California Resources Secretary John Laird discusses the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at special meeting

Friday, 26 August 2011

SAN JOSE, CA -Today, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors hosted California Resources Secretary John Laird at a special board meeting to address key issues with the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, with a special focus on ecosystem restoration. During the meeting, Secretary Laird affirmed his support for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and delivered a positive message about his confidence in the plan’s ability to meet the co-equal goals of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability.

The BDCP is being prepared through a collaboration of state, federal, and local water agencies, state and federal fish agencies, environmental organizations, and other interested parties with the goal of protecting and restoring the ecological health of California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and providing a more reliable water supply.

"I find that when I tell people that the Silicon Valley gets 50 percent of its water from the Delta and if there’s a drought or other real restrictions, it could go up to 80 or 90 percent, people look at me stunned; they don’t believe that it’s true," said Secretary Laird. 

He went on to urge the water district to educate Silicon Valley residents and business leaders about the region’s reliance on Delta water and promote a solution that achieves both the environmental restoration goals as well as the water supply reliability goals.

The Silicon Valley receives 55 percent of its water through the Delta watershed, with 40 percent conveyed directly through the Delta and another 15 percent diverted upstream of the Delta by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Hetch Hetchy system. 

In addition to hosting Secretary Laird, the water district convened a panel of stakeholders who have been involved in shaping the BDCP. The panel consisted of Richard Roos-Collins with the Water and Power Law Group PC, Spreck Rosekrans, economic analyst with the Environmental Defense Fund, and Campbell Ingram, executive officer with the Delta Conservancy. 

Along with addressing the importance of meeting the plan’s ecosystem restoration goals, the panel also pointed out that with such a large percentage of its water supply being conveyed through the Delta, the Silicon Valley has a greater interest than many parts of the state in advocating for the successful completion and implementation of the BDCP.

For the district, the ideal outcome would be a cost-effective, comprehensive, long-term solution for the Delta that meets the water supply, water supply reliability, and water quality needs of Santa Clara County while balancing other beneficial uses and providing a sustainable Delta ecosystem. 

"The water district is committed to working collaboratively to address the myriad issues facing the Delta and its diverse stakeholders," said board chair Don Gage. "Only a comprehensive solution will provide long-term benefits for all those concerned and ensure that the Silicon Valley is provided with the critical water supplies it needs to remain an economic engine for the state."

A second special board meeting on the water supply reliability goal of the BDCP is scheduled for October 14, 2011. For more information, visit www.valleywater.org.