COMMENTARY: Delaying the Delta Conveyance Project puts California’s water security at risk

By Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors

The State Water Project, a cornerstone of California’s water delivery system, runs on 1960s-era infrastructure. This aging system is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, seismic risks and environmental challenges. Modernizing it with the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) is essential to ensure sustainable and reliable access to the water that powers our state’s communities, farms and industries.

That’s why recent attempts to delay progress on the DCP before the Delta Stewardship Council are not just frustrating — they’re harmful.

DCP opponents argue that conducting geotechnical investigations necessary to inform the engineering and design of the DCP is currently inconsistent with the Delta Plan — the long-term plan that guides the management of the Delta’s water supply and environmental resources. This claim simply doesn’t hold water and fundamentally misrepresents the nature and purpose of geotechnical work.

The geotechnical investigations do not represent implementation of the DCP, but rather exploratory activities designed to gather the data necessary to further refine engineering and design as well as to inform future approvals and funding decisions on the project.

Moreover, these activities align directly with the Delta Plan’s core policies, which prioritize the use of the best available science and adaptive management strategies. By gathering detailed, site-specific data, DWR is taking a responsible, science-driven approach to planning — a hallmark of Delta Plan compliance.

It’s worth noting that the need for further geotechnical activities was disclosed in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified in December 2023. These activities are neither new nor unexpected; they are a continuation of work that has been underway for years.

The appeals posed before the Delta Stewardship Council are thinly veiled delay tactics designed to slow progress, drain resources and distract from the pressing need to modernize California’s water infrastructure.

Each delay in advancing this critical project increases the risks to our water security and costs water ratepayers over $1 million a day. Californians deserve solutions, not endless litigation and obstruction.

The DCP represents a forward-thinking investment in California’s future.

Opponents may continue to argue otherwise, but the facts are clear: the DCP is the right solution at the right time, and delaying its progress only puts our water security at risk and makes climate adaptation more expensive. It’s time to focus on the real work at hand — building a sustainable water future for California.

More coverage on Maven’s Notebook …

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Delta Stewardship Council set to dismiss appeal of Delta Conveyance Project geotechnical activities

The Delta Stewardship Council released a draft decision last Friday dismissing the appeal from several NGOs, Tribes, and Delta water agencies against DWR’s certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for the Delta Conveyance Project.  The draft decision will be discussed and possibly adopted at the Council’s meeting on Thursday. Background The 2009 Delta Reform Act created the Delta Stewardship Council and charged the Council with preparing a long-term management plan (the Delta Plan) for achieving the coequal goals of […]

COMMENTARY: Delaying the Delta Conveyance Project puts California’s water security at risk

By Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors The State Water Project, a cornerstone of California’s water delivery system, runs on 1960s-era infrastructure. This aging system is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, seismic risks and environmental challenges. Modernizing it with the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) is essential to ensure sustainable and reliable access to the water that powers our state’s communities, farms and industries. That’s why recent attempts to delay progress on the DCP before the Delta Stewardship […]

DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Public hearing for appeal of DWR’s consistency determination for geotechnical activities scheduled for December 19

In October, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for the geotechnical activities associated with the Delta Conveyance Project.  The draft certification only concerns certain geotechnical activities related to data collection (cone penetration tests, soil borings, and water quality sampling within soil borings), and not for the project in its entirety.  Four appeals by about eighteen local agencies, conservation groups and Tribes were filed before the deadline.  The Delta Stewardship Council has […]

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Numerous appeals filed for DWR’s consistency determination for the Delta Conveyance Project geotechnical activities

The appeals allege numerous inconsistencies with Delta Plan policies and say piecemealing the project is inconsistent with CEQA Last Friday, the Delta Stewardship Council reported that four appeals had been filed for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for the geotechnical activities associated with the Delta Conveyance Project.  The draft certification only concerns certain geotechnical activities related to data collection (cone penetration tests, soil borings, and water quality sampling within soil borings), and […]

DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Certification of Consistency filed for Delta Conveyance Project geotechnical activities

From the Delta Stewardship Council: The following certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for a covered action has been submitted to the Delta Stewardship Council. Certification Number: C20242 Covered Action Title: 2024-2026 Proposed Geotechnical Activities Certifying Agency: California Department of Water Resources Certification Date: 10/08/2024 The certification of consistency and associated documents are available for public viewing on the Council’s online portal, alongside information on the Delta Reform Act and the Delta Plan covered actions process. Notes Regarding Appeals (1) Any person who […]