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 rights protections that apply to the Delta Tunnel project. The governor’s proposed budget aims to reduce public engagement, remove legal obstacles, and otherwise fast-track yet another iteration of the Tunnel project, before he leaves office next year.
As the project stands today, the tunnel is estimated to cost $20+ billion, with a 15-20 year completion horizon. If the cost is this high today, imagine what it might be a decade from now. Watching the progress of the high-speed rail project, it’s hard to believe that both the timeline and cost estimate are anything more than wishful.
The Delta is home to more than four million people across five counties, and provides clean water, local agriculture, recreation, and economic viability and livelihoods. The Delta is home to hundreds of species and is a key stopover on the Pacific Flyway (the primary western route for north-south long-distance migratory birds).
The Delta Tunnel project threatens to devastate communities, local economies, and fragile ecosystems—yet even the Department of Water Resources admits it would only address a fraction of California’s long-term water challenges. As one presenter asked: “How can so little justify the loss of so much?”
In his comments this morning, chair of the Delta Counties Coalition, Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume said, “The Delta tunnel project is too costly, takes too long to start solving problems, and risks sacrificing the largest freshwater estuary on the western coast of the United States. We have solutions that can accomplish the same goals sooner, with less cost to ratepayers and taxpayers and support the ecosystem and economy of the Delta, rather than destroy it.”
Family farmer Steve Heringer, who has been at this fight for decades, expressed concern for the pressure the Delta is already facing. “We are already experiencing water quality degradation from harmful algal blooms at current take levels,” said Steve. “The obliteration of agricultural, rural life in the tunnel region during the two decades of installation would render many properties and homes uninhabitable.”
“This costly Tunnel project is being foisted upon us because the State has failed to take the necessary steps to build a plan that can address the state’s water issues,” said Anna Swenson, a resident of Clarksburg. “Instead of forcing through a destructive project, we should use this moment—and these resources—to develop lasting solutions that meet our water needs while protecting communities and ecosystems.”
Over four hours of testimony, collective comments made clear that our state can’t afford this expensive, politically-motivated boondoggle. Speakers pushed the board to use its resources to find real solutions to address the state’s water needs, support California communities, and protect the unique and fragile Delta ecosystem.
The hearing was recorded on the SWRCB’s Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScmQh6XQVP8.
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