Jim Peifer, Executive Director of the Regional Water Authority, which represents nearly two dozen water providers serving 2.2 million people in the greater Sacramento region, issued the following statement in response to the release of the proposed update to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, which includes the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program:
“The proposed update to the Bay-Delta Plan and inclusion of the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program represents a new phase in California’s efforts to address water supply reliability and ecosystem health through collaborative, science-based, enforceable actions.
“For the Sacramento region, the Program offers a pathway to increasing the pace and scale of the habitat enhancement work we are doing on the American River, providing water to the environment, and funding state and local infrastructure projects that make our water supply more resilient.
“The American River region’s contribution to the Program outlines a locally developed approach to improve conditions for wild, native fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the lower American River while maintaining water supply reliability and contributing to broader Delta goals.
“Groundwater storage and conjunctive use—particularly through the Sacramento Regional Water Bank—play an important role in the American River region’s Program. The Water Bank enables more flow in the river particularly when it is most needed, especially during dry and critically dry years.
“We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with state, federal, and local partners on a practical path forward for the American River and the Bay-Delta watershed. We are committed to supporting implementation of the Program in a way that reflects the coequal goals of environmental stewardship and water supply resilience.”
The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is a joint powers authority representing nearly two dozen water providers serving 2.2 million people in the greater Sacramento region. Formed in 2001, its primary mission is to help its members protect and enhance the reliability, availability, affordability and quality of water resources. Learn more at rwah2o.org.
