Who We Are Who We Are Michael Frost Michael Frost Vice President - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Who We Are Who We Are Michael Frost Michael Frost Vice President Vice President Barbara Barbara Barrigan Barrigan ‐ Parrilla Parrilla Executive Director Executive Director Barbara@RestoretheDelta.org Barbara@RestoretheDelta.org 2014 2014 2014 2014 10100 T i it P 10100 T i it P 10100 Trinity Parkway, Suite 120 10100 Trinity Parkway, Suite 120 k k S it 120 S it 120 Stockton, CA 95219 Stockton, CA 95219 (209) 475 (209) 475 ‐ 9550 9550 www.RestoretheDelta.org www.RestoretheDelta.org

The Antithesis of a Drought Conservation Plan l The Bay Delta Conservation Plan The Bay Delta Conservation Plan 1. Will not make any new water. 2 Will cost with interest and annual operation 2. Will cost with interest and annual operation costs $60 ‐ $67 billion. (Source January, 2014 Westlands Water District Meeting) Westlands Water District Meeting) 3. Will not save Bay ‐ Delta fisheries. EIR for the plan shows the end of winter and spring run plan shows the end of winter and spring run Chinook salmon, among many other risks for species.

Table continued in next slide Table continued in next slide

**Total deliveries include primarily agricultural avg af totals from previous slide** Table continued from previous slide Table continued from previous slide

But look at how water was But look at how water was But look at how water was But look at how water was managed as we entered this managed as we entered this thi d d thi d d third dry year! third dry year! ! !

2013 ‐ 2014 Drought 2013 2014 Drought 2012 – 8,941,671 AF 2014 – 2,916,297 AF Draw Down Draw Down – 6,025,374 AF 6 025 374 AF What if it doesn’t rain?

Why Conserve: Rain Will Come Why Conserve: Rain Will Come • In water year 2011, the Department of Interior used only y p y 348.8 TAF of the 800 TAF of CVPI § 3406(b)(2) water. “Interior decided to not bank the unused (b)(2) water from water year 2011 ” from water year 2011.” • In water year 2013, DWR exported more than 826,000 acre ‐ feet of water beyond what it had informed its contractors it could deliver. • Had DWR and Reclamation exercised prudence, almost 1.3 MAF of water would have remained in storage.

Meanwhile… Meanwhile The majority of the water taken from the Delta goes to corporate agribusiness on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. These mega growers contribute only 0 3% to the State’s These mega-growers contribute only 0.3% to the State s economy.

Almond production has doubled in Westlands Water District and Kern County Water Agency since 2000. There y g y are 800,000 acres of almonds in the San Joaquin Valley

The People of the Delta Have Not Been Given a Voice Been Given a Voice Over 4 million Californians live in the 5 Delta counties; Sacramento, • Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, San Joaquin. Y l S l C C S J i Millions of people are protected by Delta levees; their local • communities are tied to the Delta economy. The health of the estuary has a direct impact on the well ‐ being of • their lives. Governor Brown has yet to meet with Delta leaders! •

Local government officials, Delta water Local government officials, Delta water district leaders, Delta landowners, fishing representatives, and Delta community groups have all been marginalized in the planning h ll b i li d i h l i processes and continue to be left out of the BDCP Delta Plan and State Water Board BDCP, Delta Plan, and State Water Board planning processes on San Joaquin River flows.

Current Exports Are A Problem • Pumps at South ‐ end kill millions of juvenile fish h d kill illi f j il fi h • Between 1967, when Delta pumps began operating, and 2013, several Delta fish operating, and 2013, several Delta fish populations have declined by 90% or more • Excessive pumping led to increased salinity; • Excessive pumping led to growth of invasive species in the Delta • Without rain Delta farmers will be irrigating • Without rain, Delta farmers will be irrigating with salt water this summer! 0% outflow projected.

What’s Wrong With the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)? We’re so glad you asked!

