A broad coalition of Tribes, environmental justice organizations, fishing groups, conservation advocates, and Delta communities successfully halted Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal that sought to bypass critical legal, environmental, and public participation processes in order to fast-track the controversial Delta Tunnel project. The proposal faced immediate and unified opposition from Tribes, Delta organizations, and local communities, who...Read More
In a powerful commentary published by Maven’s Notebook, Tom Zuckerman, a Delta farmer located in Stockton, and Gary Bobker, Program Director at Friends of the River, sound the alarm about Governor Newsom’s approach to California’s water policy. The authors sharply criticize the Governor’s push to waive key environmental protections through budget trailer bills, which they...Read More
Dear Friends, Right now, Governor Newsom is making power plays to undermine democracy within California’s water management. He is using the full force of his office to push a CEQA trailer bill that would silence public participation in the Bay-Delta Plan. Despite claims from State Water Board attorneys that the Bay-Delta Plan has nothing to...Read More
In a powerful op-ed in Maven’s Notebook, Regina Cuellar – Chairwoman of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians – calls out California’s failure to recognize tribal beneficial water uses like fishing, plant gathering, and ceremonial practices. Chairwoman Cuellar strongly opposes the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) and the so-called “Voluntary Agreements”, arguing that they threaten the freshwater flows essential...Read More
In a recent Maven’s Notebook commentary, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla (Executive Director, Restore the Delta) and Ashley Overhouse (Water Policy Advisor, Defenders of Wildlife) criticize Governor Newsom’s administration for advancing Delta Tunnel trailer bills that undermine California’s water rights, environmental protections, and public due process. These bills aim to fast-track the $100 billion Delta Tunnel project while...Read More
On July 23rd and 24th, Restore the Delta’s water quality testing program reported that HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) have been found at Windmill Cove, Buckley Cove, and the Louis Park boat launch in Stockton. Our test strips maxed out at 10 parts per billion, meaning actual toxin levels could be even higher. This exceeds California’s warning thresholds for public health...Read More
Senator Christopher Cabaldon is making it clear that the decades-old Delta Tunnel proposal should be put to rest. “This project doesn’t make sense for anyone – not the people of the Delta or the water users in southern California. It’s time to let go of this fantasy and move on to solutions that don’t harm...Read More
Thank you to all of our members, partners and supporters who showed up to advocate for the Delta and against the Delta Tunnel. While the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) trailer bill did pass with the state budget, your calls and emails made a difference. Lawmakers have now committed to working on amendments that address...Read More
In an insightful Los Angeles Times column, George Skelton sharply criticizes Governor Newsom’s attempt to fast-track the controversial Delta Tunnel project by slipping it into the state budget process amid pushback from Delta communities, environmental groups, the salmon fishing industry, and legislative officials. As Skelton writes, the governor’s proposal has nothing to do with budget...Read More
In an insightful opinion piece published for Capitol Weekly, Bruce Reznik — executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper — calls on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to prioritize local water infrastructure over costly, outdated megaprojects like the Delta Conveyance Project and Sites Reservoir. Reznik warns that both projects are expensive, energy-intensive, and environmentally...Read More
