Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta. The baydelta conservation plan bdcp, through which the brown administration proposes to move unknown new amounts of water out of the sensitive san francisco bay delta, is not the right plan for the 21st century. Document and comments library blogs and background jump to cspas better solution without the bay delta tunnels. Bay delta conservation plan could tunnel california funds. Stop the delta tunnels project take a stand and stop the. The bay delta and the twin tunnels butte environmental council. I heard that building these tunnels will create a lot of jobs isnt that a. Delta tunnel the peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Jerry browns office had hoped it would pay for his controversial delta tunnels project. Frobish california took a step towards replumbing its archaic delta water infrastructure by completing the first part of a contentious project. Lawsuit challenges federal water contracts that imperil delta, fish, wildlife. Study says delta tunnel plan would pay off for farmers, cities.
Stcda president karen mann displaying our new signs. Childrens books save the california delta alliance stcda. It would create a costly pair of giant tunnels to divert deltabound water directly from the sacramento river. Tunnel proponents have come up with the bay delta conservation plan as a way to mislead people about the actual impact that the twin tunnels would have on the san francisco bay delta. Delta water tunnel project revised again, but concerns. Really, the idea that two massive tunnels would be built in the delta was alwayswell, a pipe dream, says. Oct, 2016 the project, formerly known as the bay delta conservation plan, would build two massive tunnels beneath the sacramentosan joaquin river delta, replacing the northern portion of the state water. Financing the tunnels would impose billions of dollars of tax and water rate increases on all californians to enrich a few large and powerful agribusinesses and oil companies. The california waterfix consists of two massive 35mile long tunnels that would divert sacramento river water to.
Water quality impacts of the delta tunnels project by tim. Stockton record may 20, 2014 speaking as a member of the delta independent science board, jay lund said the bay delta conservation plan as gov. This means that for every dollar spent on the project. Restore the delta save the sf baydelta estuary for our future. Could controversial twin tunnels project restore delta. The prior draft of the bay delta conservation plan failed to adequately protect the deltas native fish and wildlife and the thousands of. No bay delta tunnels campaign cspa news and archives. Really, the idea that two massive tunnels would be built in the delta was always well, a pipe dream, says. I wrote on oped three years ago published in the sacramento bee that said, lets ditch the tunnels and keep the habitat conservation plan. University of the pacifics business forecasting center issued a widerange analysis that put the tunnel plans final ratio of benefits to costs at 0.
Study says delta tunnels plan would pay off for farmers, cities. Save the california delta alliance stcda nodeltatunnels. The tunnel plan, as it stands now, represents a gigantic expense with limited benefits in both the short and long term. It would consist of two 40foot wide tunnels, placed 150 feet underground, running 35miles within the sacramentosan joaquin bay delta. Today when the fresh sacramento water flows through the delta, it. What to look for in the new delta tunnels plan nrdc. Dec 15, 2010 the draft plan is intended to serve as the basis for a 50year permit under the federal endangered species act and state natural communities conservation planning act for the operation of delta export pumping projects. Tunnel construction destruction the twotunnel plan. The delta plan would not restore the delta because the. The bay delta conservation plan in the nutshell of california water. Then schwarzenegger began the bay delta conservation plan.
The draft plan is intended to serve as the basis for a 50year permit under the federal endangered species act and state natural communities conservation planning act for the operation of delta export pumping projects. The peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Delta tunnel is a big drain compared to bullet train. Aug 16, 2017 the thirst of californias 40 million residents and the ravages of climate change has the sacramentosan joaquin river delta the states most important water source and the west coasts largest estuary on the brink of ecological disaster. But if there were two huge tunnels and 9,000 cfs export capacity north of the delta, would state and federal agencies actually implement the plans required delta outflow for fish and wildlife. The twin tunnels are outberkeley experts say thats a good thing. What does californias drought mean for the proposed bay.
Its a great day for the san francisco bay, delta and california, said barbara barriganparrilla, the executive director of the conservation group restore the delta. Study says delta tunnels plan would pay off for farmers. Bay delta conservation plan water education foundation. The delta tunnels project stategiven name is california water fix. The delta reform act created the delta stewardship council, charged with creating a comprehensive management plan for the delta the delta plan, and tasked the department of water resources with drafting a multispecies conservation plan the bay delta conservation plan.
