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SFPUC updates commission on Bay‑Delta negotiations; June 30 draft to state is a status report
Summary
SFPUC staff said parties negotiating voluntary agreements for Bay‑Delta water quality will submit a June 30 status package to the state, but cautioned that a full, final alternative to the state plan by December is ambitious; commissioners pressed for clearer decision rules to account for rapid changes in hydrology.
Assistant General Manager for Water Steve Ritchie briefed the commission on progress toward voluntary agreements that could form an alternative to the State Water Board’s Bay‑Delta water quality control plan.
Ritchie said negotiations involve five major interest sets — San Joaquin diverters, Sacramento diverters, state and federal water projects, environmental NGOs and the State of California — and that the June 30 deliverable is best understood as a status report that packages governance, science, funding and non‑flow measures for state review. He said a smaller policy group is meeting regularly to work through sensitive issues and that getting a fully formed alternative by Dec. 1 would be "incredibly ambitious." "I would be personally surprised if we really had an alternative ready for review at that time," Ritchie said.
Commissioners asked whether the June 30 submittal will contain recommendations; Ritchie said it will primarily document progress and that staff plans to return with a fuller briefing in July. He and commissioners discussed the challenge of choosing hydrologic year types at monthly time steps and whether weekly or more iterative decision rules could reduce the chance of making damaging flow decisions.
Public speakers and NGOs urged stronger commitments for fish habitat and accountability. Peter Drechmeier of the Tuolumne River Trust said NGOs are skeptical that water agencies can "produce more fish with less water," and warned that some proposed actions such as predator control alone will not substitute for sufficient flows.
Staff said the SFPUC remains actively engaged in Sacramento negotiations and will report back after the June 30 package is submitted to the state; Ritchie said staff expects to present a status report in July.
