Category Archives: Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Is the Bay Delta Conservation Plan a Doable Deal?

Part 1: DWR underestimates capital costs of BDCP water facility by $2 billion

Beats me whether the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (“BDCP”) is a doable deal.  My reaction is from a review of the meeting notes and materials posted by Chris Austin in Maven’s Notebook on the July 17th  presentation by the Department of Water Resources.  Ms. Austin has provided an invaluable service of making available detailed meeting notes (in her characteristic factual style) and source documents for her readers.  Whatever one’s view is on the BDCP, all should express their gratitude to Maven.

At this stage, the BDCP is still a “concept deal.” Some concept deals mature into real projects.  Others wither away.  Further refinements in analysis and consideration will determine BDCP’s destiny.  BDCP has problem children: Continue reading →

¿Habla Espanol?: What Failure of Bay Delta Conservation Plan Means for Southern California

The Voice of San Diego ran a story today about the Cadiz Project that provides a “teachable moment” about the complexity of California water.  Would the Cadiz project benefit from failure of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (“BDCP”)?  The Voice says yes.  Professionals know that water is complex and the impact of a Bay Delta failure is no exception.  The big winner would be bi-national water projects, not Cadiz.   Continue reading →