California approves new water plan affecting Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

California water regulators have approved a new plan that changes how farms and cities draw water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its feeder rivers, according to LAist.

The plan offers water agencies a choice: either voluntarily reduce water use to help restore habitats or follow mandatory rules ensuring minimum river and stream flows through the Delta.

This approach stems from a compromise reached four years ago by Governor Gavin Newsom's administration with major water suppliers, but some of those suppliers now oppose the voluntary agreements, calling them too restrictive, LAist reported.

The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw support and several hundred million dollars in funding for the plan, complicating its implementation.

Environmental advocates, tribes, and fishing groups argue that the plan and its regulatory fallback weaken protections for an already struggling ecosystem.

E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, acknowledged the conflicting criticisms during hearings, noting some agencies feel the plan has too much oversight, while others see it as insufficient for ecosystem protection.