“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” ~Mae West
Earlier this week the state and its federal partners released the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and its corresponding draft EIR/EIS for public review, triggering a 120-day comment period, an important step in working toward a final Plan. Developed by scientists and water experts, the intent of the Plan is to place the Delta’s estuary on the path to recovery and secure a reliable supply of water for 25 million Californians up and down the state.
The time to weigh in is upon us, and this can be a challenging task. The Plan documents total 34,000 pages. No, that’s not a typo. And, yes, it’ll take Iron Man to lift it. But as Mae West opined, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” And, there is a lot of good in this Plan.
At the core of the Plan is the upgrade of an ancient, broken delivery system originating in the Delta that brings water to our homes, businesses and farms. A system that is vulnerable to earthquakes that could rack havoc on the system’s hardware and the levees that keep salt water at bay, thereby disrupting the water supply to millions of Californians. And, a Delta that where 95% of the wetlands have been lost with native fish and wildlife struggling to survive. The Plan focuses in on replacing this unstable system with one that ensures a reliable source of water that sustains our quality of life and the economy, and also restores the ecosystem of the Delta. Whether it be the construction of two earthquake resistant tunnels which would run under the Delta on its way to various parts of the state or the restoration of Delta habitat, this is a Plan deserving of attention.
The Plan has been years in the making with many stakeholders consulted. However the EIR/EIS process provides an important opportunity for additional community input. At the end of the day, when a refined Plan emerges, not everyone will be happy. However, there is every reason to believe it will be a Plan that keeps our water flowing and revitalizes the Delta estuary. It doesn’t get much better than that.