Now the twin tunnels are back under a new name california waterfix with the key difference that the tunnels are no longer linked to extensive habitat restoration. Sep 24, 2012 the tunnel plan, as it stands now, represents a gigantic expense with limited benefits in both the short and long term. Jerry browns twin tunnels plan is formally known contains too many flaws. What you need to know metropolitan water district voted to cover twothirds of the cost of building the controversial delta tunnels. Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta conservation plan by dan bacher on april 30 at a press conference in oakland, governor jerry brown and federal officials unveiled controversial plans that they claim accelerate restoration of the deltas ecosystem and fix the states aging water infrastructure by building two massive underground tunnels. Jun 14, 2017 since 2007 when governor arnold schwarzenegger revived the plan to build a peripheral canal or tunnels around or under the delta, fishermen, tribal leaders, conservationists, environmental justice. Revised plan for delta tunnels is still a bad idea the.
Documents for the bay delta conservation plan were originally released in. Bay delta conservation plan archives save the bay blog. Twin tunnels opponents tell kcra 3 theyll be busing in people by the hundreds for a capitol rally on friday, which is the same day that public comment begins on. Such a plan would actually create more jobs for california than a large and expensive project like the delta tunnels, said barbara barriganparrilla, executive director of restore the delta. The project, formerly known as the bay delta conservation plan, would build two massive tunnels beneath the sacramentosan joaquin river delta, replacing the. Lowered standards for the big water projects, both state and federal, are in force on the books. The bay delta conservation plan following the demise of calfed, the continuing collapse of delta fisheries and the prospect of more restrictive endangered species act esa limitations on delta diversions, the department of water resources and the state and federal water contractors conspired in 2007 to revive the old peripheral canal scheme to. Robert wright, attorney for restore the delta and planning and conservation league, 916 8735258. The bay delta and the twin tunnels butte environmental. The delta tunnels project enters an important phase on tuesday, when the state water resources control board begins the public hearings regarding the department of water resources dwr request for a permit to change the diversion points for extracting water from the sacramento river to send to water users south of the san francisco bay delta into which the sacramento river flows. A longdebated water plan that could change the courseliterallyof water in california, will be up for a vote by the state water resources control board swrcb next month. Jerry browns multibilliondollar watertunnel system, the project calls for the installation of two tunnels, each 40 feet in diameter and 35 miles long, to be built beneath the sacramentosan joaquin delta. The table below shows the actual difference in the benefit and cost estimates.
The delta tunnels project, if built, would be one of the most expensive and illplanned projects in the country. Bdcp fact sheet and contact information of representatives and water representatives. Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta conservation plan by dan bacher on april 30 at a press conference in oakland, governor jerry brown and federal officials unveiled controversial plans that they claim accelerate restoration of the delta s ecosystem and fix the states aging water infrastructure by building two massive underground tunnels. The tunnels would divert water from the sacramento river to water users south of the delta. The tunnels, disguised as part of the bay delta conservation plan, would damage californias economy, environment, sustainable family farms, and salmon population. Map of proposed bay delta tunnels on july 25, california gov. Decision on jerry browns delta tunnels anticipated in september. One tunnel save the california delta alliance stcda. Since 2007 when governor arnold schwarzenegger revived the plan to build a peripheral canal or tunnels around or under the delta, fishermen. An introduction to californias delta tunnel and salmon. Unraveling the knot water movement in the sacramentosan joaquin delta. An intake for the first delta tunnel was completed this fall, and with the return of wet weather, began transporting flows that will eventually bypass the delta entirely. When the water fix was revised, we ditched the habitat conservation plan and kept the tunnels. The delta protection ommissions economic sustainability plan discusses the advantages of this approach in detail.
Bay delta conservation plan has major flaws environmental. Jerry browns new proposal for water export tunnels, but it might actually. Bay delta conservation plantwin tunnels project input. The bdcp will be incorporated into the delta plan if it complies with. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp, through which the brown administration proposes to move unknown new amounts of water out of the sensitive san francisco bay delta, is not the right plan for the 21st century. Tunneling under californias bay delta water wars tunneling. Jerry browns multibilliondollar watertunnel system, the project calls for the installation of two tunnels, each 40 feet in diameter and 35 miles long, to be built beneath the sacramentosan joaquin. Dec 25, 2014 as the state agency serving as the voice of the delta, the delta protection commission has been a skeptic of the governors proposed plan to build two 30milelong, 40footwide tunnels to. Tunneling under californias bay delta water wars tunneling under. California ramming through delta tunnels design and. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp steering committee is preparing a draft habitat conservation plan hcp and natural communities conservation plan nccp for the sacramento sanjoaquin delta delta, expected to be available for public comment by the end of 2010. A crucial certification needed to build two tunnels that officials. Decision on jerry browns delta tunnels anticipated in. Read more in the sfgate article some thoughts on the delta tunnels.
