Governor Newsom recently vetoed SB 872, the Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund, missing a critical opportunity to protect the state’s water resources and Delta communities.. The Governor’s veto message pointed to more than $170 million allocated for repairing levees, aqueducts, canals and other projects, calling SB 872 “unnecessary”, but the state’s own data emphasizes...Read More

California state agencies used a confidentiality agreement to keep some communications regarding the scientific basis for the updated Bay-Delta Plan hidden from public knowledge, as revealed by Ashley Zavala on KCRA’s CA Politics 360 show. The agreement between the State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Water Resources, and Department of Fish and Wildlife was discovered...Read More

Native tribes denied greater say in water decisions with Newsom veto Newsom Vetoes Sacred Sites and Tribal Water Bills Despite Overwhelming Votes Tribal advocates say Newsom apologized for state history, then vetoed their bills Governor Newsom Ignores Water-Sector Consensus and Fails to Make Water Affordable in California  Newsom’s final legislative session has ended with broken...Read More

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2026 Contact:Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org SACRAMENTO —  Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed SB 872, a key water protection bill that would have dedicated funding to 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). The bill...Read More

In a recent letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a broad coalition of Tribes and environmental groups expressed concern over the Bureau of Reclamation’s position on California’s authority over the Central Valley Project and the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. The letter points to the Bureau’s recent assertion that the State Water Resources Control Board has no...Read More

Dear friends,In an email shared earlier today, we highlighted a few legislative wins shared by California’s Legislative Delta Caucus and Senator Jerry McNerney.Those wins include: $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 (SWP) California Aqueduct and canals, which are being...Read More

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...Read More

In a new op-ed published by CalMatters, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director at Restore the Delta, and Gary Mulcahy, government liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, condemn the Newsom Administration’s efforts to advance controversial land and water-use proposals, including California Forever, voluntary agreements and the Delta Tunnel.  Drawing on their years of experiences throughout Newsom’s governorship, the...Read More

For Immediate Release: August 26, 2026 Contact:Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org SOLANO, CA — California Forever, a proposed development project in Solano County that would have devastating impacts on the Delta, is once again seeking to circumvent legislative processes to gain preferential treatment. Despite the Solano County Board of Supervisors voting in opposition to California Forever, legislation advancing through the state Legislature...Read More

In a revealing commentary published by Maven’s Notebook, Eric Buescher of San Francisco Baykeeper and Chris Shutes of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance criticize Governor Newsom and other political figures’ efforts to push through the multi-billion dollar Sites Reservoir project despite extensive evidence that it would seriously harm waterways and ecosystems, a conclusion reached by the...Read More