Thursday August 20, 2026
Action News Now —
On Wednesday, the California State Water Resources Control Board released its final draft plan to modernize water quality protections for the Sacramento River and the San Francisco Bay-Delta.
The State Water Resources Control Board will consider adopting the updated Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed at a public hearing scheduled for October 28 and 29.
Officials say the San Francisco Bay-Delta supports some of the state’s most iconic and threatened fish and wildlife, sustains tribes and other local communities and provides water for nearly 30 million Californians and 4 million acres of farmland.
However, the Delta and its tributaries have long been under threat, with native fish populations suffering, habitat being lost and the watershed facing increasing pressure from climate change and competing demands for water.
“This is California’s opportunity to manage the Bay-Delta for the twenty-first century,” said State Water Board Executive Director Eric Oppenheimer. “We can protect rivers, fish, wildlife and tribal cultural uses while building greater resilience and security for communities, farms and the state’s economy. This proposal combines the best available science with adaptability, collaboration and accountability. We are creating a framework that can protect the Bay-Delta and adapt as conditions change.”