Groups opposed to California’s Delta Conveyance Project had a second chance Thursday to argue why the massive water project fails to meet essential criteria and should return to the state water department for further workshopping. The Delta Stewardship Council heard appeals to a certificate of consistency for the massive water transfer system, making no decision that day whether to reject the appeal or send it back to the Department of Water Resources for more tweaking. The council can’t outright deny the project. A decision is expected Dec. 9. … Those appealing and the Delta Protection Commission, the latter an advisory body for the council, said the water department failed to meet the mark. … Department officials argued its benchmarks were narrow, saying its revised certificate of consistency complied with the Delta Plan.

Other water project permitting news:

• Fresh Water News: Aurora tests the waters of Colorado’s new wetland protection rules