Delta Stewardship Council

Overview

The Delta Stewardship Council is a state agency established in California to provide a comprehensive management framework for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This region is a critical hub for California's water supply, agriculture, and ecosystem. The Council was created as part of the Delta Reform Act of 2009, which aimed to address the myriad challenges facing the Delta, including environmental degradation, water supply reliability, and the impacts of climate change. The Council's primary mission is to achieve the coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem.

Historical Context

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has been a focal point of California's water management policies for decades. Historically, the Delta has been subject to numerous environmental and infrastructural challenges, including habitat loss, water quality issues, and the decline of native species. The Delta Reform Act of 2009 was a legislative response to these challenges, seeking to establish a governance structure that could effectively balance the competing demands on the Delta's resources.

Structure and Governance

The Delta Stewardship Council is composed of seven members, including four members appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one by the Speaker of the Assembly. The seventh member is the Chair of the Delta Protection Commission. This diverse composition ensures that a range of perspectives and expertise are brought to bear on Delta management issues.

The Council operates through a series of committees and working groups, which focus on specific areas such as science, planning, and public engagement. The Council's activities are guided by the Delta Plan, a comprehensive management plan that outlines strategies and actions to achieve the coequal goals.

The Delta Plan

The Delta Plan is a legally enforceable document that provides a roadmap for managing the Delta's resources. It includes policies and recommendations aimed at improving water supply reliability, restoring ecosystems, and enhancing the Delta's resilience to climate change. The Plan is periodically updated to reflect new scientific findings and changing conditions in the Delta.

Key components of the Delta Plan include:

**Water Supply Reliability:** Strategies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of California's water supply system, including investments in infrastructure and water conservation measures.

**Ecosystem Restoration:** Initiatives to restore and enhance habitats for native species, such as the Chinook Salmon and Delta Smelt, which are critical to the Delta's ecological health.

**Risk Reduction:** Measures to reduce the risk of flooding and other natural disasters in the Delta, including levee improvements and emergency preparedness planning.

Science and Research

The Delta Stewardship Council places a strong emphasis on science-based decision-making. The Delta Science Program, a key component of the Council, provides scientific support and guidance for the development and implementation of the Delta Plan. The Program conducts research, synthesizes scientific information, and facilitates collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders.

The Delta Science Program also produces the State of Bay-Delta Science report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the current scientific understanding of the Delta's ecological and hydrological systems. This report serves as a critical resource for informing policy decisions and adaptive management strategies.

Public Engagement and Stakeholder Involvement

Public engagement is a cornerstone of the Delta Stewardship Council's approach to governance. The Council actively seeks input from a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, environmental organizations, agricultural interests, and water agencies. This engagement is facilitated through public meetings, workshops, and advisory committees.

The Council recognizes that effective management of the Delta requires collaboration and consensus-building among diverse interests. As such, it strives to create an inclusive and transparent decision-making process that incorporates the views and concerns of all stakeholders.

Challenges and Future Directions

The Delta Stewardship Council faces numerous challenges in its efforts to manage the Delta's resources sustainably. These challenges include:

**Climate Change:** The impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and altered precipitation patterns, pose significant threats to the Delta's ecosystems and water supply infrastructure.

**Invasive Species:** The introduction and spread of non-native species, such as the Water Hyacinth and Asian Clam, have disrupted the Delta's ecological balance and threaten native species.

**Water Quality:** Maintaining and improving water quality in the Delta is a persistent challenge, particularly in light of agricultural runoff, urban development, and industrial discharges.

Looking ahead, the Delta Stewardship Council is focused on enhancing the resilience of the Delta's ecosystems and communities to these and other challenges. This includes advancing scientific research, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and implementing adaptive management strategies that can respond to changing conditions.