Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Governor Scraps Delta 'Twin Tunnels' Projects, Orders New Plan
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
May 2, 2019

Share

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom scrapped a $16 billion plan Thursday to build two giant water tunnels to reroute the state’s water system and instead directed state agencies to restart planning for a single tunnel.

The move is a blow to the vision of his predecessor, Jerry Brown, who had championed two tunnels to divert water from the north to the state’s agricultural center and drier south.

“I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work that’s already been done.” — Gov. Gavin Newsom

Newsom had signaled the move in his February State of the State address but made the change official when he asked state agencies to withdraw existing permits and start over.

“I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work that’s already been done,” he has said.

The state has already spent $240 million developing the project, said Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources. Some of that work will inform the new approach, she said.

Smaller Tunnel Likely to Be Just as Long

Brown wanted to build two, 35-mile-long tunnels to divert water from the Sacramento River, the state’s largest river, to the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Local water agencies were expected to foot the roughly $16 billion bill.

The smaller tunnel is likely to be just as long and take water from the same places but could be designed differently, Nemeth said. It’s expected to cost less.

The Brown administration had downsized the project to one tunnel in early 2018 as local water agencies balked at picking up the tab.

But the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the state’s largest water agency, agreed to cover nearly $11 billion in costs last April, bringing new life to the twin tunnels.

DON'T MISS

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

DON'T MISS

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

DON'T MISS

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

DON'T MISS

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

DON'T MISS

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

DON'T MISS

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

DON'T MISS

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

DON'T MISS

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

UP NEXT

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

UP NEXT

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

UP NEXT

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

UP NEXT

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

UP NEXT

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

UP NEXT

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

UP NEXT

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

UP NEXT

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

2 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

2 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

3 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

3 hours ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

3 hours ago

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

4 hours ago

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

4 hours ago

Music Legend Quincy Jones, Architect of Pop’s Greatest Hits, Dies at 91

4 hours ago

Big Pharma Backs Harris 6-to-1 Over Trump in Presidential Campaign Contributions

5 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

The 1.4 million acres of Sierra National Forest land proposed for a national monument would make the land between Yosemite and Sequoia natio...

8 mins ago

8 mins ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP/Ashley Landis)
2 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

Voters cast their ballots at Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas during the last day of in-person early voting in Nevada on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Nearly 75 million people have cast early ballots, making their voices heard amid worry about the process, the outcome and democracy itself. (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times)
2 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

2 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

2 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

3 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

3 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

Gerrick Franklin (pictured), 34, was taken into custody Sunday in Madera County on suspicion of killing Tyler Hamon, 33. (Fresno PD)
3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

Search

Send this to a friend