Residents around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta feel left out of the decision-making process over a local water conservation plan, University of California researchers learned by conducting "conversations" in five counties last year. Tim Hearden of Capital Press spoke to two of the UC Cooperative Extension advisors involved in hosting and evaluating the conversations, Jodi Cassell and Shelly Murdock of Contra Costa County.

Residents repeatedly said experts and policymakers gave their points of view at public meetings about a water...