The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has voted to approve funding for the Delta Conveyance Project, a giant underground tunnel that aims to reroute a significant portion of the state’s water supply.
The board allocated approximately $142 million for pre-construction and planning costs for the project, which is seen as critical for shoring up water supplies in California.
The big picture: The project is a response to aging infrastructure and climate-change induced shifts in precipitation.
- Adán Ortega, Jr., the Metropolitan board Chair, emphasized the importance of gathering critical information about the project’s benefits and costs before deciding to participate in the full construction of the 45-mile long tunnel.
Driving the news: The Metropolitan Water District is the largest of twelve water agencies that have voted to continue funding for preconstruction and planning. A major decision on whether to proceed with full construction is expected in 2027.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has strongly advocated for the project, referring to it as “the most important climate adaptation project” in the country, impacting 27 million Californians. He has urged water agencies to continue providing funding in support of the project.
Go deeper: The proposed tunnel aims to address concerns about the reliability of existing water infrastructure by capturing more water during storms in the northern part of the state and transporting it to the southern region, where most of California’s population resides.
- Despite the project’s significance, critics have expressed reservations about its $20 billion price tag, advocating for alternative approaches to strengthen the state’s water system without negatively impacting the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s ecosystem.
What we’re watching: Although a key environmental review for the project has been completed, it still needs to undergo additional review and obtain various state and federal permits before it can proceed further.
What they’re saying: “This project is one of the nation’s most important infrastructure projects in generations because it will protect access to clean and safe drinking water for 27 million Californians,” Newsom said. “We’re building the momentum we need to build this project and others across the state, faster.”
