Association Participates in BDCP Meeting

This past week, the Association participated in a meeting on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) with Karla Nemeth, Deputy Secretary for Water Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency.  The conversation focused on the recent changes announced by the administration, which now includes a plan to accelerate long-stalled Delta environmental projects, including critical habitat, wetlands and floodplain restoration, while fixing California’s aging water infrastructure system.  Included is focused project to conduct more than 30,000 acres of delta habitat restoration and protection on managed wetlands, floodplain and tidal and sub-tidal habitat, as well as aquatic, riparian and upland habitat projects.  The other update to the plan centered on two (2) 40 foot diameter tunnels to deliver 9,000 cubic feet per second of water through the delta, and providing levee protection.  Furthermore, the project would reinstate a more natural direction of river flows in the South Delta, and includes new criteria to protect spring outflow in the Bay, and to protect Sacramento River flows and fish.  Critical pieces include new state of the art fish screens, relocated and redesigned intake facilities.  Concerns expressed at the meeting included cost of the system to growers, actual water provided, and potential benefits of the system including lowered salinity levels of water delivered to farmers.  The Association was represented by President/CEO Roger Isom and Director of Regulatory Affairs Jodi Raley.

Deputy Secretary Karla Nemeth listens to concerns from Ag on BDCP

Deputy Secretary Karla Nemeth listens to concerns from Ag on BDCP