Greetings,

Informational Hearing Held on Water Package

SB 7X 1 Includes Policy Elements: Finance Piece to Follow

A revised version of the Delta Legislative Package was released Saturday morning as SB 7X 1. (SB 7X 1 is available at

A joint informational hearing of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife and Senate Nature Resources and Water Committees took place this morning.  In opening remarks, Senator Darrell Steinberg noted that the Delta package would be coupled with a bond that will be out for public review sometime this week.

The revised bill shows marked improvement over SB 68, which failed to pass the Legislature on September 11, the last day of regular session.

This comprehensive package of legislation sets the stage for major decisions that will affect water supply reliability into the future.  The bill contains a definition of co-equal goals, respecting the need for water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration. It also includes provisions for a process to make final decisions for Delta conveyance facilities.

The package continues to define a governance structure for the Delta that is consistent with ACWA Board Policy.

The revised bill SB 7X 1 contains the following modifications.  Delta policy provisions of the bill language have been modified regarding protection of area of origin and other water rights. A fourth option has been added to the water conservation provision to augment the existing three options, providing water agencies with greater flexibility in meeting the 20% reduction by 2020 goal. The bill’s provisions related to water rights enforcement were modified deleting the very problematic interim relief sections contained in SB 68.

Momentum for the legislative package is growing by the day.  SB 7X 1 is now supported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Westlands Water District, San Francisco PUC, Contra Costa Water District, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Bay Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, the Southern California Water Committee, REAL Coalition and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

From ACWA’s perspective, the improvements in the Delta legislative package have been significant.

However, despite the improvements in the current draft, we continue to have concerns and are seeking amendments to the amount of flexibility provided ACWA members in the conservation provisions and with some of the remaining water rights enforcement provisions.

In addition, SB 7X 1 creates for the first time fee-making authority for the State Water Resources Control Board to cover costs of administering water rights and calls for the addition of 25 full-time staff. Fees would be levied on all water rights holders in the system.

ACWA is fully engaged in meetings to seek further modifications to the package consistent with the principles of the ACWA Board.

At this time, additional hearings on SB 7X 1 and an accompanying bond measure are expected to take place by the end of next week.  It is likely that the Legislature will vote on this historic package in the next few weeks.

ACWA will continue to keep members apprised.