Statement from Charley Wilson, Executive Director and CEO of the Southern California Water Coalition
“The Southern California Water Coalition strongly supports the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program as a practical, science‑based path forward for California. With more than half of the state’s nearly 40 million residents and a major share of its economy depending on reliable, affordable water supplies, Southern California has a profound stake in both a healthy Bay‑Delta and a functional statewide water system.”
“We urge the State Water Board to resolve the remaining issues in a way that preserves the program’s core strengths—sound science, adaptive management, accountability, and long‑term certainty. California has spent decades debating these challenges. Now is the time to move from debate to action and deliver measurable results for our environment, our economy, and our communities.”
On August 19, 2026, the State Water Resources Control Board released for public review and comment a final draft of updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan or Plan) and the final Staff Report/Substitute Environmental Document (Staff Report) in support of the Sacramento/Delta updates to the Bay-Delta Plan. Written comments are due on September 18, 2026. The Board will consider adoption of the final draft Plan and final Staff Report at public meetings taking place October 28-30, 2026 in Sacramento. Read the notice, plan and report HERE.
The Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC) – established in 1984 – is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources.