Important recent milestones build momentum
Today, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The ITP represents a significant milestone in the progress of the Delta Conveyance Project, which will provide long-overdue modernizations to existing State Water Project (SWP) infrastructure to increase California’s climate resiliency and water security amidst climate-driven weather extremes, rising sea levels and earthquakes.
According to DWR’s most recent Delivery Capability Report, a changing climate could reduce the reliability of the SWP by as much as 23 percent over the next two decades. California has been taking aggressive action to prepare for extremes by securing reliable water supplies. The Delta Conveyance Project represents a critical step in modernizing our water infrastructure to adapt to rising sea levels, safeguard against earthquakes, and ensure the continued delivery of reliable water supplies to over 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland, and countless
businesses.
Statement from Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors:
“The State Water Contractors welcome the forward momentum by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Water Resources in completing this ITP, a foundational step towards realizing the Delta Conveyance Project and ensuring California is prepared for a future shaped by climate change. As the Department of Water Resources continues to pursue the few remaining permits, the State Water Contractors look forward to working on behalf of our participating member agencies to advance the maximum benefits of this project. Every day of delay increases the project costs by $1 million and perpetuates the risk of a major disruption to water supplies. The urgency with which the State is moving forward on this project is both critical and appreciated.”
Statement from Chandra Chilmakuri, Assistant General Manager of the State Water Contractors:
“We look forward to working with DWR to ensure the full benefits of the Delta Conveyance Project are realized and to explore ways to expand the benefits of the SWP before and after the project is operational, guided by the best available science.
“Recent votes to continue progress on the Delta Conveyance Project underscore its importance and necessity. Thirteen agencies, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves more than 19 million people across six counties, have approved funding for ongoing planning and preconstruction activities. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis by the Department of Water Resources has demonstrated that the project will generate $2.20 in benefits for every dollar spent, amounting to nearly $38 billion in total benefits.
“Together, these milestones reaffirm the Delta Conveyance Project’s vital role in securing California’s water future amidst unprecedented climate-driven challenges.”
The State Water Contractors is a statewide, non-profit association of 27 public agencies from Northern, Central and Southern California that purchase water under contract from the California State Water Project. Collectively the State Water Contractors deliver water to more than 27 million residents throughout the state and more than 750,000 acres of agricultural land. For more information on the State Water Contractors, please visit www.swc.org.
