Delta Stewardship Council

Delta Stewardship Council
Name	Delta Stewardship Council
Formation	2009
Jurisdiction	California Delta
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Chief1 name	Chair

Delta Stewardship Council The Delta Stewardship Council is a California state body created to guide policymaking and planning for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta region. It produces long‑range plans, coordinates with state and federal agencies, and seeks to balance water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration in a politically contested landscape. The Council interacts with numerous agencies, agencies, commissions, and advocacy groups active in California water and environmental affairs.

Overview

The Council develops and implements the Delta Plan, collaborates with the California Natural Resources Agency, and works alongside entities such as the California Department of Water Resources, United States Bureau of Reclamation, California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, and regional water districts like the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and East Bay Municipal Utility District. It engages stakeholders including California Farm Bureau Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, and local governments such as San Joaquin County, Contra Costa County, and Sacramento County. The Council’s decisions intersect with regulatory frameworks like the California Environmental Quality Act, the Endangered Species Act, and state statutes shaping Central Valley Project and State Water Project operations.

History and Establishment

The Council was established following legislative debates involving the California Legislature and the office of the Governor of California amid controversies surrounding the Peripheral Canal (California), the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, and water conflicts between the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. The enabling statute balanced interests represented by advocates such as the Environmental Defense Fund, agricultural organizations like the California Farm Bureau Federation, and urban water suppliers including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Its formation drew on prior policy efforts by organizations including the Delta Protection Commission, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, and federal entities such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mandate and Responsibilities

The Council’s statutory mandate emphasizes a coequal goal of protecting and restoring the Delta’s ecosystem and ensuring water supply reliability for residents, farms, and businesses. It is charged with drafting the Delta Plan, setting regulatory policies, and performing compliance reviews of covered actions under state law. The Council’s responsibilities require coordination with agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, tribal governments including the Maidu and other indigenous communities, and academic partners like the University of California, Davis and Stanford University for scientific guidance.

Governance and Organizational Structure

Governance is vested in an appointed board with expertise spanning science, water policy, and regional planning; appointments involve the Governor of California and confirmations by the California State Senate. The Council works with an independent Delta Independent Science Board and staffs offices in Sacramento that collaborate with state departments such as the California Department of Finance and the California Natural Resources Agency. It liaises with regional bodies like the Delta Protection Commission and municipal water agencies such as the Contra Costa Water District and Central Contra Costa Sanitary District to implement cross‑jurisdictional projects.

Major Programs and Initiatives

Key initiatives include adoption and periodic revision of the Delta Plan, ecosystem restoration projects coordinated with the California Water Boards, and facilitation of habitat conservation plans used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. The Council has been central to debates over the California WaterFix and the earlier Bay Delta Conservation Plan, supported science synthesis efforts with institutions such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the United States Geological Survey. It also advances long‑term strategies involving levee stability, flood risk reduction tied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and land use planning connected to county general plans like those of Solano County and Yolo County.

Funding and Budget

Funding for the Council derives from state appropriations authorized by the California State Budget process and may include grants or cooperative agreements with federal partners such as the United States Bureau of Reclamation and philanthropic support from entities like the Packard Foundation. Budget oversight interacts with the California Department of Finance, legislative budget committees in the California State Legislature, and audit mechanisms such as the California State Auditor. Financial resources support staffing, scientific contracting with universities including University of California, Berkeley, and grants for local restoration partners like county reclamation districts.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Council has faced criticism from agricultural interests represented by groups like the California Farm Bureau Federation and water contractors such as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California over perceived impacts on water deliveries and regulatory burdens. Environmental groups including the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity have both supported and challenged aspects of the Council’s actions over adequacy of ecosystem protections and implementation speed. Legal disputes have involved parties relying on the California Environmental Quality Act and litigation before state courts, with occasional intervention by federal agencies including the United States Department of Justice. Debates continue over project priorities tied to proposals such as the California WaterFix and the interplay with federal initiatives like the Central Valley Project Improvement Act.

Category:California state agencies