December 18, 2023 - The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) report on December 8th, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) 
released its final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, also known as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Tunnel Project. Years in the making, the final EIR is perhaps the most comprehensive attempt to date to balance the significant support for the project by Central and Southern California water interests with concerns from Delta and Northern Californian communities. Despite the scaled-down size of the project--notably from twin tunnels to a single conveyance--coupled with greater sensitivity for impacts in the Delta region to local habitats, infrastructure, and water users, opponents of the Delta project have already promised to litigate the new EIR and forestall the timeline for developing the project.
The latest EIR has been criticized for insufficiently accounting for impacts locally from construction of a tunnel, including to surrounding infrastructure, as well as ecological impacts to the Delta from increased water export during a time of changing climatic and precipitation cycles. Some Delta tunnel opponents are particularly critical of the document's lack of sufficient review over increasing saltwater intrusion into the San Francisco Bay Estuary, and into several major groundwater aquifers. Several opponents are also concerned about the document's lack of adequate mitigation for impacts to Bay Delta wildlife and aquatic species.
The document is now in a final review period before potential adoption and certification by DWR. It may be viewed in full here.
ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-seven member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Source: RCRC
Related: California Department of Water Resources Releases Final Environmental Impact Report for Delta Conveyance Project - Governor Gavin Newsom Says, “This Project Is Essential To Updating Our Water System For Millions Of Californians”
