California water regulators are moving forward with a plan backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that would overhaul water quality and flow rules in the sensitive ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Bay Delta. The State Water Resources Control Board released a new version of its Bay-Delta plan on Wednesday. The plan lets participating water agencies meet protections for species like chinook salmon and Delta smelt through a 2022 deal Newsom struck with cities and farmers to keep more water in rivers and restore habitat, rather than the state’s tougher default flow rules. The board also announced it would consider adopting the plan at its Oct. 28 and 29 board meeting, putting one of Newsom’s signature water deals on track for adoption before he leaves office.

Other Bay-Delta news:

• Daily Republic (Fairfield, Calif.): Solano County water officials say latest Bay Delta Plan does not address local concerns
• Daily Republic (Fairfield, Calif.): Delta, SWP levee, canal protection bill headed to the governor
• Ag Alert (California Farm Bureau): Nonprofit program aims to bring more rice to delta
• New York Post: California pushes ahead with sweeping water overhaul critics warn is ‘doomed to fail’