Still Imperiled, Still Important: The Little Hoover Commission's Review of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program

Report #183, November 2005
Still Imperiled, Still Important: The Little Hoover Commission's Review of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program

Full Report

Executive Summary

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
916-445-2125

Commission Proposes Reforms to Bay-Delta Restoration Effort

The Little Hoover Commission on Thursday recommended overhauling how state and federal agencies are managing the massive, multibillion-dollar effort to restore the Bay-Delta estuary.

The Commission’s review affirmed the importance of the CALFED Bay-Delta program and the need to fundamentally change how the multi-agency effort is governed. The Commission recommended dissolving the Bay-Delta Authority, which was created in 2003, and creating a stronger management structure that could be held accountable for achieving the program’s four objectives: improving water supply reliability, levee stability, water quality and the ecosystem of the vast, yet fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta supplies water to 22 million Californians, irrigates 5 million acres of farmland and is home to 750 wildlife species.

Through CALFED, 24 state and federal agencies were committed to working cooperatively and relying on science and public involvement to improve conditions in the Bay-Delta. But after five years and $3 billion, the Governor and the Legislature have questioned the progress and the ability of the Bay-Delta Authority to lead the effort.

The Commission’s review was requested by Governor Schwarzenegger as part of an effort to revitalize CALFED. The Commission concluded that the current structure diffuses authority and fragments responsibility and lacks the focused leadership needed to get adversarial stakeholders and reluctant government agencies to cooperate.

“Because of a faulty design, the Bay-Delta Authority cannot effectively coordinate activities, push agencies to perform, or provide rigorous oversight. It is unable to control or cajole,” said Michael E. Alpert, chairman of the Little Hoover Commission.

The Commission found that growing disagreements about CALFED’s mission and the role of the Bay-Delta Authority are jeopardizing the critical water supply and restoration effort. The Commission recommended recreating a policy group of public officials, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Interior and the California Secretary of Resources. It recommended deploying performance management techniques to improve progress toward specific goals. And it recommended refinements to the program’s use of a lead scientist and an independent science board to improve decision-making.

“The most important factor in CALFED’s success will be leadership,” Alpert said. “One lesson of the last five years is that CALFED will require an amount of political capital and leadership that can only flow from the institution of the Governor.”

The Commission’s report includes recommendations for reforming the governance structure of the CALFED program. Specifically:

  • Long-term and sustainable solutions to the Bay-Delta problems must be integrated into a comprehensive water policy for California. In turn, CALFED’s leaders will need to refine the goals for the restoration effort and determine who will help pay for the program.
     
  • CALFED needs a strong leader with clear authority and consolidated responsibility to forge a stronger relationship with federal partners, engage stakeholders in a renewed effort to resolve conflicts, and direct the relevant state agencies.
     
  • Agency leaders must manage strategically to improve performance and integrate science into decisions. “CALFED cannot lose sight of one of its primary purposes: to get agencies to work together to accomplish what they could not do alone,” Alpert wrote.
     
  • The State must make public involvement in CALFED more meaningful. Public awareness, transparency, conflict resolution and accountability are at stake.

The Commission also identified steps the Legislature should take to provide more consistent involvement and support for CALFED. Policy–makers need to explicitly endorse specific objectives so that government officials have a clear mandate to pursue progress. Lawmakers need to be clear about what they expect of state agencies and then hold them accountable for outcomes. Legislators also need to put in place external and expert oversight to independently assess progress.

The Little Hoover Commission is a bipartisan and independent state agency charged with recommending ways to increase the performance of state programs. The Commission’s recommendations are sent to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration. The report, Still IMPERILED, Still IMPORTANT A Review of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, is available on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov/lhc.html.

Fact Sheet

Study Description

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program and the California Bay-Delta Authority. At its June 23, 2005, business meeting, the Commission voted to conduct a CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review.

Click on the links below to access the Governor's letter to the Commission and the Commission's preliminary summary documents. These documents summarize the CALFED governance issues the Little Hoover Commission and staff heard in interviews, survey responses and testimony. These documents convey preliminary understandings and do not represent the Commission's conclusions.

