Move Over California Legislature: State Agency Proposes to Build Peripheral Canal By 2015

Traci Sheehan
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

While countless hours are being spent in the Governor's Delta Vision process and in water bond negotiations to determine how to restore the Bay-Delta Estuary, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has apparently decided to bypass the Delta altogether.

According to a recent budget change proposal submitted to the state Legislature, DWR intends to start preparing to build a new "Alternative Delta Conveyance" facility, which would divert water directly from the Sacramento River before it enters the Delta, sending it directly to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Despite the looming budget deficit, the proposal specifically asks for authorization to hire eight new staff that would be responsible for everything from completing Environmental Impact Reports to negotiating land purchases, and constructing the new facility.

Under its proposal, DWR would revive studies and update construction plans that it abandoned in 1982 after voters overwhelmingly rejected its "Peripheral Canal" proposal in a statewide referendum due to fears that such a facility would result in more Northern California water exported to the ever-growing south state, and that the Delta would be left as a saltwater lake rather than a true estuary.

DWR estimates that the canal, or some new version of the old idea, could be constructed by mid 2015.

The budget request from DWR follows a recent letter sent to Assemblywoman Wolk (D-Davis) by DWR Director Lester Snow, stating that according to DWR's analysis, DWR has the authority to build a peripheral canal without legislative or voter approval. The Legislature has not yet indicated whether they concur with DWR's assessment. However, if the budget change proposal is approved, we can be sure DWR will move forward as quickly as possible.

PCL and others have been deeply engaged in efforts to develop and implement a sustainable Delta solution. Given that those processes are producing real results–but have not yet settled on long-term infrastructure plans for the Delta–DWR's proposal seems particularly premature.

We'll keep you updated as we learn more about DWR's intentions!

Traci Sheehan is the Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide, nonprofit lobbying organization. For more than thirty years, PCL has fought to develop a body of environmental laws in California that is the best in the United States. PCL staff review virtually every environmental bill that comes before the California Legislature each year. It has testified in support or opposition of thousands of bills to strengthen California's environmental laws and fight off rollbacks of environmental protections.

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