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Urban Water Institute The Delta – Who’s in Charge. Craig Wilson Delta Watermaster. Delta Issues Governance Problems Governance Reforms. Delta Water Issues. The Historical Delta The Altered Delta Hydrodynamics Stressors The Co-equal Goals. Delta Hydraulics. Tides River Flows
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Urban Water InstituteThe Delta – Who’s in Charge Craig Wilson Delta Watermaster
Delta Issues • Governance Problems • Governance Reforms
Delta Water Issues • The Historical Delta • The Altered Delta • Hydrodynamics • Stressors • The Co-equal Goals
Delta Hydraulics • Tides • River Flows • Exports \ diversions
Delta Water Conveyance • Flow patterns • East/West vs. North/South • Flow amounts • Historical • Present Day • Present Conveyance System • Worst of all worlds • Solutions • Separate Fish from Conveyance • Flow amounts: Flow criteria • Other Delta “stressors”
Governance Problems • No clear mission • Multiple agencies • No pathway to decisions
The California Water Package 2009 Overview • The Water Package • On November 4, 2009, California’s Legislature approved a historic overhaul of California’s dysfunctional water system centered on the hub of California’s water distribution system, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. • The water package consists of five bills: • SB 1: The Delta Governance and Management • SB 2: The Water Bond Measure • SB 6: Groundwater Monitoring • SB 7: Water Conservation • SB 8: Water Rights Enforcement
The Water Deal of 2009: Governance What was the problem the Legislature attempted to address? • Multitude of agencies involved • Develop framework to achieve the co-equal goals • Path to decision making
Major players • The Three C’s • Delta Stewardship Council • Delta Protection Commission • Delta Conservancy • The State Water Board • The Fish Agencies • The Project Operators • The Diverters: Water Agencies, etc. • Environmental Groups
State Water Board’s Role In Implementing The Delta Plan • Reliable water supply co-equal goal • Conveyance facilities • Storage • Delta Ecosystem co-equal goal • Flow standards • Stressors • Efficiency
Delta Watermaster • Position created by Delta Reform Act of 2009 • Appointed by State Water Board: 4-Year Term • 3 Main Responsibilities: • Delegated Authority for Monitoring and Reporting (Geographic Limitation) • Delegated Authority for Enforcement (Geographic Limitation) • Regular reports to the State Water Board and the Delta Stewardship Council on water issues (no Geographic Limitation)
Watermasters • Traditional Watermaster • Water Rights usually well-defined • Small number of diverters • Small geographic area • Delta Watermaster • Water rights uncertain • Large number of diversions • Large geographic area • Enforcement authority
Governance Reforms • Clearer Mission • Responsible agency (ies) • Pathway to Decisions
Solutions (Statewide & Delta) • Portfolio approach (no silver bullet) • Adaptive Management • Delta: what do we want it to look like • Keep Farms • Restore Habitat • Improve Flows • Reduce Pollution • Address Invasives