Democratic lawmakers recently introduced a package of bills intended to address Delta and water supply reliability issues. The proposals include: adopting a Bay Delta Conservation Plan by 2011, reducing urban water usage by 20 percent by 2020, creating an appointed Delta Stewardship Council that would approve the conservation plan and have other broad authorities, requiring new reporting requirements for water diversions from the Delta and water usage, a new Delta Conservancy, and modifying the Delta Protection Commission.
The bills address many aspects of Delta and state water issues, including: governance, groundwater, water conservation, and conveyance.
Lawmakers have held multiple hearings each week since mid-August, recently adding a proposal to attempt a water bond initiative on the next ballot. A 14-member conference committee is working on the package through the legislative recess on September 11.
For more information contact Erik Johnson at (916) 340-6247 or ejohnson@sacog.org.