A study to save the Delta's ecosystem while still providing
water to 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of farmland
is about to kick into high gear, a process that could eventually
lead to construction of a peripheral canal. The Bay Delta
Conservation Plan (BDCP) is the latest attempt to find the best
compromise between thirsty water agencies seeking an abundant,
quality water supply and environmental groups and others seeking
to ensure the health of a fragile, troubled Delta ecosystem. The
plan might call for the construction of a peripheral canal that
takes fresh water from the Sacramento River in the north Delta
and conveys it south along the east side of the Delta. That
possibility worries local officials, who fear it would lead to a
worsening of water quality, including an increase in salinity.
The first step in putting together the plan is the preparation
of environmental impact studies that will identify the most
environmentally friendly option or options. Officials from the
California Departm