Several critical water priorities have been approved by the state Legislature. Here are some key updates.
SB 872, a bill designed to safeguard California’s water supply for decades to come, has been unanimously approved by the Legislature.
The bill brings together Northern and Southern California legislators, environmental groups including Restore the Delta, and water interests to protect the state’s primary water source.
If signed into law by Governor Newsom, SB 872 would address two major threats to California’s water supply: aging levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and sinking canals in the State Water Project (SWP). Many Delta levees are at risk of failure, raising the threat of catastrophic flooding and ecosystem damage, while sinking land is jeopardizing SWP canals and reliable water deliveries.
Read more about SB 872 here.
Additionally, the Delta Caucus secured $90.2 million to protect the Delta and fortify its aging levees, along with up to $68 million to safeguard the State Water Project’s California Aqueduct and canals.
“Restore the Delta is grateful to Sen. McNerney and the Delta Caucus for advocating for funding for the Delta levees, which protect 4 million Delta area residents, a $7 billion Delta economy, drinking water supplies for the state, and critical ecosystems,” said Morgen Snyder, Director of Policy and Programs. “We hope this is the starting point of a long-term commitment to fully fund the much-needed upgrades to this crucial infrastructure.”
Read more about the funding here.
