California Water Resources Control Board – In its ongoing effort to address the prolonged decline of native fish and the deteriorating ecosystem in the Lower San Joaquin River, the State Water Resources Control Board today released a revised draft report that proposes initial biological goals to evaluate implementation and monitoring programs, as well as potential revisions to the Bay-Delta Plan.
The State Water Board adopted an update to the Bay-Delta Plan in December 2018 that established water quality standards and flow targets for the Lower San Joaquin River and its three salmon-bearing tributaries, the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers. Worsening drought conditions and existing flow objectives – established in 1995 and now insufficient to protect fish and wildlife – amplify the need to implement the changes as soon as possible.
The revisions, which include existing state and federal requirements and recommendations from the Bay-Delta Plan Biological Goals Scientific Advisory Panel, reflect public input received on a 2019 draft report.
Staff will hold a workshop July 18 to solicit additional feedback from the public and members of the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced (STM) Working Group. Still in the initial stages of formation, the regional group will help coordinate flows and other activities in the Lower San Joaquin River watershed and assist with implementing, monitoring and assessing the Bay-Delta Plan.
Timelines for releasing the biological goals and other components of the updated Bay-Delta Plan, including draft compliance methods, were discussed at the Dec. 8, 2021, board meeting. Staff plan to initiate the environmental review process for implementing the Bay-Delta Plan for the Lower San Joaquin River this summer.
