Achieving a reliable California water supply and a resilient Delta ecosystem necessitates the collective implementation of the Delta Plan – California’s blueprint for taking on the region’s current and predicted challenges. As required by the Delta Reform Act of 2009, the Delta Plan recommends specific and implementable actions to achieve these coequal goals. Its recommendations aren’t carried out by one party but rather the many State and federal partners at work in the region.

The Delta Plan includes two types of performance measures to understand the effectiveness of its recommendations: (1) Administrative and (2) output/outcome. 

  1. Administrative performance measures track the status and effectiveness of implementing the Delta Plan recommendations. When an administrative performance measure is complete, it means that the responsible agencies successfully carried out the recommended actions.

  2. Output/outcome performance measures track quantitative metrics to evaluate the Delta’s responses to management actions and other factors (like climate, for example). Scientists analyze these metrics year-over-year to determine trends, which could lead to a changed approach or amended State policies like those in the Delta Plan.

The Delta Plan contains 120 administrative and 38 output/outcome performance measures. 37 of the 120 administrative performance measures were completed as of 2022. This is a great start, but much work remains to be done.

Administrative Performance Measures By The Numbers

37
Completed Administrative Measures
9
Completed Administrative Measures since 2019

 

Administrative Performance Measures Spotlights

 

Regional Water Quality Control Board

2021 - Review Methylmercury Control Studies - Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

In 2021, the Delta Science Program completed the Independent Science Review and Advice of the Delta Mercury Control Program. The review consists of two parts; Part 1: Review of Municipal Wastewater and Urban Stormwater completed in August 2019, and Part 2: Tidal Wetlands and Open Water Habitat completed in July 2021. An overview of the completed reports is available via the Council's website: Review of Delta Mercury Control Program Phase 1 Reports (ca.gov).

The mercury control program continues in 2022, when dischargers will implement mercury and methylmercury control programs as appropriate, based on the findings of the methylmercury characterization and control studies and the latest relevant information and data.

DWR logo

2020 - Publish Guidelines for Expanded Water Supply Reliability Element – California Department of Water Resources  

In 2020, the DWR included an example methodology for the preparation of reduced Delta reliance elements as part of the Urban Water Management Plan Guidebook 2020. As a result, urban water suppliers that receive water from the Delta have a framework available to support how they report reduced reliance on the Delta. 

DWR logo

2020 - Report Actions Addressing Critical Groundwater Basins – California Department of Water Resources 

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) regulates chronic groundwater overdraft in California. SGMA mandates that local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) in basins identified as critically over-drafted adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) by 2020. GSAs in basins of medium or high priority must adopt plans by 2022. The 2020 GSP reporting actions for critical groundwater basins, as this performance measure defines them, were completed. 

DPC logo

2019 - Congress Designates a National Heritage Area that includes the Delta and Suisun Marsh – Delta Protection Commission

In 2019, the U.S. Congress established the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh National Heritage Area (NHA) – the first one in California. This designation fulfilled a recommendation in the Delta Plan. The Delta Protection Commission is developing the Delta NHA Management Plan, and leading engagement activities to support historic preservation, education, tourism, and economic development. To learn more, view the DPC’s NHA info sheet

DSC logo

2013 - Establishment of the Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee – Delta Stewardship Council

In 2013, after adopting the Delta Plan, the Council established the Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee (DPIIC) consisting of the state and federal agencies responsible for implementing the Delta Plan. The DPIIC facilitates collaboration and alignment of agencies’ actions related to the region’s most pressing issues. 

 

Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agencies
2014

Completion of Report on Revisions to Delta Plan Performance Measures

Delta Stewardship Council
2013

Delta Science Program Develops Delta Science Plan

Delta Stewardship Council
2013 Establish Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee Delta Stewardship Council
Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agencies
2020 Publish Guidelines for Expanded Water Supply Reliability Element Department of Water Resources
2020 Report Actions Addressing Critical Groundwater Basins State Water Resources Control Board
2019 Information in Updated Bulletin 118 Included in Water Management Plans Department of Water Resources
2019 Modify California Water Plan Update with New Categories to Track Department of Water Resources
2018 Establish Advisory Group to Meet Water Conservation Goals Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board
2018 Hold Hearings on Priority Projects and Provide Recommendations by 2013 California Water Commission
2018 Implement Statewide System for Water Use Reporting by 2014 Department of Water Resources
2016 Establish Advisory Group to Reduce Impediments to Water Transfers by 2016 Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board
2016 Identify State Groundwater Basins in Critical Overdraft Condition by 2014 Department of Water Resources
2014 Complete Survey of Grant Applicants for Future Groundwater Projects Department of Water Resources
- Complete Surface Water Storage Studies by 2012 Department of Water Resources
Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agencies
2018

Develop Proposals for Revised Fishing Regulations*

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
2014

Prioritize the List of Stage 2 Actions for Nonnative Invasive Species*

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

*These performance measures have been archived due to an amendment to the Ecosystem chapter of the Delta Plan. Even though they are completed, these will not count towards to overall number of administrative performance measures.

Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agency
2019

Congress Designates a NHA that Includes the Delta and Suisun Marsh

Delta Protection Commission
2019

Consult with Caltrans on Effects of Flood Hazards on Delta Highways

Delta Stewardship Council
2017

Investigate Opportunity for Carbon Markets for Delta Farmers

Delta Stewardship Council, Air Resources Board, Delta Conservancy
2012

Complete Application for Designation of Delta as National Heritage Area

Delta Protection Commission
Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agency
2021

Review Methylmercury Control Studies

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
2019 Adopt Policies to Require Delta Water Users to Participate in CV-SALTS Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Water Resources Control Board
2018 Implement Study Plan for Objectives for Nutrients in Delta by 2016 State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board
2018 Complete Basin Plan Amendment for Dissolved Oxygen in Suisun Marsh State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
2017 Complete TMDL and Basin Plan Amendments for Mercury State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2017 Central Valley Pesticide TMDL is Completed by January 2016 Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
2015 Delta Regional Monitoring Program (Delta RMP) is Implemented Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2015 Complete Phase 2 Control Plan for Dissolved Oxygen in Stockton Channel State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2014 TMDL for Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos Completed by January 2013 Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2014 Delta Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program is Developed Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2014 Evaluate Ways to Reduce Contaminant Load of Discharge Wastewater Regional Water Quality Control Boards
2013 Complete Work plan for Protection of Groundwater Beneficial Uses State Water Resources Control Board
2013 Complete Central Valley Drinking Water Policy by July 2013 Regional Water Quality Control Boards

 

Year Completed Performance Measure Responsible Agency
2021 Develops Funding Priorities for Investments in Delta Levees Delta Stewardship Council
2018 Consider Multi-Hazard Coordination Task Force Recommendations Department of Water Resources
2018 Develop Funding Priorities for Investments in Delta Levees Delta Stewardship Council
2018 Local Agencies Develop Flood Emergency Action Plans Delta Stewardship Council
2017 Evaluate Bypass and Floodways on San Joaquin River near Paradise Cut Department of Water Resources, Central Valley Flood Protection Board
2014 Evaluate Potential for Stored Material Sites by Reinforcing Delta Levees Department of Water Resource

Learn more

To view the ongoing and completed administrative performance measures, please visit the Administrative Dashboard.