(March 1, 2007) A California Chamber of Commerce policy advocate is part of a state panel assigned to recommend ways to sustain the integrity of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the heart of California's water supply system.

Valerie Nera, CalChamber policy advocate for agriculture, resources and privacy, has been appointed to the 41-member Delta Stakeholders Group. Nera will be representing the business community and its interests on the panel. The panel is made up of representatives from the diverse array of groups having an interest in the fate of the Delta and will assist and recommend to the Delta Visions Blue Ribbon Task Force ideas and innovations that will lead to a sustainable Delta.

The Delta, formed by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, has long been a center of controversy as both the largest estuary on the West Coast and hub of the state’s water system. In addition, the 57 islands and waterways of the Delta are traversed by a major portion of Northern California infrastructure, including hundreds of gas lines, six highways, five high voltage lines and three railroads.

The Delta Stakeholder Group was created by State Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman to supplement and support the efforts of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force recently created by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The task force is made up of leaders from all levels of government, stakeholders, academia and affected communities, while the stakeholder group involves local government, stakeholders, scientists, engineers and members of the public.

“A safe and secure levee system and an adequate and clean supply of water are critical to our economy and every family in our state,” Schwarzenegger said when appointing the task force. “The Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta levees serve two out of every three Californians and we must continue to support the environmental and economic functions of the Delta that are vital to the people of California.”

Chrisman chairs the group of state agency heads named to oversee California's "vision" for the Delta. After receiving recommendations from the stakeholder group, the task force will prepare an independent public report on the sustainable management of the Delta to be submitted to Governor Schwarzenegger by January 1, 2008. The task force also is to complete a Strategic Plan to implement the Delta Vision by October 31, 2008.

A two-day public meeting is set for March 5-6 in Sacramento to orient panel members to their assignment, review reports issued to date and permit panelists to present the perspectives of their constituencies.

The meeting is at the Sterling Hotel Ballroom, located at 1300 H Street, Sacramento. Comments during the public comment period shall be limited to 3-5 minutes and matters within the jurisdictions of the stakeholders’ coordination groups.

More information can be found at the Delta Vision website: www.deltavision.ca.gov.

Staff Contact: Valerie Nera