Sacramento/Delta Update to Bay-Delta Plan

Currently, the State Water Board is considering amendments to the Bay-Delta Plan focused on the reasonable protection of fish and wildlife in the Sacramento River and its tributaries, Delta eastside tributaries (including the Calaveras, Cosumnes, and Mokelumne Rivers), and Delta. The proposed amendments would be implemented through two pathways: (1) a voluntary agreement pathway for specified Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) water rights, and (2) a regulatory pathway for other water rights.

If adopted, the Plan would incorporate Tribal Beneficial Uses and formally designate the use of water for Tribal Tradition and Culture as a beneficial use to be protected. The proposal recognizes the intrinsic connection between native fish populations, including salmon, and tribal tradition and culture.

Announcements

Notice of Opportunity to Comment and Board Meeting

On August 19, 2026, the State Water Board released the following for public review:

Final draft Bay-Delta Plan
Final Staff Report, including written responses to previously submitted comments
Final Scientific Basis Report Supplement in support of Voluntary Agreements (also referred to as the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal)

Written comments due on September 18, 2026

Written comments on the final draft Bay-Delta Plan should be limited to new comments on changes to the Plan since the December 2025 draft. The final Staff Report includes summaries of the changes that were made to the Staff Report and final draft Bay-Delta Plan in response to comments (see Chapter 1, Executive Summary). In addition, as a courtesy to commenters, a track changes version of the final draft Plan is available on the Board’s file transfer protocol (FTP) site. To obtain the information to access the FTP site, contact SacDeltaComments@waterbords.ca.gov.

Board meeting on October 28-29, 2026

The State Water Board will consider adoption of the final draft Plan and final Staff Report at an upcoming Board meeting where interested persons will have the opportunity to provide oral comments.

For more information on how to submit written comments and participate in the Board meeting, please refer to the notice (aviso en Español).