“After three days of thoughtful analysis, presentation and robust public input, we were proud to testify on behalf of the Southern California Water Coalition in January 2026 in support of advancing the update to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan through voluntary agreements and the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes framework. Californians deserve durable, science-driven solutions that improve conditions for native fish while keeping water reliable and affordable for people, businesses and farms.

We’re encouraged by the early progress already visible across the watershed—dozens of on-the-ground habitat projects paired with strategically timed flows, monitoring and adaptive management. Results on Putah Creek and the Mokelumne River show that when agencies, communities and conservation partners work together, we can balance ecosystem needs with water supply reliability.

For Southern California, a dependable Delta is the backbone of an integrated water portfolio. Delta reliability, combined with smart local investments—water recycling, conservation, stormwater capture and storage—and affordability-focused planning, is how we build a resilient, equitable water future for the entire state.“We appreciate the Water Board’s careful process and Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration for its leadership in convening collaborative solutions. SCWC’s role is to help educate public policy leaders and the communities we serve so they can make informed choices. We invite Californians to review the record, stay engaged, and be part of the process as we turn consensus into action.”

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.

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This week, SCWC Executive Director Charley Wilson issued a statement recognizing the significance of this milestone and the leadership that made it possible:

“California took a big step forward this week with the State Water Board’s proposed update to the Bay-Delta Plan, which now includes the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. This is a bold and thoughtful move that reflects years of behind-the-scenes work—and it wouldn’t have happened without Governor Newsom’s leadership and vision.

The Governor has brought people together in a way we don’t often see in water policy. Urban, agricultural, environmental, and tribal voices all came to the table to shape a voluntary path forward. That kind of collaboration is rare—and powerful.

Voluntary agreements like these are a smarter, more effective way to solve complex water challenges than relying on regulation or litigation. They build trust, use the best science, and create real, lasting solutions that benefit both our environment and the millions of Californians who depend on a reliable water supply.

We’re proud to support this effort and excited to see it move ahead.”

The Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program represents years of planning and partnership among diverse stakeholders. It offers a voluntary, science-based approach to restoring ecosystems and improving water reliability—an approach SCWC has long championed.

We look forward to continued collaboration and progress as this initiative moves toward implementation.

Read Governor Gavin Newsom’s statement HERE. View the State Water Resources Control Board Bay-Delta Watershed webpage for more information on the September 8th and 9th, 2025 hearing on the Revised Draft Sacramento/Delta Updates to Bay-Delta Plan. 

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The proposal put forward by the California Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and several public water agencies represents a collaborative effort to advance species management, relying on the integration of flow and habitat measures along with new funding to meet species needs. (Read more about voluntary settlement agreements on this blog by the California Department of Water Resources.) It leads to system-wide environmental improvements that can be immediately implemented.

“Common sense tells us that collaborative, voluntary negotiated approaches that come from affected parties are far more effective than ‘command-and-control’ measures that spawn more litigation than real-world results. Agreements among the multiple parties are the best way to achieve immediate environmental benefits and assure water reliability, not state mandates. That is true not just in the Bay-Delta, but throughout California as we work together toward a sustainable water future.”

Charley Wilson
Executive Director
Southern California Water Coalition

Background: These voluntary settlement agreements pertain to the operations of the State Water Project, a critical water delivery system serving 27 million Californians. SCWC supports the modernization of this system with the proposed Delta Conveyance project. Read our Frequently Asked Questions about Delta Conveyance. 

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