California Gov. Gavin Newsom is continuing to push for the controversial Delta Tunnel project to help move water from the Sacramento River to Southern California.
The California Natural Resources Agency released its semi-annual groundwater update on Tuesday, with Newsom using it to advocate for water infrastructure projects, including the Delta Tunnel.
By the number: According to the report, California’s groundwater storage has increased by 2.2 million acre-feet during Water Year 2024.
- That comes after an increase of 4.1 million acre-feet of groundwater in the previous water year.
Go deeper: The report stated concerns about long-term trends in California’s groundwater levels, even as it has stabilized or risen in most wells over the past year due to recent wetter conditions.
- Over the last two decades, 49% of wells in California showed declining trends. The steepest losses have been in the Tulare Lake region.
Why it matters: California relies heavily on its groundwater during dry years.
- In Water Year 2024, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) reported using 29 million acre-feet of total water in 98 basins. Groundwater accounted for 11.5 million acre-feet of that total – 40%.
- Groundwater supplied over 60% of total water use during the recent drought years of 2021 and 2022.
State of play: The push for the Delta Tunnel comes as the project is currently being debated by the Legislature as lawmakers work to finalize California’s $322 billion budget and rectify a $12 billion shortfall.
- Newsom’s office used the release of the semi-annual groundwater report to stump for the Delta Tunnel. His office said the Delta Tunnel would have captured 952,000 acre-feet of water had it been operational this past rainy season. That would have been enough water for 10 million people.
What they’re saying: “Without action, the ability of the State Water Project to reliably deliver water to homes, farms and businesses will decline,” Newsom’s office said in a press release. “The Governor will continue working to quickly advance these improvements to ensure that California is ready for a drier and hotter future, and its communities are safe and protected.”
- Newsom said in a statement that it is telling that California’s water system is unprepared for a hotter and drier climate.
- “That means we also need to build new water infrastructure like the Delta Conveyance Project,” Newsom said. “We literally cannot afford to wait to complete this vital project and Californians are sick and tired of the self-imposed roadblocks standing in the way of our state’s continued progress.”
