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 capture high flows moving through the system, leading to decreased supplies.
Continued declines in supplies will have dire consequences for the 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland across California who receive clean and affordable water from the SWP. This water is an irreplaceable component of regional supply portfolios for communities and farmland in the Bay Area, Central Coast, Central Valley and Southern California.
The SWP supports the small businesses and critical economic sectors, such as tech, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, construction and entertainment, that make up the world’s fourth largest economy.
While this future is alarming, it is preventable. If we modernize the water conveyance infrastructure in the Delta, we can help offset these projected water supply losses due to climate change and maintain the SWP as a critical water source for two-thirds of the state.
In Part 2 of this series, we will cover how the Delta Conveyance Project is the right solution to address our future water supply challenges caused by our new climate realties.
Resources & Additional Information
- State Water Project Delivery Capability Report
- Animation: SWP Climate Change Vulnerabilities
- The Economy of the State Water Project
- For a more in-depth look at how the Delta Conveyance Project will support local water resiliency, check out these Member Agency Fact Sheets
Project News
Change in Point of Diversion Hearing Updates
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has concluded its Change in Point of Diversion petition case-in-chief to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board). DWR presented panels covering five topics, including modeling, operations, biological resources, engineering design refinements and noise, and water quality. Highlights from each panel below:
The hearing will continue throughout the late summer and fall. Regular updates will be posted on the permit portal website as the hearing proceeds.
Recent Validation Case Ruling
A recent Sacramento Superior Court ruled that DWR’s 2025 Validation case can continue alongside the appeal of its 2020 case. This ruling confirms that the court agrees with DWR that the prior ruling in the original 2020 Validation filing was narrow and only concerned the adequacy of the scope of the project definition. More information about DWR’s Validation Actions can be found here.
ICYMI: In the News
Op-ed in Capitol Weekly from State Water Contractors’ General Manager, Jennifer Pierre: California’s water security demands action, not more delays. Says Pierre: “We are hemorrhaging time and resources while our infrastructure grows more outdated and less resilient.”
