Environmental Extremists Block the Delta Tunnel California Desperately Needs for Water

California’s water supply faces a brutal reality. Climate change threatens to cut the State Water Project’s reliability by 23%, with reservoirs like Shasta and Oroville projected to hold a third less water by century’s end. Hotter, drier conditions and shrinking Sierra Nevada snowpack leave millions at risk. This crisis demands action, not endless debates.

Governor Newsom’s push to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project offers a practical solution. This $20 billion tunnel would capture enough water during atmospheric rivers to serve 9.8 million people yearly. Yet, for decades, regulations and lawsuits have stalled progress. Why let bureaucracy jeopardize our water security?

Last year’s atmospheric rivers exposed our outdated infrastructure’s limits. Billions of gallons slipped away because our 60-year-old system can’t handle modern climate extremes. Water agencies, businesses, and community leaders statewide now urge swift action to modernize our water lifeline.

Newsom’s May 2025 trailer bill tackles delays head-on. By simplifying permits, speeding land acquisition, and limiting repetitive judicial reviews, it could save $365 million annually in contractor costs. The project’s environmental impact report, finalized in December 2023, already meets strict standards. Further delays only inflate expenses and threaten water access.

Agencies like the Metropolitan Water District and Kern County Water Agency support this plan, recognizing their communities’ reliance on steady water supplies. Southern California risks losing 10% of its State Water Project water without action. Faster approvals protect ratepayers and ensure we adapt to climate challenges in time.

Some groups argue this pace undermines environmental safeguards. Their lawsuits, however, often recycle old complaints, ignoring the project’s balanced approach to water reliability and ecosystem protections. Decades of studies confirm the project’s viability. Why prioritize legal gridlock over real solutions?

California’s State Water Project, launched in the 1960s, showcased bold leadership. Today, we need that same resolve. The Delta Conveyance Project, debated since the 1950s, has been thoroughly studied. It’s ready to deliver water security, yet it remains tangled in red tape. Now is the time to act.

Business leaders, from the California Chamber of Commerce to the Orange County Business Council, understand water’s role in a thriving economy. Kern County farmers, vital to the nation’s food supply, depend on reliable water. Bipartisan efforts, like the National Governors Association’s permitting reform task force, also back streamlined processes for critical projects.

Meanwhile, organizations like the Sierra Club push for more studies, claiming ecosystem risks. Their demands often duplicate existing data, delaying progress without improving outcomes. Their approach favors process over people, leaving communities exposed to drought and flood risks.

The Delta Conveyance Project is about more than infrastructure. It ensures families have clean water, farmers can sustain crops, and businesses can grow. Newsom’s reforms cut through decades of delays while upholding environmental standards, delivering results for all Californians.

This initiative creates thousands of union jobs, fortifies us against earthquakes and climate shifts, and secures water for future generations. Will we allow endless legal challenges to hold us back, or will we build the system our state needs? The answer is obvious.

Support the Delta Conveyance Project. Endorse Newsom’s reforms. Let’s protect our water supply and create a legacy of action. Our communities, economy, and future hang in the balance.