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Top Ten Priorities for Estuary Action

Regional interests chose ten top priorities for Bay-Delta action over the next five years this August, priorities aimed at focusing dollars and energy on activities they considered most important to the Estuary's health. To set the priorities, they reviewed a workbook documenting progress made to date on all 177 actions in the Estuary Project's 1993 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and participated in a facilitated workshop on August 2. Participants included 75 representatives from leading federal, state, regional and local government agencies, as well as business and environmental groups. The priorities will likely soon be adopted by the CCMP Implementation Committee. Bolded text reflects top priorities, while subtext both expands on priorities and adds related actions identified as desirable at the workshop.

1. Expand, restore and protect Bay-Delta wetlands.

Acquire more wetlands through public-private partnerships and expanded private state and federal financial assistance to individual landowners; restore non-wetland areas to wetlands (including seasonal) or riparian (included shaded riverine) habitat; complete a comprehensive regional wetlands management plan (which includes public acquisition priorities, public-private restoration efforts, and improved mitigation); and enhance the biodiversity within wetlands. (WT 1.1, 3.1, 3.2 & WL 1.5, 2.2)

2. Integrate and improve regulatory and scientific monitoring programs.

Promote multi-agency development and adoption of regulatory requirements and monitoring protocols to expedite implementation of ecosystem planning; address multi-media (water/land/air) and local/regional relationships; reduce analysis paralysis; and secure additional funding. (AR 1.1, DW 2.2 & 4.3, RM 1.1 & 2.1)

3. Create economic incentives that encourage local government to take action to implement measures to protect and enhance the Estuary.

Make federal and state funds available for local watershed planning and other programs, as well as for capital improvements and maintenance projects protective of the Estuary. In tandem, identify financial barriers to and propose alternative funding arrangements for environmentally-sensitive land use. (LU5.1 & 5.4)

4. Improve the management and control of urban runoff.

Increase long-term education programs on pollution prevention and extend stormwater programs to fast-growing Delta towns. In tandem, develop mass-emissions strategies to reduce both point and nonpoint source pollution; and control measures to reduce pollutant loadings from transportation. (PO 2.4, 2.5 & 2.1, PI 2.5)

5. Prepare and implement watershed management plans throughout the Estuary.

In addition, include watershed management in Local General Plans; develop a manual of how to integrate local stormwater, watershed, wetland protection and other CCMP consistent planning initiatives; and educate the public about the connections between land use, transportation and water quality. (LU 3.1, 1.1 & 4.1)

6. Reduce and control exotic species introductions and spread in the Estuary via ship ballast and other means. In addition, educate the public about exotic species impacts on the Estuary. (AR 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)

7. Build awareness about CCMP implementation. (PI 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 & 1.5)

8. Increase public awareness about the Estuary's natural resources and the need to protect them .

In particular, develop grassroots outreach and school-based education programs. (PI 2.2)

9. Implement the Regional Monitoring Program.

Build on the 1993 regional monitoring strategy and expand program to address all five key CCMP issues (dredging, pollution, biological resources, land use and freshwater diversion); update monitoring strategy for urban runoff (including air deposition); develop study sites where hydrology, contaminants and biological components are all monitored; integrate with Priority 2 above. (RM 2.1)

10. Work with CALFED and others (such as CVPIA) to address S.F. Bay and CCMP considerations in planning efforts and restoration funding decisionmaking.

If you participated in the August workshop and have any comments to this summary list, please contact: Marcia Brockbank (510)286-0780

* Numbers in parentheses correspond to relevant CCMP action items.

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