State Water Board Delays Action on River Flows
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After receiving a letter from Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) voted on November 7 to delay action on a proposal to amend the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, which included changes to the minimum flow standards for the Lower San Joaquin River. The Board took testimony and voted to postpone the item until December 12. The Board’s decision will have a significant effect on water supplies for farmers in the region.
The goal of the plan is to establish flow and water quality objectives needed to reasonably protect beneficial uses, including fish and wildlife. The Board’s proposal has received criticism from agriculture, business and water agencies as they would be forced to find alternative sources of water, which could be very difficult and expensive in dry years.
The letter from Governor Brown and Governor-elect Newsom stated that “a short extension will allow these negotiations to progress and could result in a faster, less contentious and more durable outcome. Voluntary agreements are preferable to a lengthy administrative process and the inevitable ensuing lawsuits.” During the postponement, Brown and Newsom “pledge to actively and meaningfully engage to bring this vital matter to a successful closure.”
