California: Nation’s largest irrigation district announces support of Delta Conveyance Project fast-track
The Californer/10325145

Trending...
News

Sep 3, 2025

Nation's largest irrigation district announces support of Delta Conveyance Project fast-track

What you need to know: The Imperial Irrigation District, the largest irrigation district in the United States, issued an endorsement and formal backing of the Governor's proposal to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project — which will save the state billions of dollars and years of delay, and help deliver critical water to users throughout the state.

SACRAMENTO — Yesterday, the nation's largest irrigation district, the Imperial Irrigation District, announced a significant endorsement of the Governor's proposal to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, a plan to modernize the State Water Project and secure water supplies for seven out of ten Californians.

"For too long, attempts to modernize our critical water infrastructure have stalled in endless red tape, burdened with unnecessary delay. Californians are overwhelmingly begging our legislature to quickly get projects done — it is time for the Legislature to get this vital infrastructure completed. I urge our Legislature to listen to the voters and water users throughout the state, so that we can better store and manage water to prepare for a hotter, drier future."

Governor Gavin Newsom

The IID Board of Directors adopted a resolution this week in support of the project. This endorsement is notable as the district receives no water from the State Water Project, but underscores the importance of preparing for water scarcity and acknowledging that improving the state's water systems benefits all users.

This is why the project has received widespread support, including from water users and stakeholders from throughout the state.

A project Californians depend on

No infrastructure is more fundamental to California's water supply and economic success than the State Water Project, which is operated by the Department of Water Resources and captures, moves, and stores water used by 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. Built starting in the 1960s, the SWP stretches from Oroville to Riverside and its canals, hydroelectric generators, and pumping plants move water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 29 public water agencies, largely based in the South Bay, Central Coast, South Coast, Inland Empire, and Kern County. The local public water agencies cover the costs of operating the SWP.

Preparing California's water infrastructure

Over the last few decades, the California climate has warmed, with the effects felt strongly in water resources. The state has already experienced a marked increase in precipitation variability, with significant swings between drought and flood conditions.

More on The Californer
Without action, the ability of the State Water Project to reliably deliver water to homes, farms and businesses will decline. The Delta Conveyance Project is the single most effective strategy to ensure that California can maintain a sustainable water future. The Delta Conveyance Project will help offset and recover these future climate-driven water losses, and yet, it has been plagued by delays and red tape.

The Delta Conveyance Project would expand the state's ability to improve water supply reliability, while also maintaining fishery and water quality protections. During atmospheric rivers last year, the Delta Conveyance Project could have captured enough water for 9.8 million people's yearly usage. And while the state has implemented a number of other strategies, including restoring groundwater, it is simply not enough to prevent the future water shortages.

Removing unnecessary red tape

Governor Newsom first announced his commitment to new delta conveyance infrastructure during his first State of the State, modernizing the previous administration's plans to address seismic and reliability issues and ensure that this critical piece of infrastructure could be built quickly and without delay. The Governor has led efforts to move the DCP 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. And while the project has received some necessary permits, its path forward is burdened by complicated regulatory frameworks and bureaucratic delays.  The Governor is proposing to streamline and strengthen the project's path forward, to protect the state's water supply for future generations.

The importance of protecting the reliability of the State Water Project is too great to allow the Delta Conveyance Project to be mired by unnecessary and extensive delays. The Governor's proposal would streamline the project by simplifying permitting, confirming funding authority, preventing unnecessary delays, and supporting construction.

More on The Californer
Press releases, Recent news

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkur..." rel="nofollow">https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https...">https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=h...">https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/copy_link?linku...">Recent news

California, Oregon, and Washington to launch new West Coast Health Alliance to uphold scientific integrity in public health as Trump destroys CDC's credibility

Sep 3, 2025

News What you need to know: In response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science, California, Oregon, and Washington are beginning the process to provide evidence-based...

California secures federal assistance to support response to the TCU Lightning Complex Fire in Calaveras County

Sep 2, 2025

News What you need to know: California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help suppress the 2-7 fire in Calaveras County within the TCU Lightning Complex. SACRAMENTO – Moving swiftly to support...

Following today's court win, Governor Newsom seeks injunction to stop the Trump Administration's continued federalization of the National Guard through Election Day

Sep 2, 2025

News What you need to know: California today filed a request for a preliminary injunction to block the Trump Administration's order to extend the National Guard's deployment in Los Angeles through Election Day.   Sacramento, California – Following a federal court's...

Filed Under: Government, State
Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on The Californer