The proposed delta tunnels could be the nail in the coffin for native fish like chinook salmon and delta smelt, causing them to disappear from the san francisco baydelta forever. Benefit cost analysis of delta water conveyance tunnels. Jerry brown announced to an expectant press corps that the state plans to construct a pair of multibilliondollar tunnels under the. Were going to court to ensure that waterfix meets the requirements of the endangered species act so that our children and grandchildren can experience the. Jan 26, 2018 one of the least discussed issues in california environmental politics and one of the most crucial to understanding governor jerry browns delta tunnels plan is the clear connection between the marine life protection act mlpa initiative and the california waterfix, formerly called the bay delta conservation plan bdcp. Once built, even one tunnel will remove fresh water before it can flow through the delta. Robert said good things about habitat conservation plans, and i will as well.
One of the least discussed issues in california environmental politics and one of the most crucial to understanding governor jerry browns delta tunnels plan is the clear connection between the marine life protection act mlpa initiative and the california waterfix, formerly called the bay delta conservation plan bdcp. Mapbook for modified pipeline and tunnel alignment. Each tunnel would be 150 feet below ground, 40 feet in diameter and 30 miles in length. Browns abandonment of habitat restoration in his bay delta conservation plan bdcp tunnels scheme by saying the new plan violates the statutory co. The delta reform act is based on the coequal goals of the conservation and management of the sacramentosan joaquin river delta ecosystem and improving the current supplies and reliability of water conveyed through the state water project and the federal central valley project. We find the tunnels are not economically justified, because the costs of the tunnels are roughly 2. The prior draft of the bay delta conservation plan failed to adequately protect the delta s native fish and wildlife and the thousands of. The bay delta conservation plan is a permitting process for longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta that centers on coequal goals of species conservation and improving water supplies and delivery. Dealing with these problems will entail monumental costs, and those will fall inevitably on california taxpayers who will be asked to pay the bills, year after year, so the big water barons can use their tunnels and inflate. Doesnt southern california need more water from northern california. I argue that the bay delta conservation plan, which represents the largest. The tunnels could grab the sacramento river, which is the main supply of fresh water in the delta, san joaquin county, and the entire san francisco baydelta estuary.
Fresh, clean, water supports the delta, the largest nursery for california fisheries, the largest pacific coast fly. The thirst of californias 40 million residents and the ravages of climate change has the sacramentosan joaquin river delta the states most important water source and the west coasts largest estuary on the brink of ecological disaster. The story shows why the bay delta conservation plan bdcp and governor browns delta tunnels are not the needed solution and proposes a real, long term. I dont think the document was organized to provide a convincing or particularly solid justification for the project, though they have a lot of the pieces. As the state agency serving as the voice of the delta, the delta protection commission has been a skeptic of the governors proposed plan to build two 30milelong, 40footwide tunnels to. Just last year, the public was invited to have its say on the bay delta conservation plan bdcp, the states longcontested proposal to pipe water under the sacramentosan joaquin delta. Bay delta conservation plan the bay delta conservation plan is a process for obtaining longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta centering on the equal goals of conservation of species and helping to improve water supplies and delivery. Go to the take action tab for more information about what you can do to save the delta. Governor jerry browns plan to build the delta tunnels has accelerated at an alarming rate in the wake of the metropolitan water districts vote on april 10 and the santa clara valley water. The story shows why the bay delta conservation plan bdcp and governor browns delta tunnels are not the needed solution and proposes a real, longterm. Following the demise of calfed, the continuing collapse of delta fisheries and the prospect of more restrictive endangered species act esa limitations on delta.
The plan is designed to provide for the conservation of sensitive species. The bdcp is intended to function as both a habitat conservation plan under the federal endangered species act and a natural community conservation plan under california law to protect 56 species of concern, ranging from the delta smelt and the sacramento rivers salmon runs to the valley elderberry longhorned beetle. But if there were two huge tunnels and 9,000 cfs export capacity north of the delta, would state and federal agencies actually implement the plan s required delta outflow for fish and wildlife. Still a threat to the delta one tunnel as of 2019, the twotunnel plan is dead, but now a one tunnel plan is being pursued.
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