The State Water Project can already capture, move and store enough water to be used by 27 million people and service 750,000 acres of farmland.
The State Water Contractors, a nonprofit representing 27 public water agencies, celebrated Newsom’s idea and said it could reduce administrative delays that would push the project out years, if not decades.
“The Delta Conveyance Project review and approval process has been hampered by red tape and frivolous delay tactics for decades, costing Californians millions of dollars without addressing our very real challenges with water supply reliability,” said Jennifer Pierre, the nonprofit’s general manager.
However, State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D–Pleasanton), co-chair of the California Legislative Delta Caucus, called the plan “poorly conceived” and encouraged the Legislature to reject it. He said the tunnel project would destroy farmland, salmon fisheries and tribal resources.
“Plus, the tunnel’s costs would have to be shouldered by ratepayers who are already overburdened by skyrocketing utility bills,” he said.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) poses for a portrait in Suisun City on March 17, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), who represents communities throughout the delta, called Newsom’s proposal a “last-ditch effort” to push the project through before his term ends. She said if the plan is approved, it would devastate ecosystems and burden ratepayers.
“This approach threatens the livelihood of our local communities and undermines the sustainability of our regional economy,” she said.
Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute, said in an email he is generally “not a fan of ‘fast tracking’ massive projects that are controversial, costly, and opposed by diverse coalitions and communities.”
