PART 2. EARLY ACTIONS [85080. - 85089.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 2.
in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85082. Section 85082.

The council shall develop and implement a strategy to appropriately engage participation of the federal agencies with responsibilities in the Delta. This strategy shall include engaging these federal agencies to develop the Delta Plan consistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1451 et seq.), the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.), and Section 8 of the federal Reclamation Act of 1902.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85084. Section 85084.

The council shall develop an interim plan that includes recommendations for early actions, projects, and programs.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85084.5. Section 85084.5.

The Department of Fish and Game, in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service and based on the best available science, shall develop and recommend to the board Delta flow criteria and quantifiable biological objectives for aquatic and terrestrial species of concern dependent on the Delta. The recommendations shall be developed no later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this division.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85085. Section 85085.

The department shall do all of the following: (a) Coordinate with the Department of Fish and Game, the board, the California regional water quality control boards, and the State Lands Commission efforts to cooperate with the United States Bureau of Reclamation to construct and implement the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project by December 1, 2010. (b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the Three Mile Slough Barrier project. (c) Expeditiously move ahead with other near term actions as identified in the Strategic Plan. (d) Assist in implementing early action ecosystem restoration projects, including, but not limited to, Dutch Slough tidal marsh restoration and Meins Island tidal marsh restoration.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85086. Section 85086.

(a) The board shall establish an effective system of Delta watershed diversion data collection and public reporting by December 31, 2010. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an accelerated process to determine instream flow needs of the Delta for the purposes of facilitating the planning decisions that are required to achieve the objectives of the Delta Plan. (c) (1) For the purpose of informing planning decisions for the Delta Plan and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the board shall, pursuant to its public trust obligations, develop new flow criteria for the Delta ecosystem necessary to protect public trust resources. In carrying out this section, the board shall review existing water quality objectives and use the best available scientific information. The flow criteria for the Delta ecosystem shall include the volume, quality, and timing of water necessary for the Delta ecosystem under different conditions. The flow criteria shall be developed in a public process by the board within nine months of the enactment of this division. The public process shall be in the form of an informational proceeding conducted pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 649) of Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, and shall provide an opportunity for all interested persons to participate. The flow criteria shall not be considered predecisional with regard to any subsequent board consideration of a permit, including any permit in connection with a final BDCP. (2) Any order approving a change in the point of diversion of the State Water Project or the federal Central Valley Project from the southern Delta to a point on the Sacramento River shall include appropriate Delta flow criteria and shall be informed by the analysis conducted pursuant to this section. The flow criteria shall be subject to modification over time based on a science-based adaptive management program that integrates scientific and monitoring results, including the contribution of habitat and other conservation measures, into ongoing Delta water management. (3) Nothing in this section amends or otherwise affects the application of the board’s authority under Part 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of Division 2 to include terms and conditions in permits that in its judgment will best develop, conserve, and utilize in the public interest the water sought to be appropriated. (d) The board shall enter into an agreement with the State Water Project contractors and the federal Central Valley Project contractors, who rely on water exported from the Sacramento River watershed, or a joint powers authority comprised of those contractors, for reimbursement of the costs of the analysis conducted pursuant to this section. (e) The board shall submit its flow criteria determinations pursuant to this section to the council for its information within 30 days of completing the determinations.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85087. Section 85087.

The board, by December 31, 2010, shall submit to the Legislature a prioritized schedule and estimate of costs to complete instream flow studies for the Delta and for high priority rivers and streams in the Delta watershed, not otherwise covered by Section 85086, by 2012, and for all major rivers and streams outside the Sacramento River watershed by 2018. In developing this schedule, the board shall consult with the Department of Fish and Game as to the timing of its submission of recommendations for instream flow needs.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85088. Section 85088.

Until the board issues an order approving a change in the point of diversion of the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project from the southern Delta to a point on the Sacramento River as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 85086, the department shall not commence construction of any diversion, conveyance, or other facility necessary to divert and convey water pursuant to the change in point of diversion.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 85089. Section 85089.

Construction of a new Delta conveyance facility shall not be initiated until the persons or entities that contract to receive water from the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project or a joint powers authority representing those entities have made arrangements or entered into contracts to pay for both of the following: (a) The costs of the environmental review, planning, design, construction, and mitigation, including mitigation required pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code), required for the construction, operation, and maintenance of any new Delta water conveyance facility. (b) Full mitigation of property tax or assessments levied by local governments or special districts for land used in the construction, location, mitigation, or operation of new Delta conveyance facilities.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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