Delta Vision Task Force to establish public trust
Over 220 governments are involved in the water management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near San Francisco and Sacramento. "This just doesn’t work and should be changed," Phil Isenberg recently stated in a commentary in the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Isenberg recognises the huge complexity of water issues in the delta. Local water managers constantly have to grapple with high water consumption, protecting the ecosystem and flood risks.
Cooperating governments
As a former mayor of Sacramento, Isenberg was always closely involved with the delta’s water problems. Currently Chairman of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force, he has high expectations of the special committee that is implementing Delta Vision. One of the major tasks of this committee is to ensure that all governments are working together. The aim is to solve all water issues in the delta by 2100, including climate adaptation. As part of this solution, around 100,000 acres of land will be given the status of protected area.
Responsibility and accountability
Many people in the delta are exposed to floods and earthquakes. While the government can considerably reduce such risks, the population will also have to make sacrifices says Isenberg. He believes that construction plans in high-risks areas should be stopped. Such a move would require widespread support and Isenberg realises that this will not be easy to attain from California’s wealthy and vocal residents.
Isenberg is one of Aquaterra’s keynote speakers and will discuss in his own inimitable style California’s standard ambition to be the best at everything including - albeit in partnership with the Netherlands - climate adaptation.
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