Bay Delta

San Francisco Bay/Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta) Program

Review of the San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Water Quality Objectives and Program of Implementation

The State Water Board is in the process of a phased review and update of the 2006 Water Quality Control Plan for the Bay-Delta (2006 Bay-Delta Plan). The Bay-Delta Plan identifies beneficial uses of water in the Bay-Delta, water quality objectives for the reasonable protection of those beneficial uses, and a program of implementation for achieving the water quality objectives. This webpage includes information about the first phase of the review of the Bay-Delta Plan focused on: water quality objectives for the protection of southern Delta agriculture; San Joaquin River flow objectives for the protection of fish and wildlife; and the program of implementation for achieving those objectives. Information concerning the second phase of the State Water Board’s review of the Bay-Delta Plan can be found here.

New ! Draft Substitute Environmental Document in Support of Potential Changes to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Bay Delta: San Joaquin River Flows and Southern Delta Water Quality (posted 12/31/12)
The State Water Board has released for public review and comment a draft Substitute Environmental Document (SED) in support of potential changes to San Joaquin River flow and southern Delta water quality objectives and program of implementation included in the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan).
- Public Comments - Draft Substitute Environmental Document for Update to the Bay-Delta Plan: San Joaquin River Flows and Southern Delta Water Quality (Phase 1).
Comprehensive (Phase 2) Review And Update To The Bay-Delta Plan Workshops
The notice and information received (including written submittals, presentations given at the workshops, and video/audio recordings of the workshops) as part of the State Water Board’s September, October, and November 2012 workshops to inform the Comprehensive Review and Update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (for administrative convenience referred to as Phase II) will be included in the administrative record for both Phase II and the Update to the San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Water Quality Objectives and Program of Implementation included in the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Phase I)
May 22, 2012 Delta Independent Science Board letter
Peer Review of Agricultural Economic Effects of Lower San Joaquin River Flow Alternatives
Informational Session: Draft Technical Appendices to the Substitute Environmental Document for Potential Changes to the San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Water Quality Objectives and the Associated Program of Implementation
- Presentations
  - Introduction | Agricultural Economic Analysis | Hydropower Analysis
Cover Letter (updated March 5, 2012) for Release of Draft Technical Appendices to the Substitute Environmental Document (SED) for Phase 1 of the update to the 2006 Bay-Delta Plan (Posted February 24, 2012):
- Draft Technical Appendices
  - Draft Scientific Basis for San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Salinity Objectives (Scientific Report) (Dated February 2012).
  - Draft Agricultural Economic Effects of Lower San Joaquin River Flow Alternatives (Agricultural Economics Report) (Dated February 2012).
  - Draft Hydropower and Electric Grid Analysis of Lower San Joaquin River Flow Alternatives (Hydropower Report) (Dated February 2012).
- Spreadsheets Used in the Draft Technical Appendices
  - Spreadsheet of Flow Data Used for Hydrologic Analysis in the Scientific Report (by SWRCB staff)
  - Spreadsheet Containing Water Supply Effects Model (WSE Model) (by SWRCB staff)
  - Spreadsheet of SWAP Output and Calculations for Agricultural Economic Effects Appendix (by SWRCB staff)
Peer Review of Technical Report on the Scientific Basis for Alternative San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Salinity Objectives (Posted November 21, 2011).
- Technical Report on the Scientific Basis for Alternative San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Salinity Objectives (Dated October 2011).
Workshop: June 6, 2011 - Discussion of the Clarified Scope and Content of the Environmental Information to be included in the State Water Board’s Environmental Document Relating to the State Water Board’s Current Review of the Bay-Delta Plan.
- Presentations
  - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
  - Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
  - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  - South Delta Water Agency (SDWA)
  - The Bay Institute (TBI)
  - SWRCB Staff
- Comments Received - Deadline for written materials and comments was May 23, 2011 by Noon.
- Late Comments Received
- Revised Notice of Preparation
Fact Sheet: Proposed Changes to the Bay-Delta Plan for San Joaquin River Flow and Salinity

November 22, 2010 - Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment for any additional information related to the San Joaquin River flow and southern Delta salinity objectives included in the 2006 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/ Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary.
- Written comments - Deadline for written materials and comments was February 8, 2011 by Noon
Workshop: January 6 - 7, 2011 – Presentation and Discussion of Draft Technical Report on the Scientific Basis for Alternative San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Salinity Objectives.
- Presentations
  - Estimating Unimpaired Flows (DWR)
  - Flows and Salinity in the South Delta (DWR)
  - San Joaquin River Group Authority (SJRGA)
  - SWRCB Staff
- Proposed questions for panels received for the January 6-7, 2011 workshop
- Written comments received by December 6, 2010 regarding Draft Report
- Panel Participation Request Forms received for the January 6-7, 2011 workshop
- Notice of Public Workshop and Availability of Draft Technical Report (10/29/10)
  - Panel Participation Request Form | Panel Questions Request Form
- Draft Technical Report
- Reference Information
Vernalis Adaptive Management Plan (VAMP) Review: to assist in the update of the San Joaquin River flow objectives in the 2006 Bay-Delta Plan, the Delta Science Program (DSP) has commissioned a panel of independent experts to review the VAMP. The VAMP review will be held March 2-3, 2010, at 650 Capital Mall in Sacramento.
- Final VAMP Panel Report

Study Report entitled Crop Salt Tolerance in the Southern Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by Dr. Glenn J. Hoffman and associated public staff workshops
- Final Study Report
- Response to Comments - by Dr. Hoffman, November 4, 2009
- Supporting Information - Requested by Dr. Hoffman
- Comments
- Dr. Hoffman's Presentation - August 13, 2009
- Draft Study Report
- Notice of Public Workshops and Draft Study Report Availability
Continued detailed discussions related to review of the Southern Delta salinity and San Joaquin River flow objectives
- Revised Notice of Public Staff Workshop and Cancellation of Potential Future Meetings (6/1/09)
- Cancellation of May 8, 2009 and May 18, 2009 tentatively scheduled meetings
Workshop: April 22, 2009 - Consideration of Potential Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/ Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary Relating to Southern Delta Salinity and San Joaquin River Flow Objectives
- Second Revised Notice (4/17/09)
- Revised Notice (including agenda) and Potential Future Meeting Date
- Comments regarding potential amendments to the Bay-Delta Plan relating to Southern Delta salinity and San Joaquin River flow objectives.
February 13, 2009 - Notice of Public Staff Workshop Concerning Potential Amendments to the Bay-Delta Plan Relating to Southern Delta Salinity and San Joaquin River Flow Objectives. Scheduled for April 22, 2009 (Deadline for written materials and comments was April 6, 2009 by Noon)
February 13, 2009 - Notice of Preparation and of Scoping Meeting for Environmental Documentation for the Update and Implementation of the Bay Delta Plan: Southern Delta Salinity and San Joaquin River Flows. Scheduled for March 30, 2009. Deadline for written comments is March 19, 2009 (Noon)
- Comments
February 13, 2009 - Cover Letter for Bay-Delta NOP/Scoping Meeting and San Joaquin River Flow and Southern Delta Salinity Water Quality Control Planning Workshop
Proceedings leading to the Update and Implementation of the Bay-Delta Plan
General and Unsolicited Public Comments

Questions or Comments?

Please contact:

Mark Gowdy, Division of Water Rights, or phone (916) 341-5432
or
Erin Mahaney, Office of Chief Counsel, or phone (916) 341-5187