Several critical water bills that we are tracking at Restore the Delta were heard in the Legislature this week – here are some key updates. SB 872 Passes Through Committee SB 872, a bill that would dedicate $300 million annually to address two major threats to California’s water supply, aging levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin...Read More
Dear Friends, The State Water Contractors are attempting to advance AB 2215 as a legislative solution to DWR’s expired water rights for the State Water Project and the DCP, rather than through proper procedure at the State Water Board. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Calderon, will be heard at the Senate Natural Resources and Water...Read More
For Immediate Release: June 22, 2026 Contact:Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org SACRAMENTO — On behalf of The Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition (DTEC), the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School has submitted a letter to the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee opposing AB 2215. DTEC consists of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians,...Read More
By: Restore the Delta The explosion of Artificial Intelligent (AI) across the country isn’t happening in a vacuum but instead goes hand-in-hand with impacts to water resources and utility bills. Despite the enormous strain on both our electrical grid and finite water resources, California has established little to no regulatory oversight. In fact, last year,...Read More
This week, experts provided witness testimony before the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Administrative Hearings Office, debunking arguments that the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) will not further degrade water quality in the Delta. Key testimony by Dr. David A. Caron, Professor at the University of Southern California, Associates Captain Allan Hancock Endowed Chair in Marine...Read More
In a striking op-ed published today by the Sacramento Bee, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director at Restore the Delta, argues that the Delta Tunnel is on track to become California’s next High Speed Rail project, a massively expensive project that fails to deliver on its promises. In the piece, Barbara notes that the Department of Water Resources...Read More
For Immediate Release: June 5, 2026 Contact:Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org STOCKTON, CA — In response to a recent press release from Governor Gavin Newsom, Restore the Delta’s Executive Director, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla released the following statement: “Further proof that Governor Newsom holds the same values regarding California water management as the Trump Administration. The Governor is influencing every regulatory process...Read More
Coverage of the coalition of environmental, Tribal, and fishing organizations calling for a Water Renaissance in California continues to grow. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that the plan, which prioritizes local water supplies such as stormwater capture, water recycling, and groundwater cleanup, would reliably yield more and cost far less than the proposed Delta Tunnel project. As UCLA scientist...Read More
On Wednesday, a coalition of Tribal leaders and environmental organizations, including Restore the Delta, released the Water Renaissance Plan, a new roadmap to shift California away from expensive, unreliable water imports toward local, sustainable solutions that deliver affordable, reliable water supplies. For decades, California has relied on moving water long distances across the state, harming ecosystems and leaving...Read More
The California Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to advance Dorene D’Adamo’s reappointment to the State Water Resources Control Board despite vocal opposition from Tribal, environmental, and fishing groups. Critics accused D’Adamo of favoring powerful agricultural and water interests, arguing during the hearing that those groups have had outsized influence over the Bay-Delta Plan process, while Tribal and...Read More
