This week, the California Natural Resources Agency started its three staged process for the release of the preliminary draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).

The first four chapters were posted yesterday on the BDCP website with Chapters 5-7 scheduled for release on March 27 and Chapters 8-12 being released during the week of April 22. Each release will be followed by a public meeting. As a “preliminary” draft, this version of the BDCP does not take the place of the formal “public review” process which is expected to be announced later this year. Drafts of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are expected to be released in late spring.