The Delta Conveyance Project is the state’s most important climate adaptation project, protecting the future for more than two-thirds of the state’s population
Press release from the State Water Contractors:
On Thursday, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) voted to accept staff recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR)’s Certification of Consistency filing for the Delta Conveyance Project, confirming, with conditions, the Project’s consistency with the Delta Plan.
“The State Water Contractors strongly support the Department of Water Resources’ certification and commend the Delta Stewardship Council for their thorough, thoughtful review and rejection of the majority of appeals from the appellants,” said Chandra Chilmakuri, Assistant General Manager of the State Water Contractors. “The review rightfully cites substantial evidence supporting the Delta Conveyance Project’s consistency with the Delta Plan and represents an encouraging step towards ensuring a safe, reliable and affordable water supply for California’s homes, farms and businesses, now and for generations to come.”
The substantial evidence provided by the Department of Water Resources clearly supports a Certification of Consistency, and the Delta Stewardship Council’s approval of staff recommendations reflects an understanding of the significant efforts Public Water Agencies have made to reduce reliance on the Delta for their water supply.
The vote sent two issues back to the Department of Water Resources to demonstrate consistency with Delta Plan policies: a Golden Mussel mitigation strategy and the siting of planned Delta Conveyance Project facilities in relation to a planned use of farmland for recharging recycled water. California’s Public Water Agencies are already working with the Department of Water Resources in earnest to conduct research and develop a Golden Mussel mitigation strategy. And existing evidence in the record shows that the Department appropriately considered the feasibility of avoiding conflicts with existing land use.
“Today’s vote represents the culmination of extensive work by the Department of Water Resources to ensure that the current iteration of the Delta Conveyance Project is in line with the Delta Plan and that stakeholders have had ample opportunity to engage in its development,” continued Chilmakuri. “We look forward to continuing work with the State to address the two remaining issues, finalize planning and construct this important water infrastructure.”
Per the 2009 Delta Reform Act, all significant projects in the Delta, like the Delta Conveyance Project, go through a heightened level of review to ensure consistency with the Delta Plan and alignment with the Act’s coequal goals of water reliability and ecosystem protection. The Delta Conveyance Project has already undergone rigorous, transparent environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and includes a $200 million Community Benefits program that seeks to deliver tangible, lasting benefits to the communities most affected by project construction.
When complete, the Delta Conveyance Project will drastically increase water security, affordability, and climate resilience for 2 in 3 Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland through essential investments to upgrade the state’s aging water infrastructure.
###
The State Water Contractors is a statewide, non-profit association of 27 public agencies from Northern, Central and Southern California that purchase water under contract from the California State Water Project. Collectively, the State Water Contractors deliver water to more than 27 million residents throughout the state and more than 750,000 acres of agricultural land. For more information on the State Water Contractors, please visit www.swc.org.
