In The News Press Releases
Press Releases
State & Federal Agencies Release Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement for Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Friday, 10 May 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10, 2013
Sacramento, CA – Today, state and federal agencies released an administrative draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/S). Typically, the administrative draft of an EIR/S is not released to the public, however for the BDCP, state and federal agencies are releasing the documents in an abundance of transparency. The public Draft EIR/S that will be available for public comment is scheduled to be released by October 1. The release of this administrative draft marks an important step in the effort to restore the ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and secure the water supply for 25 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland. The draft BDCP has been in development for seven years and has evolved through extensive scientific research and planning. Releasing this information to the public is a testament to the state and federal governments’ commitment to ensuring all stakeholders are engaged in this important process. You can find the first seven draft chapters of the BCDP and informational materials here.
Final Snow Survey of 2013 Finds Continued Dry Conditions
Thursday, 02 May 2013
For Immediate Release
May 2, 2013
Final Snow Survey of 2013 Finds Continued Dry Conditions
Highlights Need for More Flexible Water Delivery System
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the fifth and final snowpack survey of the year today. The survey found that the water content in the snowpack is only at 17 percent of normal. California’s water supply is heavily dependent on snowpack – one third of the water used in homes, businesses and farms across the state comes from the snowpack. The dismal snowpack and record dry spring, coupled with pumping restrictions earlier in the year highlights the need for a more flexible and reliable water delivery system for the state. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) is being crafted to be a comprehensive solution to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) crisis by restoring the ecosystem and improving the conveyance delivery system of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project.
Record Dry Season, Pumping Restrictions Force State to Lower State Water Project Delivery Projections to 35 Percent
Friday, 22 March 2013
For Immediate Release
March 22, 2013
Record Dry Season, Pumping Restrictions Force State to Lower State Water Project Delivery Projections to 35 Percent
Sacramento, CA—The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced today that water allocations from the State Water Project have been reduced to 35% from 40% due to a record dry January and February, coupled with a grim outlook for rain conditions in March, and pumping restrictions that were imposed in December and January to protect Delta smelt and salmon. Recent pumping restrictions resulted in more than 550,000 acre-feet of water lost from the State Water Project and more than 300,000 acre-feet of water lost from the Central Valley Project – water that could have been stored and would have provided an important safety net during this record dry spell. DWR rarely lowers allocation projections. In fact, allocations have only been reduced 3 times since 1970.
Release of Bay Delta Conservation Plan Preliminary Draft Marks Important Milestone
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Natural Resources Agency released the first four chapters of the preliminary draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The rest of the chapters will be released in stages throughout March and April. The release of this draft marks an important step in the effort to restore the ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and secure the water supply for 25 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland. This draft has been in development for seven years and explains in detail the planned conveyance facilities and habitat improvements under review. Releasing this information to the public is a testament to the state and federal governments’ commitment to ensuring all stakeholders are engaged in this important process. You can find the first four chapters of the BCDP and informational materials here.
Did California Miss the “Big Gulp” Water Supply Moment This Year?
Thursday, 07 March 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2013
Did California Miss the “Big Gulp” Water Supply Moment This Year?
BDCP Conveyance Solution Would Have Both Captured Supplies and Protected Fish Species
Sacramento, CA – Absent a sudden change in the weather pattern, California has missed this year the one opportunity to capture adequate supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for 25 million people, three million acres of farmland and businesses from the Bay Area down through San Diego. Severe limits on pumping operations earlier this winter prevented water agencies from capturing the high flows of water that were available. Limits on pumping operations are an ongoing issue due to the Delta’s outdated water delivery system.
“Earlier this year, storms came through that could have provided a substantial boost to our water reservoirs, but we simply could not capture enoughwater due to restrictions facing the existing projects in the southern Delta,” said Terry Erlewine, general manager of the State Water Contractors. “If we had intakes in the northern Delta and a way to convey those supplies to the existing aqueducts, as proposed by the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, we could have diverted more supplies without impacting fish species such as Delta smelt.”
Updated State Study Determines BDCP Would Create More Than 136,000 New Jobs
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2013
The California Natural Resources Agency released an updated study today, conducted by UC Berkeley Professor David Sunding of the Brattle Group, that outlines the anticipated local and statewide jobs created by constructing and operating a 9,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) twin-tunnel system within the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The study finds the BDCP, which seeks to secure a reliable water supply and restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) habitat, will be a major job creator for the state of California and the Delta region. The updated study found that the BDCP would likely create more than 136,000 jobs, through construction and operation of a new conveyance facility and the associated habitat restoration program. Of note, the study determined a net gain of 15,000 jobs in the Delta region over the life of the project due to the habitat restoration program. Having a secure water supply for the 25 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland that rely on water from the Delta is important to California’s economy, this reliability coupled with an additional 136,000 jobs, illustrates the necessity of the BDCP. You can read the full study here.
Single Tunnel Proposal for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Flawed
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Sacramento, CA – A smaller, single tunnel underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) would result in dramatically less water for California cities and farms while causing greater harm to endangered species, a new review by the State Water Contractors explains.
