DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Securing statewide water supplies: Delta Conveyance Authority — a purpose-built agency for California’s water future

The Delta Conveyance Design & Construction Authority (DCA) is a unique public agency created specifically to design and build the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). As a Joint Powers Authority governed by a seven-member Board representing the 16 Public Water Agencies funding the project, the DCA is focused solely on delivering a modern, reliable water conveyance system for California. This singular mission ensures clear oversight, transparent cost management and consistent attention to project efficiency.

Why the DCA is Different

The DCA’s governance and structure are designed to keep the project on track and on budget:

• Single purpose: Dedicated exclusively to delivering the DCP, enabling focused decision-making.
• Strong accountability and oversight: A governing board that provides direct accountability to the public water agencies funding the project. These public water agencies are directly responsible for the DCP’s construction, and each also holds their own open board meetings where constituents can monitor progress and spending.
• Early, detailed planning: Comprehensive planning — including logistics and utility relocations — was completed early to minimize surprises and improve cost accuracy.
• Community engagement: Worked with Delta residents to integrate feedback into designs, reducing footprint, improving traffic flow and streamlining materials movement.

Built for the Long Term

The DCP is designed to serve California for the next 100 years, delivering safe, reliable and affordable water to more than 27 million people. Led by the DCA, the project incorporates sustainable, resilient and environmentally responsive design features to withstand earthquakes, adapt to climate change and respect the Delta’s unique communities and environment.

Driving Efficiencies Through Innovation

Through engineering refinements, the DCA has identified $1.25 billion in potential savings and more than 1,500 days of reduced construction schedules:

The DCA maintains a disciplined approach to cost control. In May 2024, the agency released a detailed public cost estimate that factored in labor, materials and contingencies based on industry standards and supplier quotes. Despite inflation, the latest $20.1 billion estimate remains consistent with the inflation-adjusted 2020 figure ($20.2 billion). Proposed engineering refinements would bring this down even more, to $18.9 billion, underscoring the effectiveness of early planning and rigorous oversight.

Resources & Additional Information

• Cost Efficiency Fact Sheet

ICYMI:

DWR Releases Climate Adaptation Strategy 
A new report released this week by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) examines how a combination of strategies, most importantly the Delta Conveyance Project, can help the State Water Project maintain reliable water deliveries to 27 million Californians despite hotter temperatures, more extreme storms, more severe droughts, and higher sea levels. Read more here.

DWR Director Nemeth: The Delta Conveyance Project is Key to Modernizing the State Water Project and Delivering Water to Millions of Californians 
When two of every three Californians pay their water bills each month, they pay for reservoirs and aqueducts that were designed for them a half century ago. The State Water Project was conceived in the mid-1950s, when California’s population had doubled in the previous 15 years. Floods had recently ravaged Northern California towns. The concept was as simple as it was bold – bring water from the wetter parts of the state to the cities and agricultural operations that were outgrowing water supplies in the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California. Read more here.

State Water Contractors, State Lawmakers, Supporters Urge Legislative Action on Delta Conveyance Project
The State Water Contractors joined state leaders and a broad coalition of business, water, labor, housing and social justice groups to urge legislative support for the Delta Conveyance Project budget trailer bill. Proposed by Governor Newsom as part of his May Revise, the bill would simplify permitting, confirm funding authority and would reduce future delays associated with ongoing, costly litigation. Read more here.