From the Southern California Water Coalition:
The Delta Stewardship Council’s new recently adopted Adaptation Plan, Delta Adapts: Creating a Climate Resilient Future, outlines a critical strategy for managing climate risks in the Delta. While it does not endorse specific infrastructure, the Adaptation Plan reinforces the urgency of completing the Delta Conveyance Project evaluation as a key adaptation measure.
Key Findings from the Plan Relevant to Delta Conveyance:
- Sea Level Rise & Salinity Intrusion:
The report highlights the increasing threat of salinity encroachment into the Delta under rising sea levels and altered flow patterns. The Delta Conveyance project directly addresses this issue by allowing freshwater to bypass the Delta when natural flows are compromised. - Levee Vulnerability & Seismic Risk:
With more than 1,100 miles of aging levees, the report flags seismic risk as a major threat to water supply reliability. The Delta Conveyance project would provide an alternative conveyance pathway in the event of levee failures. - Climate-Resilient Infrastructure:
“Delta Adapts” calls for modernizing and diversifying Delta infrastructure. A tunnel aligns with this by incorporating climate-resilient design standards to protect long-term water deliveries to 27 million Californians. - Water Supply Reliability:
The Council reaffirms that water reliability must be part of a comprehensive adaptation strategy. The tunnel fits into this framework by ensuring more consistent exports in dry years and improving flexibility for managing ecological flows. - Equity and Ecosystem Protection:
While the report prioritizes community resilience and ecosystem health, these issues must be addressed in tandem with conveyance. The tunnel’s environmental impact analysis, mitigation strategies, and habitat restoration components are designed to meet these needs.
Conclusion and Policy Recommendation
The “Delta Adapts” Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan should be viewed as a clear signal that completing the Delta Conveyance Project’s evaluation is not only appropriate—it is essential. The project addresses many of the same vulnerabilities identified by the Council and can be an important part of a comprehensive, portfolio-based approach that includes:
- Regional water conservation and recycling
- Levee upgrades and ecosystem restoration
- Community-based flood protection and climate investments
The tunnel is not a silver bullet—but neither can it be excluded from serious consideration in a future where climate stress will continue to erode the reliability of California’s water supply.
Statement by Charley Wilson, Executive Director, Southern California Water Coalition: “The Delta Adapts climate initiative by the Delta Stewardship Council confirms what we’ve long known: climate change is accelerating threats to California’s water supply and the Delta ecosystem. We need every tool available—including the Delta Conveyance tunnel—to build a smart, resilient water future. This report adds urgency for the legislature to act.”
The Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC) – established in 1984 – is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources.
