PRESS RELEASE: Valley Water District joins 12 water agencies statewide to vote in support of Delta Conveyance Project to protect critical water supply against climate change

Press release from Californians for Water Security:

The Valley Water District overwhelmingly voted 6-1 to allocate additional funding for the next phase of planning and permitting for the Delta Conveyance Project, reaffirming the importance of modernizing California’s water infrastructure to ensure a reliable and safe water supply that can withstand the devastating effects of climate change.

Santa Clara County relies on water delivered through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for approximately 40% of its water supply. However, the infrastructure network that delivers water to the region is aging and becoming less reliable due to climate change and stricter regulations aimed at protecting endangered fish species. Recent reports show that California is expected to lose 10% of its water supply due to hotter and drier conditions, threatening the water supply for 27 million Californians.

Valley Water District is one of 18 agencies participating in the proposed Delta Conveyance Project. Today’s affirmative vote allocates $9.69 million for the DCP planning and design costs for 2026-27.

Below are the water districts and agencies that have already voted to fund the next phase of the DCP’s planning and permitting process:

  • Alameda County Water District
  • Coachella Valley Water District
  • Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency
  • Desert Water Agency
  • Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Mojave Water Agency
  • Palmdale Water District
  • San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
  • San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
  • San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency
  • Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
  • Valley Water District
  • Zone 7 Water Agency

 Protecting California’s Water Future

More than two-thirds of Californians rely on a system of aging dirt levees, aqueducts, and pipes to deliver water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to homes, farms, and businesses throughout the state. This aging system is outdated and at risk of collapse in the event of a major earthquake or flood. Modernizing this critical infrastructure is imperative to better prepare for climate change and the resulting extreme droughts, floods, and increasing salinity from rising sea levels.

The Delta Conveyance Project, supported by Californians for Water Security, aligns with Governor Newsom’s vision for a single pipeline conveyance system through the Delta. This investment ensures California’s water delivery system is built to meet today’s needs and the challenges of the future.

A recent Benefit/Cost analysis from the Department of Water Resources and Dr David Sunding demonstrates the urgent need to move forward with this critical project. For every dollar spent, California will receive $2.20 in benefits to the state. The report found that the cost of “doing nothing’ will cost the state billions of dollars and jeopardizes the water sources for millions of Californians and more than 750,000 acres of farmland.

About Californians for Water Security:  CWS is a growing coalition of more than 12,000 California citizens and more than 80 organizations representing business leaders, labor, family farmers, local governments, water experts, infrastructure groups, taxpayer associations, and others who support the plan to fix California’s broken water distribution system. The coalition is waging an active advertising, grassroots lobbying, social media and public advocacy campaign to support this important project to fix our aging water distribution infrastructure and improve water reliability and security throughout the state.

For more information on Californians for Water Security, visit: www.watersecurityca.com