NORTH DELTA WATER AGENCY
CONTACT INFORMATION:
North Delta Water Agency
3050 Beacon Blvd., Ste 203, West Sacramento, CA 95691
Phone (916) 446-0197 Fax (916) 446-2404
| NDWA Board Meetings |
| 2024 Schedule |
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CALENDAR ALERTS
June 11 – Workshop: Drought, Salinity, and Sea Level Rise
June 20 – Forum on Delta Drought Response Pilot Program, Ryde Hotel, 10 am to noon
July 12 - Deadline to comment on CA’s Climate Adaptation Strategy
July 15 – Deadline to submit comments on EIR for Long-Term Operation of SWP
Aug 7, 2024 - Board of Directors Meeting, 3050 Beacon Blvd., Ste 203, West Sacramento,9:30 a.m.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Water Rights Legislation Proceeds- Water scarcity during droughts has increased the State Legislature’s interest in revising historical water rights statutes. AB 1337 (Wicks) provides the State Water Resources Control Board the ability to oversee the amount of water used by all water rights holders, including riparian, when there is a shortage. AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan) proposes to increase the water board’s enforcement authority to prevent water theft, but does not alter the water rights system in any way. Both bills have passed the Assembly and are now going through the committee process in the Senate.
Governor Appoints New Deputy Director for SWP - John Yarbrough was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as the DWR Deputy Director of the State Water Project. He has held several DWR positions since 1999, including recently serving as Assistant Deputy Director since 2019.
LEGAL MATTERS
NDWA Files CEQA Lawsuit and Water Rights Protest on DCP - The Agency entered into a tolling agreement with DWR to extend the deadline for filing a CEQA lawsuit for the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to allow an opportunity for developing a settlement agreement. The deadline for filing a protest of the water rights change petition for the DCP is May 13, 2024. In accordance with the authorization of the NDWA board of directors, on May 13, 2024 the Agency’s legal counsel filed a CEQA lawsuit in Sacramento and a water rights protest with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on the DCP.
Delta Organizations File Water Rights Protests and Injunction on DCP - In addition to the NDWA filing a water rights protest on the Delta Conveyance Project change in diversion point petition, a coalition of California tribes, environmental organizations, and fishing groups also filed their water rights protests. A coalition that includes Sacramento County also filed an injunction to prevent geotechnical drilling without an environmental analysis under CEQA. Oral arguments were heard by Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto on May 31, 2024.
Court Upholds Long-Term Water Rights Contracts - In a May 23, 2024 decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the validity of long-term Central Valley Project water rights contracts in the northern Sacramento Valley. In the majority decision written by Judge Sandra Ikuta, the court affirmed the district court’s decision and rejected arguments by the plaintiffs that the environmental review by federal agencies of the contract renewals were inadequate.
Water Rights Enforcement Debated - Downy Brand attorney, Rebecca Smith, participated on a panel discussing the State Water Resources Control Board’s water rights enforcement authority at the CA Water Law Symposium.
Civil Rights Complaint Filed Over Delta - A coalition Tribes and Delta Environmental Justice Organizations filed a civils rights complaint and petition for rulemaking with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that seek to improve through-Delta flows to save fish species and prevent harmful algal blooms.
LATEST NEWS
Oroville Reservoir is Full - For the second year in a row, the Oroville Reservoir is at 100% capacity. This is 128% of its historical average for this time of year. Not done yet, Mother Nature delivered more moisture in a rare snowstorm in May dumping two feet of snow.
EIR for Long-Term Operation of SWP Released - DWR released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) analyzing the long-term operations of the State Water Project (SWP) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh. The deadline to submit written comments is 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2024. There will be a virtual public meeting at 11:30 a.m. on June 18, 2024. The Draft EIR analyzed Surface Water Hydrology; Surface Water Quality; Aquatic Biological Resources; Tribal Cultural Resources; Environmental Justice; Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptation; Growth Inducement; and Cumulative Effects. DWR did not include operation of a new Delta Conveyance Project in the analysis. According to the EIR, there are no significant environmental effects anticipated on resources analyzed in the Draft EIR.
Strategy for State Water Project Released - The CA Water Commission recently released a brief risk informed strategic plan for the State Water Project – “Elevate to 28” – which highlights the Delta Conveyance Project as an important facility to get through climate change. DWR staff also did interview with Channel 10 about the plan, stating the tunnel project will protect against sea level rise, earthquakes, and even salt water intrusion – without harming fish or the Delta.
Long-Term Drought Plan for SWP - DWR released its first comprehensive long-term drought plan for the State Water Project which includes an assessment of more severe droughts and less reliable water supply. The plan outlines multiple actions to improve resilience, flexibility, efficiency, and capacity to the system.
SWP Delivery Capability Report Released - DWR released the draft 2023 State Water Project Delivery Capability Report which describes the key factors affecting the operation of the SWP and its ability to continue delivering water. Hydrological patterns are expected to intensify, with periods of high flows exceeding the capacity of existing infrastructure to capture it, and prolonged and more severe dry spells that will challenge operations and deliveries. The Bay Delta Update, Voluntary Agreements, and re-initiation of Consultation for Long-Term Operations have not been finalized and therefore were not included in the analysis.
Higher Price Tag for Delta Tunnels - DWR released new cost-benefit estimates and FAQ for the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) that reveal the cost has increased by $4 billion since the last estimate was announced four years ago. Despite the rising price tag, DWR claims the benefits of the project still outweigh the $20.1 billion cost estimate. Opponents of the project maintain that the DCP is an expensive boondoggle that will imperil the ecosystem and Delta as place. Restore the Delta specifically claims the cost analysis failed to adequately recognize the effects on local communities, tribes, the Delta environment, and the state’s fishing industry. According to Dr. Jeff Michael, professor of public policy at McGeorge School of Law, disputes DWR’s assertion that the DCP is less expensive than desalinization project water. Congressman Josh Harder slammed the project for its intent to benefit Beverly Hills while harming the Delta in terms of lost farmland, unhealthy air quality, reduced water quality, and more detrimental effects. County Supervisors in the Delta Counties Coalition criticized the analysis for being based on unreasonable assumptions and expressed frustration with the state’s refusal to study alternatives to a tunnel.
Water Board Releases Scientific Report on Voluntary Agreements - On January 5, 2023 the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued a Notice announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on a Scientific Basis Report Supplement in support of Voluntary Agreements for the Bay-Delta Plan Update. A public workshop will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the CalEPA building in Sacramento. The deadline to submit comments is 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
3050 Beacon Blvd., Ste. 203
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 446-0197
Melinda Terry, Manager