For Immediate Release: 1/10/24
Contact:
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, 209-479-2053, barbara@restorethedelta.org
Restore the Delta on Governor Newsom’s Budget Announcement
SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom presented his proposed budget for the State of California.
Facing an expected $37.8 billion budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced drawing $10 billion from the state’s budget reserves, while continuing to push forward the Delta Conveyance Project, incorrectly calling it a climate project.
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta responds:
“As California enters a year of fiscal cutbacks, we proposed canceling all spending on Newsom’s Delta Tunnel. This proposal (rejected by Californians since 1982) faces an uncertain permitting process. It will waste at least $16 billion dollars that could be spent on actual climate resilience projects like rural groundwater recharging and urban floodwater capture. Every struggling California family knows that money not spent on frivolous things can be used on essential items that help us get through the tough times.
“According to Newsom’s Department of Water Resources, the Delta Conveyance Project will produce about 240,000 acre-feet of additional water in wet years only. At a bond payback rate of $1 billion per year, that means when water is available it will cost about $4200 per acre-foot, and in numerous years, there will be no additional water, but the bond payment will need to be made. This is not serious climate water planning.”
