The major opinion makers in the world of water policy debated the most direct channel toward Delta reform at the Contra Costa Council's October 21 forum, The Delta Crisis Is Real -- Will We See Any Reform? "I was impressed. This was a good exchange of information and points of view," said a member of the Alameda County water community who attended the event.
 
Ever congenial and balanced in their points of view, the impressive panel of experts included Phil Isenberg, Delta Vision Foundation; Tim Quinn, Association of California Water Agencies; Doug Wallace, East Bay Municipal Utilities District; Wally Bishop, Contra Costa Water District; Mary Piepho, Contra Costa Board of Supervisors; and Melinda Terry, North Delta Water Agency. Mike Taugher of the Contra Costa Times served as moderator.
 
Bob Whitley of Whitley Burchett & Associates, who co-chairs the Water Task Force, introduced the panel of speakers, noting, "The food chain is collapsing and something needs to be done . . . we need restoration of a healthy ecosystem throughout the Delta, and the Council says this must be comprehensive; it cannot be a  piecemeal solution."
 
Moving water great distances
 
Moderator Mike Taugher opened the session by pointing out that the California economy depends on the ability to move water great distances. There will be less water this year and new regulations will make it more difficult for partners to recuperate from drought. On the day the forum was held, the water plan was still being drafted and congressional hearings were under way in Sacramento.
 
"The issue is, is anybody happy?" asked Wally Bishop of Contra Costa Water. "We're not happy with how this package rolled out. Two bills got mushed together: water rights and a conservation bill. . . . We should not be rushing this thing through." Bishop added that there is a package of immediate projects that should be undertaken to protect the Delta. "We need to move forward. There is nothing stopping us but the governor and his appointees," said Bishop.

"This is not an East Bay MUD versus Contra Costa Water issue," said Doug Wallace of EBMUD. He said the agency supports any new conveyance that will give better water to suppliers, but it does not support a conveyance that is upstream where suppliers have to mitigate for the conveyance. "We support a healthy Delta and once there is an appropriate evidence-based process in place, we are willing to participate and contribute a fair share," said Wallace. He later added, "There will be a big price tag attached to any new conveyance issue. We need to talk about how much it will cost."
 
Supervisor Piepho said that the legislation language is not acceptable. "We are asking for reasonable assurances of no harm to the Delta. Where is the money for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)," she asked. Piepho called for an appropriate level of representation "so that local government can and will have a voice in the process."
 
Seeking a seat at the table
 
Melinda Terry said the North Delta Water Agency would like a seat at the table. "People are not considering our viewpoint. The legislation omits all assurances and protections that need to be done." You can eminent domain for the canal but you can't for the habitat, she said. To make this plan work, if that includes the need to restore habitat, you need willing landowners. These landowners won't even let people on their land to survey. You are ignoring who you need to make the plan work, she noted.
 
Bishop said Contra Costa Water has been opposed to a peripheral canal for some time and the original size of 24,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) was a bad idea. You need screens at some other place than export pumps. Most of the flow has to come through the Delta, he added. "People say you need to make [the pipeline through the Delta] as big as possible. You do not need a monstrosity that will never get built. You do want to get real about protecting fish and water quality and make it reliable."
 
"We have to operate a system for the co-equal values [of extraction and sustainability]," said Quinn. As we move from extraction to sustainability, we will ask rate payers and taxpayers to do more. We need to be careful of the price tag, but we need to do it for future generations, he added.
 
We are going to see the amount of water exported from the Delta reduced and upstream users will finally be forced to pony up in recognition that we have an impact on the Delta and an obligation to help correct it, said Isenberg. "We have to figure a way out of this puzzle. We cannot satisfy everyone."
 
This program will air on CCTV on Monday, November 16, at 3 p.m. and Wednesday, November 18, at 8 p.m. CCTV is Comcast channel 27 and Astound channel 32. For additional air dates, please visit CCTV's program guide.
 
The Council thanks sponsors, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, East Bay Municipal Utilities District and Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery.