The California Department of Natural Resources recently announced its withdrawal of the proposed permits for the California WaterFix twin tunnel project and begin a new project which includes a smaller single tunnel that will move water north to south through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In response, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors made the following statements:

“Our treasured Delta, which encompasses about one-third of the County’s total land, sustains an abundance of wildlife, natural beauty and commercial and recreational opportunities. We all recognize the crisis facing this precious resource and we look forward to working with the new Administration on fair and long-lasting solutions that includes full participation from Delta stakeholders, improves statewide water supply reliability and restores the Delta ecosystem,” said Supervisor Miguel Villapudua, Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

“We applaud the Governor’s announcement of his California Water Resilience Portfolio, which incorporates a more holistic approach that could include alternatives like water use efficiency measures, levee restoration, additional storage and other local projects,” stated Supervisor Chuck Winn. “These alternative solutions, many of which San Joaquin County and many other statewide stakeholders have supported for over a decade, will provide regional self-sufficiency through local control, jobs, and benefits.”

“For the past decade, San Joaquin County has been advocating for genuine Statewide water solutions that support all communities without sacrificing one region over another. The long-awaited collapse of the Twin Tunnels project means a new chapter in California’s water history – one that will unify the State, sustain our water supply and provide a fresh start for our vital Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,” noted Supervisor Kathy Miller.

“We welcome the Newsom Administration’s withdrawal of the twin tunnels proposal and to call for a formal environmental review of a single tunnel,” remarked Supervisor Bob Elliott. “Governor Newsom wisely rejected WaterFix because the pair of monstrous pipelines would be too costly and horribly destructive to our centuries-old, over-worked and fragile Delta. Now we need to focus on a portfolio of common sense solutions that can actually make more water available to solve our state’s water problems—actions such as building more storage, groundwater recharge, desalination, regional self-sufficiency, increased use of recycled water, and repairing our levees.”

“We are very pleased to see last week’s outcome to a long, drawn out process. This decision is reflective of many joint efforts and collaborative opposition. I have opposed the Twin Tunnel project due to a misguided effort that has sacrificed our regional needs to the benefit of others. We look forward to working with the new Administration to create a world class water supply system for California that protects our natural resources and enriches the Delta,” concluded Supervisor Tom Patti.