Regional Self Sufficiency is the key to making other regions in the state less dependent on the Delta to meet their water needs. One component includes restoring historic floodplains, another component is urban water efficiency and promoting technology to these ends. Problems include promotion of conservation measures by DWR that only reinforce their zeitgeist for managing California's water through moving water from north to south. What is out there? What needs to be studied? What do we need to do to get these alternative programs/studies put into place? Why wo't DWR or any California University jump on researching this well thought out proposal?

Even if we do not fully concur with the gloom and doom scenario for managing the Delta under changing environmental conditions, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. How do we plan for potential seismic events, sea level rise, and increased peak fresh water flows during periods of heavier rain? Seeing that the peripheral canal is not the answer, what types of flexible strategies can we put in place to deal with these challenges? What needs must be met for fisheries and people in the Delta?

Lawyers leading current litigation efforts will talk about the status of current litigation and possible outcomes for Delta fisheries and Delta communities.

Environmentalists and local Delta-citizen do-gooders love the idea of a conservancy. Delta growers raise their eyebrows whenever the question is asked. And the state agencies attempting to reorganize the Delta think that a conservancy governed by interests mainly from outside the Delta is what is needed. What would a conservancy look like if the effort was lead by Delta locals? What would an agricultural conservancy entail? Can a conservancy be used as a vehicle for levee maintenance and for projects needed to protect fisheries and water quality in response to changing environmental conditions? How do we redirect the conservancy effort to meet the needs of fish and Delta farmers?

The State Water Resources Control Board is broken. To fix this broken governance, Restore the Delta advocates fully funding the board, an election process that selects board members, and a separation within the board between those who make codes and regulations and those whose job it is to enforce them. Are there parts of the Governance Plan from Delta Vision that we think can be made to work, or is it completely unworkable? What other ways can the SWRCB be reformed? And how do we accomplish these goals?

A group of lawyers with experience on eminent domain issues will be available for a panel discussion. This meeting will be open to Delta landowners only.