Complaint Blames Bay Delta Ecological Crisis on Racism

Advocates hope to enlist the federal government in forcing state regulators to set clean water standards for the San Francisco Bay Delta.

1 minute read

January 2, 2023, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A shipping freighter, bearing agricultural materials, floats on a narrow waterway, bound by levees.

Freight at work on the Bay Delta, with Mount Diablo visible in the distant background. | Flanders Imagery / Shutterstock

A group of environmentalists, racial justice advocates, and indigenous tribes have filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleging that the ecological crisis on the San Francisco Bay Delta has roots in racism, according to a column by Michael Fitzgerald for Stocktonia.

Stockton’s Little Manila Rising, Restore the Delta, the Winnemem Wintu and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and Save California Salmon filed the 288-page complaint linking the ecological crisis in the Bay Delta to white supremacy, according to the article.

“[The complaint] alleges that the state Water Resources Control Board is failing to do its job to set clean water standards for the Delta — which is true — and this mostly hurts people of color, a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requiring all groups be given equal treatment under the law,” writes Fitzgerald.

As clear from the citation above, Fitzgerald opines that the complaint makes a persuasive argument.

The complaint asks the U.S. EPA to force the Water Resources Control Board to set clean water standards for the Bay Delta.  

More details about the political context surrounding the complaint are included in the source article below.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 in Stocktonia

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

AI-generated image of high-speed rail trail in elevated track in green hilly farmland.

Four Reasons Urban Planners Can’t Ignore AI

It’s no longer a question of whether AI will shape planning, but how. That how is up to us.

May 28, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of Bend, Oregon.

Bend, Deschutes County Move to Restrict Major Homeless Encampment

City and county officials are closing off portions of an area known as Juniper Ridge where many unhoused residents find shelter, hoping to direct people to housing and supportive services.

May 30 - The Bulletin

Metro rail station in Mariachi Plaza with colorful glass pavilion in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California.

High Housing Costs Driving Down Transit Ridership in LA

When neighborhoods gentrify and displace lower-income residents, transit ridership suffers, new research shows.

May 30 - CALmatters

Des Moines, Iowa skyline viewed from a plaza with two flags on either side at dusk.

Iowa Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units

A new law will allow property owners to build ADUs on single-family lots starting on July 1.

May 30 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Please login or create a new account to proceed. You will need a Planetizen account to post a job, news, or an announcement.