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6/11/2013 1:10:50 PM
In October 2012 the DWR Agricultural Land Stewardship Workgroup (ALS Workgroup) distributed a paper called the BDCP and Delta Farmland Discussion Paper. The DWR ALS Workgroup is now beginning the next phase of the paper’s development called the Draft Agricultural Land Stewardship Strategies Discussion Paper. Even with implementation of the mitigation measures and commitments proposed in the administrative draft BDCP and EIR/EIS, there will still be impacts to Delta agriculture. This paper sets forth a menu of potential agricultural land stewardship strategies that can be considered by decision makers when discussing appropriate mitigation measures or enhancements that support the Delta as a place. The approach outlined in this document does not try to distinguish environmental from economic impacts. It is expected that implementation of the strategies would be voluntary on the part of the landowner, farmer and local government; that it would not conflict with the implementation of ongoing ecosystem restoration or BDCP conservation measures; and that it would be consistent with state and regional policies.
The DWR ALSS Workgroup would like to get your input on this next draft. The documents are available at https://bdcpdfl.water.ca.gov/. Throughout the website and the associated documents, you will find various surveys requesting your feedback. Comments received will be considered in subsequent versions of the strategy paper and be treated as public records.
Please feel free to contact DWRAgriculturalStewardshipInfo@water.ca.gov if you would like to discuss the draft discussion paper further.
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5/31/2013 12:32:03 PM
Watch the video below for clips from the May 29 press conference on the release of BDCP Administrative Draft Chapters 8-12.
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5/29/2013 10:22:07 AM
The California Natural Resources Agency has released the remaining chapters of the Administrative Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to the public. Chapters 8 -12 include specifics on the implementation costs and funding sources, alternative ways to avoid harm to endangered species, and integration of independent science into the Plan’s preparation.
The availability of these chapters marks the complete release of the Administrative Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan. A public review Draft BDCP and formal comment period will be announced by October 1, 2013.
A Public Meeting to discuss Administrative Draft Chapters 8-12 will be held on July 17 in Sacramento; additional details to come soon.
Administrative Draft Chapters 8-12
News Release: Gov.Brown's Water Plan Cost, Benefits Details Released
Estimated Cost to Implement the BDCP Brochure
Estimated Funding to Implement the BDCP Brochure
BDCP Chapter 9 Alternatives to Take Brochure
BDCP Appendix 9.A, Economic Benefits of Take Alternatives Brochure
BDCP: Integration of Independent Science Review Brochure
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5/22/2013 3:39:18 PM
Thirteen California members of the U.S. Congress today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and California Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr., expressing “continued strong support” for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, adding “we cannot go in with half measures.” Read the letter here.
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5/10/2013 1:36:19 PM
The Consultant Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) is now available online for public review. In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BDCP Consultant Administrative Draft EIR/EIS evaluates potential impacts of the BDCP on natural and human environments, and identifies actions for mitigation.
Please note that while state and federal agencies welcome comments on the Consultant Administrative Draft EIR/EIS, they will only respond to formal public comments submitted during the official comment period on the Public Draft EIR/EIS, currently scheduled for release by October 1, 2013. This Public Draft will be accompanied by a robust public participation process, including in-Delta office hours, educational workshops and formal public comment hearings.
Delta landowners may contact DWR Delta landowner liaison Lauren Bisnett at (916) 653-7564 or lauren.bisnett@water.ca.gov with questions about the Administrative Draft environmental documents.
View the Consultant Administrative Draft EIR/EIS
Read the Press Release from the California Department of Natural Resources
View the EIR/EIS Overview Factsheet
View the latest blog, Full Analysis of Potential Impacts of BDCP Now Available
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5/9/2013 9:15:26 AM
The State of California and the Obama Administration have agreed to a formal deadline of October 1, 2013 for the release of the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and accompanying environmental documents for public review and comment. The BDCP will enable the state to make significant progress toward achieving the co-equal goals of securing California’s water supply and restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.
“One calamitous storm or natural disaster—driven by climate change—could jeopardize the entire Delta, destroy its ecosystem and cut off water to 25 million Californians,” said Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. “This agreement with our federal partners moves us another step closer to being more prepared for an uncertain future in California.”
Completion of the proposed plan and accompanying Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) is the culmination of more than six years of user-funded water planning and study. After considering public comment, the state and federal agencies will complete the review process and determine the most appropriate ecosystem conservation and water conveyance plan for adoption and permitting.
For the Governor's full press release, click here.
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4/9/2013 2:45:39 PM
The video recording of the April 4, 2013 BDCP Public Meeting is now available for review here. The next Public Meeting is scheduled for early May. Visit the Public Meetings page for more information.
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4/8/2013 12:54:27 PM
The California Department of Water Resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service have transmitted the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) to federal, state, and local agencies identified as cooperating and responsible agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) respectively.
The Administrative Draft EIR/EIS is a preliminary draft document and subject to change between now and the release of the Public Review Draft, which is currently scheduled for formal release and public comment in late summer or early fall 2013.
Over the next several weeks, state and federal agencies will provide technical briefings to cooperating and responsible agencies in order to solicit input and feedback for incorporation into a Public Review Draft. In keeping with our commitment to a transparent BDCP process, state and federal agencies will make the Administrative Draft available to the public, via its website, on May 10 (updated 5/7/13).
While Administrative Draft documents are typically reserved for agency review, the Administrative Draft BDCP EIR/EIS is being made available in order to allow additional opportunity for public review in advance of a formal public comment period. State and federal agencies welcome comments on this draft, but it is important to note that only formal public comments submitted during the official comment period on the Public Draft EIR/EIS will be responded to in the Final EIR/EIS. The release of the Public Draft later this year will be accompanied by a robust public participation process, including in-Delta office hours, educational workshops and formal public comment hearings.
Delta landowners may contact DWR Delta landowner liaison Lauren Bisnett at (916) 653-7564 or lauren.bisnett@water.ca.gov with questions about the Administrative Draft environmental documents.
For more information about the BDCP and the Environmental Review process, please visit www.baydeltaconservationplan.com.
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4/2/2013 9:06:18 PM
A Public Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, 2013. The meeting will be held at the Red Lion Woodlake Conference Center, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento from 12-6 p.m. Project staff will be available to review Chapter 1-7 materials and discuss comments and questions beginning at 12 p.m. and continuting until 6 p.m. The presentation portion of the meeting will run from 1-5 p.m. The meeting will be available via live video webcast and conference call. Learn more.
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3/27/2013 9:20:20 AM
Three additional chapters of the preliminary draft BDCP were released for public review today. The draft chapters made public today (Chapters 5-7) describe the anticipated ecological effects and proposed governance structure of the BDCP. The remaining chapters will be released next month.
-View Chapters 5-7
-Press Release - Brown Administration Releases Additional Chapters of Preliminary Draft of Bay Delta Conservation Plan - March 27, 2013
-BDCP Expected Outcomes Brochure
-BDCP Implementation Brochure
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