Statement from Californians for Water Security:
We are disappointed that the negotiations to bring the Governor’s trailer bill to the floor stalled out at the deadline. The Delta Conveyance Project is a key part of California’s climate adaptation strategy, and the Governor’s bill to streamline approvals for the project would have saved millions of dollars for California’s rate payers by eliminating duplicitous reviews and preventing further delays caused by lawsuits. California’s Legislature had the opportunity to address the affordability crisis by reducing the number of delays facing the project, but unfortunately, the Legislature failed to meet the deadline to bring the bill to the floor.
California’s families, farms, and businesses depend on reliable water, and that requires modernizing our crumbling, aging infrastructure. During last year’s atmospheric rivers alone, the Delta Conveyance Project could have captured enough water to meet the annual needs of 9.8 million people.
This is exactly why further delay is unacceptable and why we are grateful for all of the legislative support for advancing reasonable ways to complete planning activities without circumventing environmental review or limiting public participation.
While we are saddened that the bill did not move forward this year, we are encouraged by the massive support of our broad coalition of California leaders, social justice advocates, state water contractors, labor unions, business organizations and water agencies. We will continue pushing forward with the work needed to complete planning and secure our future water supplies.
Climate change remains a threat, and work on the Delta Conveyance Project will continue.
Our work isn’t done until this urgently needed project is operational and making our water supply safe for all Californians. The Delta Conveyance Project is essential, not only for capturing water during wet years but also for protecting our supply from threats such as earthquakes, sea-level rise, and intensifying climate disasters.”
Californians for Water Security is a broad and growing coalition of local governments, labor unions, family farmers, business organizations, community leaders, taxpayer associations and others working to ensure a safe, reliable and affordable water supply for California’s future.
For more information about Californians for Water Security, visit: www.watersecurityca.com
