Jerry brown and interior secretary ken salazar unveil a new plan for tunnels in the bay delta conservation plan. Dec 25, 2014 revised plan for delta tunnels is still a bad idea by erik vink. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp steering committee is preparing a draft habitat conservation plan hcp and natural communities conservation plan nccp for the sacramento sanjoaquin delta delta, expected to be available for public comment by the end of 2010. Mar 12, 2019 bay delta conservation plan the twin tunnels are outberkeley experts say thats a good thing the extravagantly wet winter notwithstanding, californias water woes are far from over. The tunnels do not change that reality and neither will an amorphous adaptive. A revised bay delta conservation plan moves a forebay for the controversial peripheral tunnels for water further east and shrinks the plan s overall footprint by half, as well as shifts 400. Adverse comments upon the bay delta conservation plancalifornia waterfix partially recirculated draft environmental impact reportsupplemental draft environmental impact statement rdeirsdeis. A plan to build two tunnels that would divert water from sacramento to san joaquin valley farms poses a dire threat to salmon, according to a bay area salmon protection group. Tunnel proponents have come up with the bay delta conservation plan as a way to mislead people about the actual impact that the twin tunnels would have on the san francisco bay delta. Maven slices, dices, and jpegs the revised documents for you the delta tunnels plan, california water fix, the bay delta conservation plan its been known by all of these names plus a few others, some of them unprintable, but they all refer essentially to the same project. Congressmen want gao investigation of federal money siphoned. One of the least discussed issues in california environmental politics and one of the most crucial to understanding governor jerry browns delta tunnels plan is the clear connection. The bay delta conservation plan is a process for obtaining longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta centering on the equal goals of conservation of species and helping to improve water supplies and delivery. Dec 15, 2010 bay delta conservation plan has major flaws.
The seventeen billiondollar plan to build two tunnels under the sacramentosan joaquin delta delta in california, currently known as california waterfix ca waterfix, has been a concern for. A website on california water news that features both original news as well as curated content. Persuading delta residents that twin tunnels would be good. The result was the bay delta conservation plan bdcp, which would allow construction of a peripheral conveyance under the cover of the habitat conservation plan provision of the esa. An overview and local perspectives in western city. The plan is designed to provide for the conservation of sensitive species. Opposition to the proposed twin tunnels i live in the sacramento river watershed and strongly oppose the california water fix hereafter, graft. Senator lois wolk and others ask whether the delta tunnels bay delta conservation plan are good for california. Jerry brown and a contingent of major water suppliers, mostly in.
Browns abandonment of habitat restoration in his bay delta conservation plan bdcp tunnels scheme by saying the new plan violates the statutory co. Fishing and conservation groups sue to block delta tunnels. They fail to describe it as a purpose in violation of ceqa and nepa. But when youre governor jerry brown, even one step forward can seem like two steps back. Really, the idea that two massive tunnels would be built in the delta was always well, a pipe dream, says. Opponents of the governors bay delta conservation plan say the construction of 35 miles of concrete tunnels around the sensitive sacramentosan joaquin delta. Find out about the next california state agency meeting, workshop, conference or seminar. San francisco baysacramento san joaquin delta estuary bay. Since then, the tunnels plan has appeared to be stalled. According to the environmental impact report, it consists of new north delta fishscreened intakes, intake pumping plants, continued use of the south delta intakes, operations of the north bay aqueduct alternative intake project which is where benicia gets a lot. The big unveiling last week, long anticipated, was the estimated cost of the bay delta conservation plan s bdcp tunnel conveyance system, or peripheral canal. Jerry browns plan to construct two 40foot diameter peripheral tunnels 150feet below the sacramentosan joaquin delta, the states largest and most critical water supply. Jerry brown announced to an expectant press corps that the state plans to construct a pair of multibilliondollar tunnels under the. Brown tells critics of water tunnels project to shut up.