Agenda

Overview

In this report, the Commission proposes recommendations for reforming the governance structure of the CALFED program. 

During its review, the Commission found that the current structure diffuses authority and fragments responsibility and lacks the focused leadership needed to get adversarial stakeholders and reluctant government agencies to cooperate.  The Commission also found that growing disagreements about CALFED’s mission and the role of the Bay-Delta Authority are jeopardizing the critical water supply and restoration effort. The Commission’s review affirmed the importance of the CALFED Bay-Delta program and the need to fundamentally change how the multi-agency effort is governed.

The Commission recommends dissolving the Bay-Delta Authority, which was created in 2003, and creating a stronger management structure that could be held accountable for achieving the program’s four objectives: improving water supply reliability, levee stability, water quality and the ecosystem of the vast, yet fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Commission also recommended recreating a policy group of public officials, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Interior and the California Secretary of Resources. It recommended deploying performance management techniques to improve progress toward specific goals. It also recommended refinements to the program’s use of a lead scientist and an independent science board to improve decision-making.

This review was requested by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in a June 22, 2005, request letter to the Commission.

Print Agenda
  • October 27
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 126, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED/Bay-Delta Authority 
    Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 126 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    1. Mike Chrisman, Secretary, California Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - Levee Stability

    1. Jeffrey F. Mount, Professor and Director, Center for Integrated Watershed Science and Management, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Gary Livaich, Partner, Desmond, Nolan, Livaich and Cunningham (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - State-Federal Collaborative Models

    1. Col. (ret.) Greg May, Executive Director, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Michael F. Burke, Associate Director, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Carl Hasty, Deputy Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - The Future of CALFED

    1. Jody Freeman, Professor and Director, Environmental Law Program, Harvard Law School (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Thomas J. Graff, California Regional Director, Environmental Defense (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Helen Ingram, Warmington Endowed Chair of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony, Attachment)
       
    4. Thomas M. Zuckerman, Co-Counsel, Central Delta Water Agency

    Public Comments

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    October 13, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, October 27, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the third public hearing as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 126 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. At the second hearing held in September, the Commission heard from urban water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. At the third hearing, the Commission will hear expert testimony about levee stability in the Bay-Delta, and from governance experts who will discuss alternative structure, authorities and accountability mechanisms. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

    The Commission expects to release a final report in November that will include recommendations for improving CALFED governance.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    The Commission has distributed two documents summarizing the CALFED governance issues gleaned from interviews, survey responses and testimony. The documents are preliminary and do not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The documents are available on the Commission’s Web site.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

  • September 22
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Program 
    Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 112 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Panel I

    1. Cynthia Koehler, Public Interest Attorney and Environmental Advocate (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Gary Bobker, Program Director, The Bay Institute (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel II

    1. Gary Hayward Slaughter Mulcahy, Emissary and Governmental Liaison, Winnemem Wintu Tribe (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Martha Guzman, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Henry Clark, Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel III

    1. Stephen K. Hall, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies (Written Testimony)
       
    2. David J. Guy, Executive Director, Northern California Water Association (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Timothy H. Quinn, Vice President, State Water Project Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

    Panel IV

    1. David Breninger, General Manager, Placer County Water Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Randele Kanouse, Special Assistant to the General Manager, East Bay Municipal Utility District (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Walter J. Bishop, General Manager, Contra Costa Water District (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Ara Azhderian, Water Policy Administrator, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Public Comments

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    September 8, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the second of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority.

    At the second hearing, the Commission will hear from urban and agricultural water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

    The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2005 in Room 4203 of the State Capitol and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    Following the first hearing, the Commission distributed a document summarizing the CALFED governance issues the Commission and staff have heard in interviews, survey responses and testimony. The document is preliminary and does not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The document is available on the Commission’s Web site.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

  • August 25
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Authority History and Purpose 
    Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. 
    State Capitol, Room 437 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Panel 1 - CALFED Architects 

    1. Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
    • Opinion submitted by Bruce Babbitt and Douglas P. Wheeler to the Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2005
    1. Pete Wilson, Former Governor, State of California (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Douglas P. Wheeler, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency 
       
