A recent article published by the Los Angeles Times reveals that California’s State Water Project could see its supplies diminish by up to 23% over the next 20 years due to climate change. This alarming forecast highlights the urgent need for responsible action to safeguard our water resources.
Governor Newsom’s administration has been advocating for large-scale water infrastructure projects, framing them as key climate initiatives. Among the proposed solutions is the behemoth 45-mile water tunnel project, designed to create a secondary route for extracting water from the Sacramento River into the State Water Project’s aqueducts.
However, the article brings to light a crucial evaluation by Jeffrey Michael, a public policy professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Professor Michael’s recent report critiques the state’s cost-benefit analysis of the tunnel project, arguing that the tunnel is not only more expensive but also environmentally and socially detrimental compared to other water supply alternatives.
Bottom line: The Delta tunnel is not a climate change project.
In line with these concerns, the article underscores the various environmental groups, Tribes, fishing organizations, and local agencies that have filed lawsuits to halt the project. These groups instead support enhancing local water supplies and reducing dependence on water transported across the state. Efforts to increase water use efficiency, capture stormwater, and recycle wastewater could potentially cut California’s urban water use by over 30%.
The Los Angeles Times article, coupled with the advocacy of local communities suggests that the Newsom administration is pursuing outdated, misguided solutions.
As Peter Gleick, senior fellow and co-founder of the Pacific Institute, aptly states, “Instead of doubling down on the failed water policies of the 20th century, the Newsom administration has the rare opportunity to pivot to new approaches and a new vision for California water.”
Read the LA Times article here: State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change