Governor's plan to give agencies more leeway in meeting water rules advances

Delta proposal would rely on 'voluntary agreements' to protect ecosystem and fish.

- IAN JAMES

A GRAIN SHIP moves through the deep water channel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta between the Port of Sacramento and San Francisco Bay.

California regulators are supporting a controversial plan backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and opposed by environmental groups that would give water agencies more leeway in how they comply with water quality rules.

The Newsom-backed approach is included as part of a proposed water plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, released recently by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The plan would give water agencies two potential pathways to comply with water quality goals — either a traditional regulatory approach based on limiting water withdrawals to maintain certain river flow levels, or an alternative approach supported by the governor in which water agencies, under negotiated agreements, would make certain water flow commitments while contributing funding for wetland habitat restoration projects and other measures.

The proposed plan is intended to protect native fish species and the ecosystem through water quality standards and flow objectives for the Delta and San Francisco Bay.

Major water agencies have lined up to support these so-called voluntary agreements, which Newsom and his administration have touted as a solution to break away from the traditional conflict-ridden regulatory approach and improve the Delta's ecological health.

Newsom called the plan "a testament to California's commitment to a collaborative, science-driven approach to managing our water for the benefit of our communities, economy, and fish and wildlife."

The proposed plan, developed by the state agency's staff, will now go through a public comment process, and will eventually go before the five-member state water board for a decision on adoption. Members of the board are appointed by the governor.