    3. Roger K. Patterson, Former Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel 2 - Recent CALFED Leaders 

    1. Mary Nichols, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency
       
    2. Bennett Raley, Former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)


    Panel 3 - Current CALFED Leaders

    1. Gary H. Hunt, Chair, California Bay-Delta Authority
       
    2. Lester A. Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Jason Peltier, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Steve P. Thompson, Manager, California-Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Written Testimony)
       
    5. Ryan Broddrick, Director, California Department of Fish and Game


    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    •  Frances Spivy-Weber, Executive Director for Policy, Mono Lake Committee (Written Comments)
    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    August 11, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, August 25, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the first of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission will hold three public hearings. The first hearing will focus on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. Witnesses include the state and federal architects of CALFED, including Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and former Governor Pete Wilson. The Commission also will hear from recent and current leaders involved with CALFED. The agenda is on the reverse.

    At the second hearing, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Commission will hear from water agencies and associations, and witnesses representing environmentalists, environmental justice and agriculture. A draft agenda of invited witnesses is posted on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov.

    The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday October 27, 2005 and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms. The second and third hearings will be held at the State Capitol in Sacramento and hearing room numbers will be posted on the Commission’s Web site as soon as they are available.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. The Commission encourages anyone who would like to provide public comment to contact the Commission to participate at the September 22, 2005 hearing. Those wishing to provide comments at this hearing will be put on a list and comments will be taken in the order requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 18, 2005.

October 27
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 126, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED/Bay-Delta Authority 
Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 126 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

  1. Mike Chrisman, Secretary, California Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - Levee Stability

  1. Jeffrey F. Mount, Professor and Director, Center for Integrated Watershed Science and Management, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Gary Livaich, Partner, Desmond, Nolan, Livaich and Cunningham (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - State-Federal Collaborative Models

  1. Col. (ret.) Greg May, Executive Director, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Michael F. Burke, Associate Director, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Carl Hasty, Deputy Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - The Future of CALFED

  1. Jody Freeman, Professor and Director, Environmental Law Program, Harvard Law School (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Thomas J. Graff, California Regional Director, Environmental Defense (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Helen Ingram, Warmington Endowed Chair of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony, Attachment)
     
  4. Thomas M. Zuckerman, Co-Counsel, Central Delta Water Agency

Public Comments

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, October 27, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the third public hearing as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 126 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. At the second hearing held in September, the Commission heard from urban water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. At the third hearing, the Commission will hear expert testimony about levee stability in the Bay-Delta, and from governance experts who will discuss alternative structure, authorities and accountability mechanisms. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

The Commission expects to release a final report in November that will include recommendations for improving CALFED governance.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

The Commission has distributed two documents summarizing the CALFED governance issues gleaned from interviews, survey responses and testimony. The documents are preliminary and do not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The documents are available on the Commission’s Web site.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

September 22
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Program 
Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 112 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Panel I

  1. Cynthia Koehler, Public Interest Attorney and Environmental Advocate (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Gary Bobker, Program Director, The Bay Institute (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Written Testimony)
     

Panel II

  1. Gary Hayward Slaughter Mulcahy, Emissary and Governmental Liaison, Winnemem Wintu Tribe (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Martha Guzman, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Henry Clark, Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition (Written Testimony)
     

Panel III

  1. Stephen K. Hall, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies (Written Testimony)
     
  2. David J. Guy, Executive Director, Northern California Water Association (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Timothy H. Quinn, Vice President, State Water Project Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

Panel IV

  1. David Breninger, General Manager, Placer County Water Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Randele Kanouse, Special Assistant to the General Manager, East Bay Municipal Utility District (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Walter J. Bishop, General Manager, Contra Costa Water District (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Ara Azhderian, Water Policy Administrator, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Public Comments

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the second of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority.

