SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The State Water Resources Control Board on Friday released updated amendment language for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan, also known as the Bay-Delta Plan.
Officials say the release includes a new chapter focusing on environmental and economic analysis.
The updated plan retains two compliance pathways for water right holders: a voluntary agreement pathway and a regulatory pathway. These pathways aim to improve conditions in the Bay-Delta watershed.
The board is seeking public comments on the new chapter and proposed amendments until Feb. 2, 2026. They will hold a public hearing from Jan. 28-30 in Sacramento, offering options for remote participation.
“The release of these documents puts us on track for updates to the Bay-Delta Plan to come before the State Water Board for adoption in 2026,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the board. “We look forward to the public’s continued feedback and partnership throughout the remainder of this process,” Esquivel said.
Since the initial draft release in October 2024, the board has engaged the public through comment periods, hearings, and workshops. The updates specifically address the Sacramento River watershed and Delta eastside tributaries, focusing on protecting fish and wildlife.
In July 2025, updates allowed water right holders to comply with water quality requirements through either leaving a percentage of unimpaired flow instream or participating in habitat restoration commitments. This proposal included tribal beneficial uses and a formal designation of Tribal Tradition and Culture beneficial uses.
The board’s ongoing efforts to update the Bay-Delta Plan are part of a legal requirement to protect beneficial water uses and adapt to changing environmental conditions. The plan, first adopted in 1978, outlines beneficial uses, water quality objectives, and implementation programs.
For more details on the proposed updates, visit the board’s website here.