With the hearing on the water rights petition for the Delta Conveyance Project at the State Water Board set to begin on February 18, multiple parties have filed a motion with the State Water Board’s Administrative Hearings Office requesting cancellation of DWR’s water rights change petition for the Delta Conveyance Project due to incomplete information and procedural concerns.
DWR has filed a petition to change the point of diversion for the Delta Conveyance Project to add new points of diversion to the water rights associated with the State Water Project. This process is required by the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure compliance with water rights regulations and to allow for public participation and transparency.
The motion argues that DWR’s failure to provide ordered supplemental information justifies the cancellation of the change petition. Alternatively, they request that the hearing dates be vacated until DWR resolves its extension petition or provides necessary information. The motion is supported by multiple entities, including Delta water agencies and reclamation districts, and Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties.
The motion states, “DWR’s failure and/or refusal to provide the supplemental information ordered by the AHO further warrants cancellation of its change petition. For the foregoing reasons and others, the Joint Protestants respectfully request that the AHO grant this Joint Motion and cancel the DCP change petition. In the alternative, Joint Protestants respectfully request that the AHO vacate the current hearing dates and hold the change petition proceeding in abeyance until the time extension petition is either resolved or consolidated with the change petition proceeding, and DWR produces all necessary and relevant supplemental information, as ordered by the AHO.”
More coverage of the change in point of diversion hearing on Maven’s Notebook …
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: C-WIN and Friends of the River submit testimony for change in point of diversion hearing
The State Water Resources Control Board’s Administrative Hearings Office is conducting a public hearing regarding the Delta Conveyance Project. The hearing focuses on water right change petitions submitted by the Department of Water Resources that seek to amend the State Water Project’s water rights permit by adding two new points of diversion and rediversion. The purpose of the hearing is to gather evidence for the State Water Board to evaluate whether to approve the petitions and, if approved, to determine […]
DWR: Securing Statewide Water Supplies Part 1: California’s Water Future is in Jeopardy
From the Department of Water Resources: California is expected to lose 10% of its water supply by 2040 due to climate change, and the State Water Project could lose up to 23% of its delivery capability. Our precipitation patterns and hydrology are becoming increasingly extreme and unpredictable, meaning a future of longer and more severe dry periods mixed with big but infrequent storms that produce high flows. These changing conditions are problematic as current State Water Project (SWP) infrastructure and operations are unable to […]
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Sixth amended notice of public hearing and procedural ruling
Notice from the State Water Board: The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) Administrative Hearings Office (AHO) is conducting a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project. The purpose of the hearing is to gather evidence that the State Water Board will consider to determine whether to approve change petitions filed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR or Petitioner) to add two new points of diversion and rediversion to water right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, […]
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST’S OFFICE: May revision trailer bill proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans
From the Legislative Analyst’s Office: LAO Bottom Line: We recommend deferring action on both proposals, without prejudice. These policy issues do not have budget implications. Deferring action would allow the Legislature more time and capacity for sufficient consideration of the potential benefits, implications, and trade-offs. Below, we describe the proposals and note some key issues for the Legislature to keep in mind when it considers these proposals. Delta Conveyance Project Background The Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) is the latest proposal […]
PRESS RELEASE: Delta residents, leaders and local businesses testify before the State Water Resources Control Board against Governor’s Delta tunnel project
Press release from Restore the Delta Several dozen residents, business leaders, environmental advocates, and elected leaders representing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta region provided policy statements to the State Water Resources Control Board on Monday (5/19/25) regarding the ongoing water rights change hearing for the Delta Tunnel project. The level of concern was raised last week, in response to Governor Newsom’s insertion of significant changes in law in the state’s 2025-26 budget to push past environmental, public interest and property […]
Click here to view all coverage of the change in point of diversion hearings.
