia Delta as an evolv-ing place, an action critical toachieving the co-equal goals.3. Restore the Delta ecosystem asthe heart of a healthy estuary.4. Promote statewide water con-

servation, efﬁciency and sus-

tainable use.5. Build facilities to improve theexisting water conveyance sys-tem and expand statewide stor-age; operate both to achieve theco-equal goals.6. Reduce risks to people, prop-erty and state interests in theDelta by effective emergencypreparedness, appropriate landuses and strategic levee invest-ments.7. Establish a new governancestructure with the authority, re-sponsibility, accountability, sci-ence support and secure fund-ing to achieve these goals.

Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force adopted the Delta Vision Strategic Plan inOctober 2008. Delta Vision Committee adopted their “Implementation Report” inJanuary 2009. www.deltavision.ca.gov

GraDe: incomplete

DRAFT: Not approved by Delta Vision Foundation Board

Delta Vision Foundation

implementation by key actors

ad (c)

In recent months, the Governor has been most visible linking drought and comprehensive water reorm, dened asincreasing storage, improving conveyance, protecting the Delta ecosystem and promoting greater water conserva-tion. He issued an executive order declaring a statewide drought (June 2008), jointly proposed with Senator Feinsteina $9.3 billion state bond explained largely as drought response (July 2008), joined the “Caliornia March or WaterRally” (April 2009) and urged Caliornians to respond to a “Save Our Water” public education campaign (April 2009). The Governor continues to ask the Legislature to adopt a 20 percent per capita water conservation goal to be achievedby 2020, but the Legislature has not acted on that recommendation. The Governor also continues to support the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (described below), and construction o improved Delta conveyance acilities, plus additionaldams, but has no integrated or linked policy on overall water and Delta ecosystem problems. The “Sae, Clean, Reli-able Drinking Water Supply Act o 2009” (SB 371-Cogdill) largely incorporated the June 2008 recommendations o the Governor and Senator Feinstein into a proposed $9.98 billion general obligation water bond bill, but ailed to geta second reading in the Senate.

b D cv p (bDcp)

BDCP is structured to meet ederal and state Endangered Species Act review requirements or continued exports o water rom the Delta, and especially on construction o a new Delta water conveyance acility as a major contributionto satisying the conservation requirements o those acts. BDCP seeks to satisy the legal requirements o the ederaland state endangered species acts by actions limited to the legal Delta. I successully completed and implemented,the activities anticipated in BDCP would address Delta conveyance elements o Goal 5 and parts o Goal 3. However,successul completion o BDCP would not satisy a single one o the seven goals recommended in the Delta VisionStrategic Plan.

Ud s Gv

The Obama Administration oers promise o a partnership with the state on Delta and state water policy. However,it is unlikely that the ederal government will rapidly develop its policy on such issues as operation o the Central Valley Project, how to deal with salt impacted lands in the Central Valley, or the complicated environmental damageto the Delta. The current ederal response has been ragmented. There has been irregular progress on ecosystemand species protection. Federal review o levees is underway but ar more work needs to be done. The recent com-mitment o ederal economic stimulus unds to food control and water supply mostly ocused on improving existinginrastructure.

DRAFT: Not approved by Delta Vision Foundation Board

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Upload Date:	05/29/2009
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