California: Delta Conveyance Project achieves important milestone, advances closer to construction
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~ Sacramento - The Delta Conveyance Project, California's keystone water infrastructure project, has reached an important milestone in its journey towards construction. Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday that the project has received decisive backing from the Delta Stewardship Council for its certification of consistency, a crucial step towards final permitting.

The certification, which was submitted by the Department of Water Resources last October, demonstrates that the project meets key requirements of the Delta Reform Act and the Delta Plan. These regulations aim to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta while also ensuring a reliable water supply for California.

Governor Newsom emphasized the urgency of completing this project in order to meet future water needs. "The science is clear: California must quickly complete the Delta Conveyance Project in order to meet our water needs in the future," he stated. He thanked the Delta Stewardship Council for their thorough review and expressed his eagerness for final approval to begin construction on this vital infrastructure.

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The Council's decision upholds a vast majority of the certification of consistency, with only two technical issues left to be resolved in future proceedings. This reaffirms that the project can be built while also protecting the precious ecosystem of the Delta.

The Delta Conveyance Project is crucial for ensuring that California can continue to provide water to all its residents through the State Water Project. This project moves and stores water used by 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. With hotter and drier conditions expected in California by 2040, it is estimated that 10% of its water supply will be lost. The reliability of the State Water Project could also decrease by up to 23%. The Delta Conveyance Project aims to offset and recover these potential losses caused by climate change.

The State Water Project was built starting in the 1960s and stretches from Oroville to Riverside. Its canals, hydroelectric generators, and pumping plants move water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 29 public water agencies, serving areas such as the South Bay, Central Coast, South Coast, Inland Empire, and Kern County. The local public water agencies cover the costs of operating the State Water Project. However, without the completion of the Delta Conveyance Project, the reliability of this system will decline.

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In addition to improving water supply reliability, the Delta Conveyance Project also aims to maintain fishery and water quality protections. During atmospheric rivers last year, it could have captured enough water for 9.8 million people's yearly usage.

Governor Newsom first announced his commitment to this project during his first State of the State address. He has since led efforts to move it forward, including DWR's certification of a final environmental impact report in December 2023 and securing financial support from water agencies throughout the state serving a majority of Californians.

California is building more and faster for all its residents. To learn more about this project and other infrastructure developments in California, visit build.ca.gov.

In other news, California continues to be a great place to do business as Bed Bath & Beyond reopens a dozen stores in the Golden State. Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom also issued a statement on the passing of Michael Tilson Thomas, renowned conductor and composer who was also a member of the California Hall of Fame. Additionally, Governor Newsom has proclaimed April 28th as Workers' Memorial Day in honor of those who have lost their lives while working on California's highways.

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