In summary, this letter provides ewc comments on master responses contained in volume ii of the final eireis. Proposition 1 was written to r eplace a larger water bond that funded the bay delta conservation plan. The tunnels would divert water from the sacramento river to water users south of the delta. However, there is little discussion of what exactly the bdcp is and how it may be seen to fruition. The documents are part of the bay delta conservation plan, which is a 50year effort to restore the delta ecosystem, which provides water for 25 millioncalifornians in the bay. Santa clara valley water district rejects jerry browns twin delta tunnels plan share this. Bay delta conservation plan has major flaws environmental. Today, in partnership with several conservation and fishing organizations, nrdc submitted extensive comments on the latest environmental analysis of the proposed bay delta conservation plan, which. Protecting the baydelta watershed and its many beneficial uses is one of the state water boards primary responsibilities and top priorities. Bay delta conservation plantwin tunnels project input.
Unfortunately, the report by jeff michael fails to assign any value to meeting either of the coequal goals, which is the entire basis for the existence of bdcp. Here, you will find her summaries, reflections and concerns with the proposed bay delta conservation plan as she embarks on a four month journey to read the 34,000 page plan. Brown administration proposal known as the bay delta conservation plan has. The bdcp could not adequately provide for habitat restoration or the construction and operation of the two massive twin tunnels. Congressmen want gao investigation of federal money. This water supply, along with a restored delta ecosystem, is the basis for the work currently being conducted by the bay delta conservation plan. Santa clara valley water district rejects delta tunnels plan. Document and comments library blogs and background jump to cspas better solution without the bay delta tunnels. Its been 11 years since the introduction of the bay delta conservation plan twin tunnels proposal, and nearly a year since governor newsoms withdrawal of california waterfix twin tunnels project.
Well need to work with the incoming brown administration to put the conservation back in the baydelta. The letter will also weigh in on the countys stance against twin tunnels proposed in the bay delta conservation plan. Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta. Ultimately, though, it was a bridgeor tunnel too far, even for brown. Climate change prompts new concerns about delta tunnels. Single delta tunnel planning begins with notice of. Tagged bay delta conservation plan before the california water fix, there was the bay delta conservation plan bay delta science conference. Following the demise of calfed, the continuing collapse of delta fisheries and the prospect of more restrictive endangered species act esa limitations on delta. In 2006, the bay delta conservation plan bdcp was proposed, with the stated intent of reducing the impacts of exporting water from the delta. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp has recently dominated california water news, particularly since secretary of the interior ken salazar and california governor jerry brown announced the delta tunnel plan, now coined browns tunnels. The bay delta conservation plan was a habitat conservation plan proposed by the california department of water resources, u. Fishing and conservation groups sue to block delta tunnels project.
Bill jennings, executive director of the california sportfishing protection alliance and board member of the california water impact network cwin and executive committee member of restore the delta, summed up the reactions of many to the revised plan when he said, the. The delta tunnels project, if built, would be one of the most expensive and illplanned projects in the country. Californians for a fair water policy about stop the tunnels. The brown administration s controversial plan to route water from the north delta to the south delta through a pair of tunnels and deliver it to the existing facilities in the south delta. Before 2015, the bay delta conservation plan had two coequal goals of habitat restoration and water supply improvement. Home page for the bay delta conservation plan, which includes peripheral canallike tunnels. Bdcp fact sheet and contact information of representatives and water representatives. The delta tunnels plan, california water fix, the bay delta conservation plan its been known by all of these names plus a few others, some of them unprintable, but they all refer essentially to the same project. Twin tunnels ensure reliability of water supply the san. San francisco baysacramento san joaquin delta estuary baydelta watershed efforts baydelta plan update.
