The National Academies Testimony before Congress

Public Laws Containing Studies for the National Academies

Briefings to Congress

Congressionally Mandated Reports

Policy Statements and Historical Documents

The OCGA staff

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
National Research Council
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Water Science and Technology Board
and
Ocean Studies Board
Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta

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Congressional Briefings
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
331 Hart Senate Office Bldg. – 12:00 p.m.
1334 Longworth House Office Bldg. – 3:00 p.m.
and
1314 Longworth House Office Bldg. – 4:00 p.m.

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on

Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta

by

THOMAS MILLER, Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and Member, Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta

HENRY J. VAUX, JR., Professor Emeritus, University of California at Berkeley, and Member, Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta

There are many challenges of managing water and achieving ecological rehabilitation in California’s Bay-Delta. They include the reluctance of many participants to acknowledge that water is scarce; the distribution of water management responsibilities among many agencies and organizations; the many environmental factors (stressors) that affect the structure and functioning of the Delta ecosystem, including the listed fish species; the many biological and physical changes that have occurred in the Delta; and uncertainties concerning future socioeconomic, climate, biological, and other conditions. This National Research Council report, in response to its statement of task, discusses the issue of scarcity, factors affecting the listed species and the Delta ecosystem in general, future water-supply and delivery options, scientific uncertainties, the degree of restoration likely to be attainable, and the need for comprehensive planning.

These briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on March 29, 2012 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.