The single tunnel proposal was circulated by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other organizations at the end of January as an alternative to the twin-tunnels that have been proposed under state-federal Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The twin-tunnels of BDCP would have a capacity of 9,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), while the single tunnel proposal calls for one tunnel with a capacity of only 3,000 cfs. The State Water Contractors believe that that this alternative proposal would reduce environmental benefits and reduce water supplies for 25 million Californians and farmers on millions of acres of land.
Massive Water Supply Cuts Imposed on California Public Water Agencies
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento, CA –Water exports through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) have been cut back dramatically due to the loss of approximately 232 Delta smelt, a fish species that lives year-round in the estuary. Between November 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013, California public water agencies have had deliveries curtailed by more than 700,000 acre-feet of water. This water could have been used in homes, businesses and farms across the state were it not for the pumping restrictions in the southern Delta. If new diversion facilities in the northern Delta were in place, California’s public water agencies would not have lost this water.
Governor Brown Calls for Delta Fix in 2013
Thursday, 24 January 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2013
GOVERNOR BROWN CALLS FOR DELTA FIX IN 2013
Health of Economy and Delta Ecosystem too Important to Ignore
Governor Jerry Brown delivered the annual State of the State address today and in the speech he emphasized the need to move forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). He explained the BDCP’s importance to California’s economy, the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and the water supply for over 25 million people and millions of acres of farmland. California’s water supply is at risk because of fragile levees, earthquake, flooding and ongoing environmental concerns, and the BDCP aims to address these risks. The BDCP would secure the state’s water supply for 50 years, providing much-needed assurance to California’s economy, residents, farmers and business owners.
Read the Governor’s As-Prepared Remarks here.
Storms Boost Water Supplies in California’s Reservoirs
Monday, 03 December 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STORMS BOOST WATER SUPPLIES IN CALIFORNIA’S RESERVOIRS
The recent storms have given California’s water supply a boost statewide and storage levels are up by more than 300,000 acre feet in Oroville Reservoir, the State Water Project’s primary reservoir. The storms came on the heels of the California Department of Water Resources’ announcement that the initial allocation for State Water Project supplies is 30 percent. The initial allocation is always a conservative estimate, and the state officials expect the allocation to increase as the winter season progresses. In 2012, State Water Project contractors received 65 percent of their contracted amount of water.
Comprehensive COST-Benefit Analysis of BDCP to be Conducted
Thursday, 29 November 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMPREHENSIVE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN TO BE CONDUCTED
The California Natural Resources Agency announced today that a cost-benefit analysis of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) will be conducted to provide a more complete picture of the project’s costs and economic benefits. More than 25 million people rely on the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta for delivery of their drinking water supply. Millions of acres of farmland rely on the Delta for delivery of irrigation water. Those water supplies are at risk today due to fragile levees, earthquake, flooding and ongoing environmental concerns. The BDCP seeks to eliminate the current risks by building a more reliable water conveyance system while restoring an important ecosystem. The BDCP would provide water supply reliability for 50 years, giving California’s economy much-needed assurance. The cost-benefit analysis proposed by the state will expand upon the existing analysis of BDCP.
State Water Project Community Loses Longtime Leader Steve Robbins
Thursday, 04 October 2012
SWC Past-President and Coachella Valley Water District General Manager Passes after Battle with Leukemia
Sacramento, CA--The State Water Contractors (SWC) and our 27 member agencies were saddened to learn last week that our friend and colleague Steve Robbins had passed away. Steve, 59, was diagnosed with leukemia just six months ago. Steve was a leader in his region, as General Manager/Chief Engineer of Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), and statewide, as a past-president of the SWC and current board member. He worked at CVWD for 25 years.
In Case You Missed It: Newspaper & Leaders Throughout CA Applaud BDCP
Thursday, 16 August 2012
There has been a flurry of news coverage in the wake of Governor Jerry Brown and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s announcement outlining the next steps for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan last month. Editorials and opinion pieces on this important endeavor have popped up across the state and they illustrate the support mounting in favor of this plan. It is not surprising though, considering the BDCP has garnered bipartisan support from business, agricultural, local government, labor and other interests throughout California.
CA Dept. of Water Resources Raises State Water Project Allocation to 60 Percent
Monday, 16 April 2012
Water Agencies Get 10 Percent Boost in Water Supplies
Sacramento, CA—The California Department of Water Resources announced today that water supplies from the State Water Project have been raised from 50 percent to 60 percent due to increased precipitation during the months of March and April.
Bay Delta Conservation Plan Hits Critical Milestone
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
CA Natural Resources Agency Releases Preliminary Administrative Drafts of BDCP Planning Documents
Sacramento, CA—The California Natural Resources Agency today released the preliminary administrative drafts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the accompanying environmental review documents, which include the most comprehensive scientific analysis and review to date of the proposed plan alternatives.
More Articles...
- Dry Season Forces State to Lower State Water Project Delivery Projections to 50%
- Governor Brown Makes Bay Delta Conservation Plan Top Priority
- First 2012 Snow Survey Brings Record Low Snow Pack Measurements
- State & Federal Agencies Announce Added Transparency for Bay Delta Conservation Plan
- California Department of Water Resources Announces 60 Percent Initial State Water Project Allocation for 2012
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