The California State Water Resources Control Board just released their analysis of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta where the ecosystem and fish population have been suffering as the delta is the hub of the state's water system for municipal and agricultural water use.

 
According to the control board, the delta makes up approximately 20% of the state's land mass and constitutes the state's largest source of surface water to two-thirds of Californians. The 6,000-page long report, which was released on September 28, 2023, outlines management goals including alternatives for new water quality standards and how much should be allowed to flow through the delta.

The last update to the plan was adapted in 1995 yet the State Water Board released new standards that allowed flows to be increased in 2018. The current report would a lot $2.5 billion towards restoration of the 27,000 acres of floodplain.

The draft report gives options for conservation, including limited water withdrawals to maintain flows and negotiated agreements where water agencies pledge certain amounts of water while funding wetland habitat projects, which environmentalists say they are happy to see an analysis after years long delays, but they argue that the voluntary measures would lead to disastrous repercussions to endangered fish in the region. These measures would reduce protections according to environmentalists.

Agricultural communities, however, are concerned that they are not going to have a reliable water supply to sustain crops such as almonds and pistachios. Meanwhile, this summer saw numerous water challenges from Colorado River water rights, WOTUS and EPA, and the Navajo Nation's request for the federal government to act to aid the tribe in receiving water rights, the U.S. has faced great changes and blockaids for water rights for sustainable irrigation and other uses.

According to the Water Education Foundation, the largest freshwater tidal estuary of its kind on the west coast acts as drinking water for 27 million Californians and irrigation for large portions of the $50 billion agricultural industry. With that, use and conservation must be taken seriously while keeping agriculture in mind while millions across the nation struggle with this issue.