A list of more than 40 short term projects to improve the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta is now in the hands of California agencies. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, water providers and environmentalists are hopeful some projects will finally get off the ground.
When it comes to the state’s water, there is rarely agreement. But a coalition of Delta water managers, farmers, and environmentalists has agreed on smaller projects to protect the estuary.
The list includes plans to manage flooding, water supply and habitat restoration. It’s been presented to the legislature, the Delta Stewardship Council and the Department of Water Resources. But it won’t be up to the coalition to decide which projects take priority or how they’ll be paid for.
Tom Zuckerman, with the Central Delta Water Agency, says the goal was to find mutually beneficial water projects.
“We can’t just sit around and argue forever over conveyance issues and stuff in the Delta which we’ve been doing for a long long time and allow the important flood issues and environmental issues to continue to deteriorate.”
The Legislative Analyst’s Office says about $500 million is available for the projects in two existing bond measures.
