Court granted injunction requested by petitioners to stop geotechnical investigations
Press release from the State Water Contractors:
Today, the Sacramento County Superior Court granted an injunction, led by representatives of Delta counties, halting the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) geotechnical investigations for the Delta Conveyance Project. The soil investigations allow DWR and regulatory agencies to better understand the region’s geology as the design and permitting of the Delta Conveyance Project advance.
Statement from Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors:
“Today’s decision is a glaringly incorrect interpretation of the Delta Reform Act. It fails to reflect the realities of how major infrastructure projects advance and places an unrealistic and prohibitive burden on the development of any project within the Delta. Other projects providing essential services to Delta communities — like transportation or energy — could also be impacted by this ruling, as can habitat restoration and other projects aimed at restoring the environment in the Delta. Ironically, the very data gathering that has been halted today is essential for permitting agencies like the Delta Stewardship Council to make informed decisions.
We cannot continue to delay modernizing the State Water Project infrastructure in the Delta any longer. Today’s ruling is a disappointing setback in advancing California’s critical water infrastructure for long-term function and reliability. Our current system, which is decades old, is at increasing risk of potentially catastrophic damage due to California’s rapidly changing climate and extreme weather shifts. The Delta Conveyance Project will help ensure the State Water Project can continue to deliver critical water supplies to the over 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland and countless businesses who rely on it.”
