Newsom, Water Board Pull Plug on Controversial Twin-Tube Plan

The California Department of Water Resources announced today that it was withdrawing proposed permit applications for former Gov. Jerry Brown’s twin-tunnel ‘WaterFix’ project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The move formally puts to rest Brown’s much-derided and decades-long pursuit of two massive water- and fish-conveyance tunnels to ensure water security in the state while protecting the fragile Delta ecosystem. That plan would have cost California at least $20 billion—and up to $70 billion, by some estimates.

Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged to pull the plug on Brown’s plan as a candidate and has called for a smaller, single tunnel to modernize the state’s water delivery system. The DWR says the single-tunnel project is needed to protect water supplies from seawater intrusion into the Delta, and to mitigate potential damage from earthquakes.

“It will be designed,” says DWR of Newsom’s tunnel vision, “to protect water supply reliability while limiting impacts on local Delta communities and fish.”

North Bay State Sen. Bill Dodd cheered Newsom and the DWR’s move to rescind the Brown-era applications and twin-tunnel plan, which he describes as “fatally flawed.”

“By closing this chapter on the euphemistically named WaterFix,” says Dodd in a statement, “I believe we can move to a thoughtful, collaborative approach that meets our water needs while safeguarding the environmental and economic vitality of the Delta.”

Valley Water, which serves all of Santa Clara County, has been similarly supportive of the single-tunnel proposal. In February, Valley Water Board of Directors Chair Linda LeZotte said: “Valley Water is encouraged that Governor Newsom supports a single tunnel to secure water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration in the Delta. We share the governor’s assertion that the status quo is not an option. This board has consistently supported a right-sized project.”

5 Comments

  1. Rest assured that what ever comes, it will cost 300% more, deliver half what it is supposed to, and be tens years past due at the time of completion!
    Yes after 45 years in California, you can call me an optimist.

    Bring Back the Salmon.

  2. California, the USA, and the world would benefit enormously if California had abundant, accessible supplies of water.

    I believe there is plenty of water available. It just needs to be managed and transported.

    The supply is available. The engineering and technology is available. The obstacle is politics.

    Bringing abundant water to California is going to require political leadership.

    Jerry Brown was part of the problem. Obama was part of the problem. Tom Steyer, Kamala Harris, and the entire claque of globalist/socialist/environwacko eco-fascists are a BIG part of the problem.

    Nothing is likely to happen that changes anything until the water supply to Los Angeles runs dry.

    And then . . . Trump admits he colluded with the Russians, Hillary gets elected President in 2020, Mexican immigrants, bring in bottled water to California, and everything gets fixed.

    • > The supply is available. The engineering and technology is available. The obstacle is politics.

      I’d also toss in lobbying money. Oil companies have TONS of it. Want a pipeline built across several states? No issue, just bring your suitcase of money to the steps of the state capitals, done deal.

      Unfortunately the only water company is Nestle. Nestle seems to have no problems making a profit from water. Wait, I think I just had an idea! The state of California should sell all water rights to nestle! Profit == Lobbying money. Have them build a pipeline all the way from Oregon to the California Aqueduct!

      Problem solved.

      • So you are saying that unless and until we bribe the Democratic House, Senate, and Governor they will not address the water problem? Sounds about right.

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