At the second hearing, the Commission will hear from urban and agricultural water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2005 in Room 4203 of the State Capitol and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

Following the first hearing, the Commission distributed a document summarizing the CALFED governance issues the Commission and staff have heard in interviews, survey responses and testimony. The document is preliminary and does not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The document is available on the Commission’s Web site.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

August 25
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Authority History and Purpose 
Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. 
State Capitol, Room 437 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Panel 1 - CALFED Architects 

  1. Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
  • Opinion submitted by Bruce Babbitt and Douglas P. Wheeler to the Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2005
  1. Pete Wilson, Former Governor, State of California (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Douglas P. Wheeler, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency 
     
  3. Roger K. Patterson, Former Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Written Testimony)
     

Panel 2 - Recent CALFED Leaders 

  1. Mary Nichols, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency
     
  2. Bennett Raley, Former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)


Panel 3 - Current CALFED Leaders

  1. Gary H. Hunt, Chair, California Bay-Delta Authority
     
  2. Lester A. Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Jason Peltier, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Steve P. Thompson, Manager, California-Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Written Testimony)
     
  5. Ryan Broddrick, Director, California Department of Fish and Game


Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

  •  Frances Spivy-Weber, Executive Director for Policy, Mono Lake Committee (Written Comments)
Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, August 25, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the first of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission will hold three public hearings. The first hearing will focus on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. Witnesses include the state and federal architects of CALFED, including Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and former Governor Pete Wilson. The Commission also will hear from recent and current leaders involved with CALFED. The agenda is on the reverse.

At the second hearing, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Commission will hear from water agencies and associations, and witnesses representing environmentalists, environmental justice and agriculture. A draft agenda of invited witnesses is posted on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov.

The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday October 27, 2005 and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms. The second and third hearings will be held at the State Capitol in Sacramento and hearing room numbers will be posted on the Commission’s Web site as soon as they are available.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. The Commission encourages anyone who would like to provide public comment to contact the Commission to participate at the September 22, 2005 hearing. Those wishing to provide comments at this hearing will be put on a list and comments will be taken in the order requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 18, 2005.

Print Agenda
  • October 27
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 126, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED/Bay-Delta Authority 
    Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 126 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    1. Mike Chrisman, Secretary, California Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - Levee Stability

    1. Jeffrey F. Mount, Professor and Director, Center for Integrated Watershed Science and Management, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Gary Livaich, Partner, Desmond, Nolan, Livaich and Cunningham (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - State-Federal Collaborative Models

    1. Col. (ret.) Greg May, Executive Director, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Michael F. Burke, Associate Director, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Carl Hasty, Deputy Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel - The Future of CALFED

    1. Jody Freeman, Professor and Director, Environmental Law Program, Harvard Law School (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Thomas J. Graff, California Regional Director, Environmental Defense (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Helen Ingram, Warmington Endowed Chair of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony, Attachment)
       
    4. Thomas M. Zuckerman, Co-Counsel, Central Delta Water Agency

    Public Comments

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    October 13, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, October 27, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the third public hearing as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 126 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. At the second hearing held in September, the Commission heard from urban water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. At the third hearing, the Commission will hear expert testimony about levee stability in the Bay-Delta, and from governance experts who will discuss alternative structure, authorities and accountability mechanisms. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

    The Commission expects to release a final report in November that will include recommendations for improving CALFED governance.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    The Commission has distributed two documents summarizing the CALFED governance issues gleaned from interviews, survey responses and testimony. The documents are preliminary and do not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The documents are available on the Commission’s Web site.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

  • September 22
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Program 
    Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
    State Capitol, Room 112 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Panel I

    1. Cynthia Koehler, Public Interest Attorney and Environmental Advocate (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Gary Bobker, Program Director, The Bay Institute (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel II

    1. Gary Hayward Slaughter Mulcahy, Emissary and Governmental Liaison, Winnemem Wintu Tribe (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Martha Guzman, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Henry Clark, Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel III

    1. Stephen K. Hall, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies (Written Testimony)
       
    2. David J. Guy, Executive Director, Northern California Water Association (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Timothy H. Quinn, Vice President, State Water Project Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

    Panel IV

    1. David Breninger, General Manager, Placer County Water Agency (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Randele Kanouse, Special Assistant to the General Manager, East Bay Municipal Utility District (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Walter J. Bishop, General Manager, Contra Costa Water District (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Ara Azhderian, Water Policy Administrator, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Written Testimony)
      ​​​​​​​

    Public Comments

    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    September 8, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the second of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority.

