August 3, 2011

Delta Stewardship Council Releases Fifth Draft of Delta Plan

 The Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) this morning released the fifth staff draft of its plan to fix the deteriorating Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. By law, the final plan must be completed by the end of 2011. A cover letter and a comparison between the fifth and fourth drafts are also available.

The state is at a crucial phase in the development of the Delta Plan. The fifth staff draft includes policies and recommendations to be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Report, which is due to be published by the end of August 2011. As many know, the SCWC joined with a large group of statewide and regional stakeholders to voice serious concerns that the that DSC’s previous staff drafts reached beyond the body’s regulatory scope, exceeded Legislative intent, and could potentially reduce water supply reliability, among a host of other issues. In response to the staff drafts, the coalition submitted an Alternate Delta Plan in mid-June for consideration by the DSC, and it will be included in the Delta Plan’s environmental review process.

SCWC and stakeholders will be immediately reviewing today’s draft and providing comments and testimony at the upcoming DSC meeting, which will be held August 25-26 in Sacramento. Written comments on the 5th draft must be submitted by September 30, 2011 to deltaplancomment@deltacouncil.ca.gov.

For more information on SCWC’s involvement in Delta issues, visit our Bay-Delta page online.

SCWC Releases 2010/2011 Annual Report Reflecting Strong Growth

SCWC has released its 2010/2011 Annual Report, summarizing one of the best years in the organization’s history. Both membership and revenue are at all-time highs, and SCWC has increased its statewide profile to a level higher than ever before.

SCWC’s Task Forces have made great strides in their respective policy areas, and the organization’s events and workshops, including the Annual Meeting & Dinner, have emerged as valuable and popular regional networking opportunities.

SCWC sincerely thanks the Board of Trustees, members and stakeholders for an incredible year, and we look forward to building on these successes in the coming year.

SCWC Hosts Sold-Out Quarterly Meeting

 SCWC hosted its third 2011 Quarterly Meeting last Thursday in the City of Industry. The meeting garnered the highest attendance of any Quarterly Meeting in the organization’s history.

Last week’s event featured timely and compelling presentations on water issues from USGS seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones and Delta Stewardship Council Chair Phil Isenberg. Dr. Jones discussed the dangerous threat of earthquakes and flooding to our water systems, and Phil Isenberg facilitated a robust discussion about the development of the Delta Plan and SCWC member concerns about water supply reliability. SCWC sincerely thanks both Dr. Jones and Phil Isenberg for their contributions.

In addition, the SCWC Board of Trustees voted two new Board members to its ranks – Kevin Wattier of the City of Long Beach’s water department, and Kirby Brill of the Mojave Water Agency. 

Kevin Wattier has worked in the world of water and resource issues for more than 25 years. Prior to joining the Long Beach Water Department as its general manager, he spent 13 years

with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California before moving on to direct California Urban Water Agencies, and work in the private sector.

Kirby Brill has worked on water issues for more than 20 years. Before becoming the general manager of the Mojave Water Agency, he worked for the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority and the Orange County Water District.

SCWC congratulates both Kevin Wattier and Kirby Brill, and we look forward to working with both of them in the coming year.

 Chairman Charley Wilson adjourned last Thursday’s Quarterly Meeting in honor of former Kern County Water Agency general manager Tom Clark, who recently passed away. SCWC joins the entire statewide water community in remembering Tom Clark’s invaluable contributions, and mourning his passing.

To view more photos from the July 28 Quarterly meeting, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/socalwater.

BDCP Public Meeting Set for
August 11 -- Mark Your Calendar

Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) leaders will hold the next in their ongoing series of public meetings next Thursday, August 11.

The meeting will focus on the resolution of outstanding issues currently being addressed by the BDCP working groups. You can view the agenda and other information for the meeting here.

For more information on SCWC’s involvement in the BDCP and other Delta issues, visit our Bay-Delta page online.