GUEST COMMENTARY: Resilience and Readiness: Supporting final studies for Delta Conveyance Project while reflecting on our state water system’s past, present and future

By Charles Wilson, Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition

We can’t escape our history. In 1984, the Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC) was founded in response to the ballot-box defeat of the Peripheral Canal, a predecessor to today’s Delta Conveyance Project. This pivotal moment highlighted the urgent need for a unified effort to address Southern California’s water challenges.

The vision back then was clear: bring together water leaders, agriculture, businesses, local governments, and labor to educate Southern Californians on where their water comes from and the need for water infrastructure investment to assure future reliability. Over the past 40 years, SCWC has steadfastly carried out that mission, spreading awareness about the region’s reliance on imported water from the Colorado River and Northern California, as well as the strides we’ve made in using water more efficiently.

A Holistic Approach to Water Resiliency

For years now, SCWC’s focus has shifted from singular solutions to an “all-of-the-above” approach. This strategy reduces reliance on imported water and creates water supply resiliency by diversifying Southern California’s water supply portfolio through water recycling and reuse, stormwater capture, conservation, and desalination.

Yet, even with these initiatives, imported water remains a cornerstone of our system.

The State Water Project is central to this equation. It provides approximately one-third of Southern California’s water at the most cost-effective rate compared to other sources. Without it, many of our local efforts—such as replenishing groundwater basins and supplementing recycled water—would falter.

Appreciating the Scale of the State Water Project

I recently went on a Metropolitan Water District inspection trip of the State Water Project. Standing at a lookout above Lake Oroville, I was struck by the sheer scale and vision behind this remarkable system, which delivers water from near the California-Oregon border to the California-Mexico border. It’s an engineering marvel, yet it’s also an aging system that now faces the challenges of climate change.

Scientists warn that our water system is on the frontlines of climate change impacts. We’re seeing more rain, less snow, and higher volumes of water flowing through the system during wetter months. To adapt, we need to modernize the system to take in water from new sources and reduce environmental impacts.

The Delta Conveyance Project: A Critical Next Step

The one-tunnel Delta Conveyance Project offers a solution. Years of study have already gone into the project, and just a few more studies are needed to answer remaining questions about its feasibility. I recently hosted an hour-long podcast (check it out here) on the topic with some of the state’s top experts to learn more about the project, and came away with the following analogy.

Imagine you own an old house, passed down through generations. It’s sturdy and has weathered storms, but the roof is starting to leak, the foundation has some cracks, and the pipes groan every time you turn on the water. You know repairs are needed, but they’re costly and will take time. You also know that new regulations are requiring you to make some upgrades—maybe you need a charger for the electronic vehicle, or solar panels. You could ignore the issues and hope for the best, but with every storm and every passing year, the problems will only worsen. Eventually, the small issues could lead to major damage, threatening the entire structure.

The State Water Project is like that house. We can keep using the existing infrastructure, hoping it will hold up, but without attention and careful study, it’s only a matter of time before we face significant, costly issues. Would you let the house fall into disrepair, risking its future and the safety of everyone in it? Or would you take action now, investing in the studies and repairs to ensure it remains strong for generations to come? Ignoring the need for upgrades doesn’t make the need go away; it only makes the consequences more severe.

Similarly, investing in the Delta Conveyance Project ensures that our water delivery system can adapt to modern needs and climate realities. Without these upgrades, the risk of infrastructure failure increases, threatening the water supply for 27 million Californians.

A Commitment to the Community

The California Department of Water Resources is also developing a Community Benefits Program for the Delta Conveyance Project. This grassroots initiative will identify and implement measures to protect and enhance the Delta’s cultural, recreational, natural, and agricultural resources. By working closely with local communities, this program promises to bring meaningful investments to the region while addressing community concerns.

The Cost of Inaction

Moving forward with the Delta Conveyance Project studies will provide critical insights into its feasibility, enabling informed decision-making. Delays or failure to act, however, come with significant risks.

If the studies do not move forward, we lose an important opportunity to fully vet solutions for safeguarding Southern California’s water supply. It could mean that we over-rely on outdated infrastructure which will fail.

It could also mean an over-reliance on the ability of conservation, stormwater capture, and water recycling and reuse to meet the region’s full needs in coming years.

The State Water Project’s capabilities are valuable to Southern California and cannot be fully replaced by regional and local water management and supply.

We must honor the visionaries who built the system that sustains millions of Californians today by taking the next step to secure our water future. Supporting the final studies for the Delta Conveyance Project isn’t just about safeguarding water—it’s about ensuring resilience and readiness for generations to come.

Charles Wilson is the executive director of the Southern California Water Coalition.