    At the second hearing, the Commission will hear from urban and agricultural water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

    The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2005 in Room 4203 of the State Capitol and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    Following the first hearing, the Commission distributed a document summarizing the CALFED governance issues the Commission and staff have heard in interviews, survey responses and testimony. The document is preliminary and does not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The document is available on the Commission’s Web site.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

  • August 25
    2005
    CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
    9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
    Public Hearing
    Agenda

    AGENDA

    Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Authority History and Purpose 
    Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. 
    State Capitol, Room 437 
    Sacramento, CA


    Opening Remarks

    Panel 1 - CALFED Architects 

    1. Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
    • Opinion submitted by Bruce Babbitt and Douglas P. Wheeler to the Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2005
    1. Pete Wilson, Former Governor, State of California (Written Testimony)
       
    2. Douglas P. Wheeler, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency 
       
    3. Roger K. Patterson, Former Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Written Testimony)
       

    Panel 2 - Recent CALFED Leaders 

    1. Mary Nichols, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency
       
    2. Bennett Raley, Former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)


    Panel 3 - Current CALFED Leaders

    1. Gary H. Hunt, Chair, California Bay-Delta Authority
       
    2. Lester A. Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources (Written Testimony)
       
    3. Jason Peltier, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)
       
    4. Steve P. Thompson, Manager, California-Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Written Testimony)
       
    5. Ryan Broddrick, Director, California Department of Fish and Game


    Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

    •  Frances Spivy-Weber, Executive Director for Policy, Mono Lake Committee (Written Comments)
    Public Notice

    PUBLIC NOTICE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    August 11, 2005

    For Additional Information Contact:
    James P. Mayer, Executive Director
    (916) 445-2125

    Notice of Meeting

    On Thursday, August 25, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the first of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

    On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission will hold three public hearings. The first hearing will focus on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. Witnesses include the state and federal architects of CALFED, including Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and former Governor Pete Wilson. The Commission also will hear from recent and current leaders involved with CALFED. The agenda is on the reverse.

    At the second hearing, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Commission will hear from water agencies and associations, and witnesses representing environmentalists, environmental justice and agriculture. A draft agenda of invited witnesses is posted on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov.

    The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday October 27, 2005 and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms. The second and third hearings will be held at the State Capitol in Sacramento and hearing room numbers will be posted on the Commission’s Web site as soon as they are available.

    There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. The Commission encourages anyone who would like to provide public comment to contact the Commission to participate at the September 22, 2005 hearing. Those wishing to provide comments at this hearing will be put on a list and comments will be taken in the order requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

    All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 18, 2005.

October 27
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 126, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED/Bay-Delta Authority 
Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 126 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

  1. Mike Chrisman, Secretary, California Resources Agency (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - Levee Stability

  1. Jeffrey F. Mount, Professor and Director, Center for Integrated Watershed Science and Management, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Gary Livaich, Partner, Desmond, Nolan, Livaich and Cunningham (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - State-Federal Collaborative Models

  1. Col. (ret.) Greg May, Executive Director, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Michael F. Burke, Associate Director, Chesapeake Bay Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Carl Hasty, Deputy Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (Written Testimony)
     

Panel - The Future of CALFED

  1. Jody Freeman, Professor and Director, Environmental Law Program, Harvard Law School (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Thomas J. Graff, California Regional Director, Environmental Defense (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Helen Ingram, Warmington Endowed Chair of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (Written Testimony, Attachment)
     
  4. Thomas M. Zuckerman, Co-Counsel, Central Delta Water Agency

Public Comments

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, October 27, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the third public hearing as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 126 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. At the second hearing held in September, the Commission heard from urban water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. At the third hearing, the Commission will hear expert testimony about levee stability in the Bay-Delta, and from governance experts who will discuss alternative structure, authorities and accountability mechanisms. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

The Commission expects to release a final report in November that will include recommendations for improving CALFED governance.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

The Commission has distributed two documents summarizing the CALFED governance issues gleaned from interviews, survey responses and testimony. The documents are preliminary and do not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The documents are available on the Commission’s Web site.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

September 22
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 112, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Program 
Thursday, September 22, 2005, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 112 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Panel I

  1. Cynthia Koehler, Public Interest Attorney and Environmental Advocate (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Gary Bobker, Program Director, The Bay Institute (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (Written Testimony)
     

