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.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Maven’s Notebook.
More coverage on Maven’s Notebook …
Posted: July 15, 2026
From the Department of Water Resources: This notice serves to inform all interested parties that the California Department of Water Resources intends to submit to the Delta Stewardship Council the Delta Conveyance Project Revised Certification of Consistency on Remanded Items. The Council’s determination on April 23, 2026, dismissed or denied the vast majority of appeals. For two policy areas, the Council directed a limited remand to DWR. Remands are a standard part of the Delta Reform Act’s Certification of Consistency […]
Posted: April 24, 2026
Press release from the Delta Stewardship Council: On April 23, 2026, the Council voted to remand the project on two Delta Plan policies. The Council denied all other appeals raised by ten separate appellant groups. Before proceeding with the project, the DWR must file a new certification of consistency addressing: 1) the improvement of habitat conditions for the nonnative invasive golden mussel, and 2) potential conflicts involving the Conveyance Project’s Twin Cities Complex and Sac Sewer’s Harvest Water program, addressing […]
Posted: April 24, 2026
California’s keystone water infrastructure project, the Delta Conveyance Project, marked an important milestone and forward progress towards full permitting. From the Office of the Governor: Yesterday, Governor Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project achieved an important milestone: the Delta Stewardship Council decisively backed the project’s certification of consistency, an important step towards final permitting. The certification, which was submitted by the Department of Water Resources last October, demonstrates that the project meets key requirements of the Delta Reform Act and the Delta […]
Posted: April 24, 2026
The Delta Conveyance Project is the state’s most important climate adaptation project, protecting the future for more than two-thirds of the state’s population Press release from the State Water Contractors: On Thursday, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) voted to accept staff recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR)’s Certification of Consistency filing for the Delta Conveyance Project, confirming, with conditions, the Project’s consistency with the Delta Plan. “The State Water Contractors strongly support the Department of Water Resources’ certification […]
Posted: April 24, 2026
The Delta Stewardship Council denied appeals to the conveyance project, but remanded two issues to the Department of Water Resources — meaning the project won’t proceed immediately. By Alan Riquelmy, Courthouse News Service Opponents of the Delta Conveyance Project said Thursday they had only days to read a 200-page draft decision that, if approved, would destroy their way of life. They stood before the Delta Stewardship Council, asking for more time before it opted to deny their appeals — a […]
COMMENTARY: Delaying the Delta Conveyance Project puts California’s water security at risk
By Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors
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.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Maven’s Notebook.
More coverage on Maven’s Notebook …
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Notice of intent to submit Delta Conveyance Project revised certification of consistency with the Delta Plan on remanded items
From the Department of Water Resources: This notice serves to inform all interested parties that the California Department of Water Resources intends to submit to the Delta Stewardship Council the Delta Conveyance Project Revised Certification of Consistency on Remanded Items. The Council’s determination on April 23, 2026, dismissed or denied the vast majority of appeals. For two policy areas, the Council directed a limited remand to DWR. Remands are a standard part of the Delta Reform Act’s Certification of Consistency […]
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL votes 6-1 to remand the Delta Conveyance Project back to the Department of Water Resources (DWR)
Press release from the Delta Stewardship Council: On April 23, 2026, the Council voted to remand the project on two Delta Plan policies. The Council denied all other appeals raised by ten separate appellant groups. Before proceeding with the project, the DWR must file a new certification of consistency addressing: 1) the improvement of habitat conditions for the nonnative invasive golden mussel, and 2) potential conflicts involving the Conveyance Project’s Twin Cities Complex and Sac Sewer’s Harvest Water program, addressing […]
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: Delta Conveyance Project achieves important milestone, advances closer to construction
California’s keystone water infrastructure project, the Delta Conveyance Project, marked an important milestone and forward progress towards full permitting. From the Office of the Governor: Yesterday, Governor Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project achieved an important milestone: the Delta Stewardship Council decisively backed the project’s certification of consistency, an important step towards final permitting. The certification, which was submitted by the Department of Water Resources last October, demonstrates that the project meets key requirements of the Delta Reform Act and the Delta […]
STATE WATER CONTRACTORS applaud the Delta Stewardship Council’s vote of Delta Plan consistency for the Delta Conveyance Project
The Delta Conveyance Project is the state’s most important climate adaptation project, protecting the future for more than two-thirds of the state’s population Press release from the State Water Contractors: On Thursday, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) voted to accept staff recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR)’s Certification of Consistency filing for the Delta Conveyance Project, confirming, with conditions, the Project’s consistency with the Delta Plan. “The State Water Contractors strongly support the Department of Water Resources’ certification […]
COURTHOUSE NEWS: California Delta tunnel project gets partial green light
The Delta Stewardship Council denied appeals to the conveyance project, but remanded two issues to the Department of Water Resources — meaning the project won’t proceed immediately. By Alan Riquelmy, Courthouse News Service Opponents of the Delta Conveyance Project said Thursday they had only days to read a 200-page draft decision that, if approved, would destroy their way of life. They stood before the Delta Stewardship Council, asking for more time before it opted to deny their appeals — a […]
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