With the Bay-Delta watershed in the throes of an ecological crisis, California’s water regulators Thursday unveiled several controversial options for managing the heart of the state’s water supply. … Several of the strategies the [Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan] evaluates would set minimum amounts of water to remain in rivers and streams, which could ultimately require water suppliers and other water users to cut back on how much they divert for people and farms. Another approach assessed is a controversial pact that Gov. Gavin Newsom reached last March with major water suppliers, who volunteered to surrender some water and help restore habitat in the watershed. 

Related articles: 

• San Francisco Chronicle: California wants to restore its rivers and San Francisco Bay to health. Here is its controversial plan
• State Water Resources Control Board: Water Board releases draft report analyzing possible impacts to Sacramento/Delta
• Restore the Delta: Blog – Tribes and delta activists: What to look for in new state water board documents
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Metropolitan issues statement on proposed Voluntary Agreements in update of Bay-Delta Plan