Public commenters urge board to reject voluntary agreements in Bay-Delta Plan update and to strengthen reservoir storage and flow rules

Public commenters during the Oct. 21 State Water Board meeting urged the board to take a stronger stand in the Bay-Delta Plan update, arguing that voluntary agreements and past practices have failed to protect non-consumptive beneficial uses such as fisheries, tribal resources and Delta-dependent economies.

“Extinction and elimination of beneficial uses is not protection,” said a speaker identified in the record as representing Gatekeeper and partner organizations. The speaker asked the board to direct staff to create an “environmentally preferable alternative” for the Bay-Delta Plan update that would support growing fish populations, restore functioning habitats and include binding reservoir storage requirements and science-based flow criteria tied to viability metrics rather than backward-looking hydrology or voluntary supply agreements.

Peter Drekmeier, policy director for the Tuolumne River Trust, told the board he was alarmed by a recent trailer‑bill attempt to exempt water quality control plan updates from CEQA review and called on the board to assert independence and base decisions on science rather than political expediency. He also criticized proposed voluntary agreements as unlikely to meet Bay-Delta Plan objectives and urged the board to protect the public trust in water. Board members and staff said the board’s decisions are premised on science and the Porter‑Cologne authorities that guide balancing of beneficial uses.

Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel thanked the commenters and said staff will follow up on several of the points raised. No board action was taken during the meeting on the Bay‑Delta Plan update; public comments were recorded as part of the scheduled public forum.