Panel II

  1. Gary Hayward Slaughter Mulcahy, Emissary and Governmental Liaison, Winnemem Wintu Tribe (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Martha Guzman, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Henry Clark, Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition (Written Testimony)
     

Panel III

  1. Stephen K. Hall, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies (Written Testimony)
     
  2. David J. Guy, Executive Director, Northern California Water Association (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Timothy H. Quinn, Vice President, State Water Project Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Written Testimony)

Panel IV

  1. David Breninger, General Manager, Placer County Water Agency (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Randele Kanouse, Special Assistant to the General Manager, East Bay Municipal Utility District (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Walter J. Bishop, General Manager, Contra Costa Water District (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Ara Azhderian, Water Policy Administrator, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Written Testimony)
    ​​​​​​​

Public Comments

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the second of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission scheduled three public hearings. The first hearing, held in August, focused on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority.

At the second hearing, the Commission will hear from urban and agricultural water agencies and witnesses representing environmentalists, fisheries, and environmental justice. A complete agenda is on the reverse.

The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2005 in Room 4203 of the State Capitol and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. Anyone who would like to provide public comment and would like to be put on a list can contact the Commission. Speakers will be called in the order that requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

Following the first hearing, the Commission distributed a document summarizing the CALFED governance issues the Commission and staff have heard in interviews, survey responses and testimony. The document is preliminary and does not represent the Commission’s conclusions. The document is available on the Commission’s Web site.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, September 15, 2005.

August 25
2005
CALFED Bay-Delta Authority Governance Review
9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA
Public Hearing
Agenda

AGENDA

Public Hearing on CALFED Bay-Delta Authority History and Purpose 
Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. 
State Capitol, Room 437 
Sacramento, CA


Opening Remarks

Panel 1 - CALFED Architects 

  1. Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
  • Opinion submitted by Bruce Babbitt and Douglas P. Wheeler to the Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2005
  1. Pete Wilson, Former Governor, State of California (Written Testimony)
     
  2. Douglas P. Wheeler, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency 
     
  3. Roger K. Patterson, Former Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Written Testimony)
     

Panel 2 - Recent CALFED Leaders 

  1. Mary Nichols, Former Secretary, California Resources Agency
     
  2. Bennett Raley, Former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)


Panel 3 - Current CALFED Leaders

  1. Gary H. Hunt, Chair, California Bay-Delta Authority
     
  2. Lester A. Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources (Written Testimony)
     
  3. Jason Peltier, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (Written Testimony)
     
  4. Steve P. Thompson, Manager, California-Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Written Testimony)
     
  5. Ryan Broddrick, Director, California Department of Fish and Game


Comments Submitted by Members of the Public

  •  Frances Spivy-Weber, Executive Director for Policy, Mono Lake Committee (Written Comments)
Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2005

For Additional Information Contact:
James P. Mayer, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125

Notice of Meeting

On Thursday, August 25, 2005, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the first of three public hearings as part of its review of the governance structure of the CALFED/Bay-Delta Program. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On June 22, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the Commission to examine the governance of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. As part of its review, the Commission will hold three public hearings. The first hearing will focus on the history of CALFED and the Bay-Delta Authority. Witnesses include the state and federal architects of CALFED, including Bruce Babbitt, former secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and former Governor Pete Wilson. The Commission also will hear from recent and current leaders involved with CALFED. The agenda is on the reverse.

At the second hearing, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2005, the Commission will hear from water agencies and associations, and witnesses representing environmentalists, environmental justice and agriculture. A draft agenda of invited witnesses is posted on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov.

The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday October 27, 2005 and will include governance experts who will discuss alternative structures, authorities and accountability mechanisms. The second and third hearings will be held at the State Capitol in Sacramento and hearing room numbers will be posted on the Commission’s Web site as soon as they are available.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each hearing. The Commission encourages anyone who would like to provide public comment to contact the Commission to participate at the September 22, 2005 hearing. Those wishing to provide comments at this hearing will be put on a list and comments will be taken in the order requests were received. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site: www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact James P. Mayer at (916) 445-2125 or little.hoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 18, 2005.