Voluntary Agreements

On March 29, 2022, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Water Resources, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and water agencies from across the state, including Yuba Water Agency, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which outlines terms of an eight-year comprehensive program to meet the needs of different watersheds feeding into the Bay-Delta. The MOU is available here.

The Voluntary Agreements represent a comprehensive, collaborative plan that is designed to contribute to the recovery of fish and wildlife species and provide an alternative to previously proposed one-size-fits-all requirements to release massive amounts of flows in an attempt to improve Bay-Delta fisheries.

The Voluntary Agreements MOU provides a framework for drafting implementing agreements that will include flow and habitat contributions, funding, a robust science program and a governance structure. Additional information will be shared in the coming months as the agreements are further developed. 


Water drop graphic with facts about Yuba Water Agency’s proposed voluntary settlement agreement.

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