Water decision delayed while Brown, Newsom seek compromise

California Gov. Jerry Brown says he hopes to use his remaining time in office to broker a compromise in a bitter feud over water.

Brown told reporters that he hopes to reach an agreement in about the next 30 days. A state water board voted yesterday to delay a decision until next month on a controversial plan to increase the amount of water required to flow through the Lower San Joaquin River to protect habitat for fish in the delta.

The move would result in less water for Central Valley farmers.

The delay was requested by Brown and his successor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. They say in a letter dated Tuesday that a negotiated agreement would be better than a government decision that's certain to be challenged in court.