Take Action: Tell the Water Board to Protect Salmon and Fishing Families

December 23, 2024

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has the legal – and moral – obligation to protect and restore the Bay-Delta, and the salmon and fishing communities that depend on it. See details below for submitting a written comment (due by January 10) or providing a public comment in-person or via telephone or Zoom (speaker cards due by January 21).

However, the salmon fishing industry has been shut down for two years, Delta communities increasingly suffer from dangerous harmful algae blooms, Tribal resources are in jeopardy, and several salmon runs in addition to a growing list of other species are in danger of extinction.

The lack of a science-based Bay-Delta Plan is a major reason for this crisis. Please join GSSA in urging the State Water Board to adopt an updated Bay-Delta Plan based on an Unimpaired Flow approach. This approach would require a certain percentage of natural flow (65% from January to June) to be allowed to flow down Central Valley rivers and through the Delta to protect salmon. It would also help mimic natural water flows that salmon are adapted to and rely upon, and includes the necessary and enforceable temperature protections that GSSA has been fighting to secure for years.

Don’t wait! Fill out a virtual speaker card (for remote and in-person oral comments) and register for public comment by the end of day, Tuesday, January 21 to be a voice for salmon and all salmon families.

Talking Points for Public Comment

  • Share your personal stories and how this two-year salmon closure has affected you and your community.  Water Board – It’s your job to protect salmon and salmon fishing.  Frankly, you’ve failed.
  • Tell the Water Board you support the Unimpaired Flow approach and oppose the Voluntary Agreements because:
  • VAs do not protect the Bay-Delta environment, endangered species, the salmon fishing industry, tribal resources and communities like Stockton that increasingly suffer from harmful algae blooms.
  • Are a backroom deal that has excluded all tribal, environmental, and fishing community voices.
  • Ignore the best available science and give too much control to industrial water users. 
  • Set the stage for future water grabs by big new water projects.  
  • Fail to ensure cold water to protect salmon.
  • Would cost taxpayers $1.5 billion for a scam that is doomed to fail.

Meeting Day and Time (In-person and Remote)

January 23, 2025, beginning at 9:00 am

Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Building Sierra Hearing Room in Sacramento

For those who wish to provide an individual public comment, individual comments will be heard at the end of the day. Individual comments will be limited to 3 minutes unless additional time is otherwise requested and approved. If you wish to make an individual comment whether by phone, Zoom or in-person, please fill out a virtual speaker card.

If you only wish to watch the meeting, a webcast will be available at youtube.com/user/BoardWebSupport/ and video.calepa.ca.gov/ (closed captioning available) and should be used unless you intend to comment.

Written Comments

Written comments on the draft updates to the Bay­-Delta Plan must be received no later than January 10, 2025.

Comments should be submitted via email to SacDeltaComments@waterboards.ca.gov with the subject “Comment Letter – Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay­Delta Plan Updates.”