From the Delta Counties Coalition:
In response to the California Legislature’s actions to stop the Administration’s Delta Tunnel Conveyance Project trailer bill language, Patrick Hume, Chair of the Delta Counties Coalition (DCC), issued the following statement on behalf of the five counties and the 4 million California residents who stand to be most negatively impacted by this controversial, divisive, multi-billion-dollar megaproject:
“The Delta Counties Coalition applauds the Legislature’s actions to stop trailer bill language that would have pushed through the controversial Delta Tunnel Conveyance Project. This outcome is a direct result of the tireless advocacy by Delta stakeholders, California tribes, environmental, business, and community organizations from across the state—and most critically, the unyielding leadership of the California Legislative Delta Caucus.
We want to personally thank Senator Jerry McNerney, Assemblymember Lori Wilson, Senator Roger Niello, and Assemblymember Heath Flora for their focused and principled leadership and express our appreciation to Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas for ensuring that the voices of Delta communities were not ignored.
The proposed trailer bill language would have undermined the Delta’s protections under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), curtailed public participation in vital water quality decisions, and opened the door to unchecked funding for a project that threatens the very fabric of the Delta—our farms, fisheries, small businesses, and communities that depend on a healthy and functioning estuary.
Simply put, these provisions would have inflicted irreparable harm on the Delta’s residents and natural environment without providing one single drop of new water to our system. They attempted to bypass established environmental review processes, remove public oversight, and diminish the authority of local governments in decisions that directly impact our region’s future.
The defeat of this language is more than a policy win—it is a clear affirmation that decisions about California’s water future must be made transparently, inclusively, and with respect for those who live and work in the Delta.
The DCC remains committed to advocating for a sustainable water future—one that values the Delta as a place, not just a pipeline. We look forward to continuing our work with partners across the state to ensure that water policy solutions are equitable, environmentally sound, and economically viable for all Californians.”
