SCWC Launches Public Education & Outreach Program on Vulnerabilities in Bay-Delta

October 31, 2011

The Southern California Water Committee (SCWC) today launched a regional education and outreach program entitled “Delta Disrupted,” highlighting a significant threat to California’s water supply: an earthquake impacting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta (Delta).  The program seeks to educate local and regional leaders about this major water supply risk and the proposed solution -- the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a comprehensive effort underway to protect both the water supply and the Delta’s fragile ecosystem. Informational materials for this outreach program were developed in partnership with the State Water Contractors. 

 Scientists have warned there is a 63 percent probability of a 6.7 or larger Bay Area earthquake occurring in the next 30 years. An earthquake of this size could have enormous impacts on the Delta, the West Coast’s largest estuary, home to long-standing communities, and a pathway for drinking water that serves more than 23 million people, businesses and farms throughout Northern, Central and Southern California. The water that moves through the Delta is funneled by old and deteriorating levees that could collapse in the event of an earthquake, causing saltwater to rush in and contaminate the freshwater supplies and halting deliveries to cities and businesses. The Delta ecosystem has been plagued by a myriad of challenges, including declining fish populations, invasive species and toxic pollutants. 

“Implementing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is a key priority for the Southern California Water Committee and our diverse members,” said Richard Atwater, executive director of the Southern California Water Committee. “Elected officials and policy leaders in Sacramento and Washington DC have spent years carefully analyzing the issues and identifying potential solutions to the multiple threats to the Delta. As the planning process advances, there is a compelling need to now mount an education and outreach program to regional and local leaders about the options proposed by the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Our organization intends to play a critically-needed role in communicating with local leaders on this important issue.” 

The Delta is the largest estuary on the West Coast and home to unique communities and farming interests, and currently doubles as the state’s primary water conveyance system. Under the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, state and federal agencies, in partnership with public water agencies, key scientists and environmental organizations, are currently examining multiple options for a new conveyance facility—including a canal or underground tunnel—to separate water supply movement from the fragile Delta environment and weak levee system. The plan, formulated in collaboration and based on sound science, would restore water supplies for the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California and preserve and enhance natural habitats in the Delta. This long overdue redesign of the water supply system would be one of the largest public works projects in California and construction of a new conveyance facility would be paid by public water agencies. It is estimated the project could generate up to 130,000 indirect and direct jobs during the seven-year construction period. 

SCWC, founded in 1984, has been a voice for Southern California throughout the past quarter century, navigating complicated water issues and playing a critical role in building water policy consensus throughout the region and the state. Since its beginning, the SCWC has been the only organization in the region bringing the diverse interests of local government, water agencies, business, labor and agricultural organizations together on California’s water issues. The organization has played a leading role in launching regional public education and policy development efforts on critical water supply issues, including urban water planning, stormwater capture and water recycling, infrastructure planning and water quality. 

SCWC encourages Californians to learn more about the Delta, the threats it is facing and the solutions at hand.  Informational materials for the Delta Disrupted program are available at www.socalwater.org/delta-disrupted. 

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