Over $60 billion BDCP Cost Twin tunnel capital cost: $14.5 billion • Operations: $1.5 billion • Bond interest for tunnels: $26 3 billion Bond interest for tunnels: $26.3 billion • • Habitat & conservation bonds: $7 billion • Bond interest: $3.2 billion • Administration & research: $1.6 billion $ • Litigation costs, Eminent Domain will be used to seize Delta properties and • for habitat restoration Mark Cowin, director of DWR, confirmed the estimate of $67 billion for • BDCP cost is correct.

Lack of a BDCP benefit/cost analysis is a problem analysis is a problem An independent economist has estimated BDCP will cost $2 50 for every $1 of benefits BDCP will cost $2.50 for every $1 of benefits

BDCP’s Impacts on Californian Urban Ratepayers • Rate increase of $200+ per year over 40 years for Rate increase of $200+ per year over 40 years for $ $ p p y y y y urban water ratepayers urban water ratepayers • No increase in supply reliability No increase in supply reliability • Urban users subsidize agricultural districts Urban users subsidize agricultural districts • Increased dependence on the Delta Increased dependence on the Delta

BDCP’ BDCP’s Failure to Protect the Delta F il P h D l Continued degradation of Delta water quality to benefit export water quality Continued degradation of Delta water quality to benefit export water quality • Continued use of South Delta pumps without upgrades necessary for fish Continued use of South Delta pumps without upgrades necessary for fish • Introduction of uncertain fish screening technology in the North Delta Introduction of uncertain fish screening technology in the North Delta • Failure to deal with the reality of over Failure to deal with the reality of over ‐ subscribed water subscribed water •

There’s A Better Solution Th ’ A B S l i An Alternative to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan

By Law, Any Plan for the D lt Delta Must: M t: • Provide water supply for Californians in the most effective way Provide water supply for Californians in the most effective way • Protect and restore Delta fisheries and habitat Protect and restore Delta fisheries and habitat • Protect and enhance Delta communities and agriculture Protect and enhance Delta communities and agriculture • Reduce reliance on the Delta Reduce reliance on the Delta

We Have A Better Solution • Reduce exports to 3 ‐ 3.5 MAF maximum (MWD avg. 770,000 AF /year) • Activate a more aggressive statewide regional self ‐ sufficiency plan • Support regional projects to conserve, recycle, reuse, and capture water S t i l j t t l d t t • Fits with Southern California goals for reduced Delta reliance • Improve independent supply reliability

The RTD Plan Is Part of the Environmental W t Water Caucus’s Responsible Exports Plan C ’ R ibl E t Pl • Fixes the South Delta pumps • Fixes the South Delta pumps Fixes the South Delta pumps Fixes the South Delta pumps with known technology with known technology • Provides sufficient flows for Provides sufficient flows for Delta habitat Delta habitat Delta habitat Delta habitat • Increases flows in the San Increases flows in the San Joaquin River Joaquin River • Reduces reverse flows in the Reduces reverse flows in the South Delta South Delta • Provides sustainable export Provides sustainable export Provides sustainable export Provides sustainable export yields without harming yields without harming fisheries fisheries

EWC’s Responsible Exports Plan • Reinforces Delta levees to a higher standard to protect both Delta communities and exports from Earthquakes Earthquakes • • Sea level rise • Flood damage • • Protects Delta agriculture by restoring habitat on • Protects Delta agriculture by restoring habitat on existing state lands and wide reinforced levees

EWC’s Responsible Exports Plan • Costs $10 ‐ $12 billion $ $ $2.7 billion for regional projects to create new water supplies • $2 ‐ $4 billion for reinforced levees with water ‐ side habitat • restoration t ti $1.9 billion for state ‐ of ‐ the ‐ art fish screens • $3.4 billion estimated interest on potential bonds p • • Generates jobs – 10 ‐ 20 jobs per million dollars spent vs. BDCP’s 5 ‐ 7 jobs per million

What Can You Do? Insist that the Environmental Water Caucus Responsible Insist that the Environmental Water Caucus Responsible Exports Plan and other alternatives to BDCP be evaluated. Exports Plan and other alternatives to BDCP be evaluated.