Browns bay delta conservation plan bdcp calls for the construction of two sidebyside underground tunnels, 33 feet in diameter, that would carry fresh water from the sacramento river, under. Harvest, hatchery returns, and straying of salmon released at bay and delta sites during californias drought. The bay delta conservation plan bdc to build the peripheral tunnels is a controversial plan opposed by fishermen, indian tribes, conservationists, family farmers, scores of elected officials and. Page 1 clean, sustainable and reliable water supply. Diverting the sacramento river, which constitutes 80 percent of the freshwater flow into the san francisco bay delta, would have a devastating effect on its. The bay delta and the twin tunnels butte environmental council. Jan 21, 2014 in santa clarita, we depend on the sierra nevada snow pack that flows through the sacramentosan joaquin delta. A great resource for finding news articles, editorials, commentaries, reports, scientific research and breaking news. The initial bay delta conservation plan environmental documents totaled more than 30,000 pages and were technical and detailed. Map of proposed bay delta tunnels on july 25, california gov. Jerry browns multibilliondollar water tunnel system, the project calls for the installation of two tunnels, each 40 feet in diameter and 35 miles long, to be built beneath the sacramentosan joaquin delta. Californias bay delta conservation plan and governor. Water movement in the sacramentosan joaquin delta our delta duration. An associated project, known as the california waterfix, would have to meet the standards of the bay delta plan and includes the construction of two massive delivery tunnels around the delta, the current source for much of the water transported to southern california farms and cities.
Currently tunnel alternative 4 is the preferred choice for the tunnel system by the bdcp. Bay delta conservation plan california waterfix san francisco. The peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Supervisor jennifer montgomery received support from fellow supervisors to add language to a rough draft of the letter that reinforces the countys backing of the sierra nevada conservancy and tahoe conservancy. Will proposition 1 pave the way for the delta tunnels.
Why nrdc opposes the bay delta conservation plan nrdc. Restore the delta save the sf baydelta estuary for our future. Aug 16, 20 a revised bay delta conservation plan moves a forebay for the controversial peripheral tunnels for water further east and shrinks the plans overall footprint by half, as well as shifts 400. The delta tunnels project stategiven name is california water fix. Jan 23, 2014 gayle vaughan is a resident of the north bay area and an avid sailor.
The bay delta conservation plan, as the tunnel project is formally known, is being pushed by gov. Mapbook for modified pipeline and tunnel alignment. The tunnels are the linchpin of the bay delta conservation plan bdcp, a draft of the environmental impact assessment for which was released tuesday by the california. An introduction to californias delta tunnel and salmon. Advocates say the tunnels will safeguard the states water supplies, which are. Major changes to environmental restoration could endanger browns water plan. Bay delta bay delta conservation plan delta issues.
No bay delta tunnels campaign cspa news and archives. Oct, 2016 the project, formerly known as the bay delta conservation plan, would build two massive tunnels beneath the sacramentosan joaquin river delta, replacing the northern portion of the state water. Ccwd provided constructive input throughout the development of the bdcp and evaluated how proposed projects. Conceived as two 35milelong, 40footdiameter pipes buried under the delta, the twin tunnels wouldve incorporated a great deal of concrete, steel, and machinery to move tremendous quantities of water southward. As a habitat conservation plan, this project would have safe harbor from state and federal esa requirements for fifty years. Sep 17, 2014 the bay delta conservation plan, supported by the brown and obama administrations, would restore thousands of acres of delta habitat and install 30mile tunnels as an alternative way to deliver. Revised plan for delta tunnels is still a bad idea the. Bay delta conservation plan the bay delta conservation plan is a permitting process for longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta that centers on coequal goals of species conservation and improving water supplies and delivery. May 06, 2015 under development for eight years, the bay delta conservation plan calls for building two underground tunnels, 40 feet across and 30 miles long, to send water from the sacramento river around the. Delta tunnel the peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Federal agencies would not approve a 50year permit in the bay delta conservation plan bdcp because it did not provide for environmental assurances over that 50year term. The bay delta conservation plan is a permitting process for longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta that centers on coequal goals of species conservation and improving water supplies and delivery. Bay delta conservation plan archives mavens notebook. The twin tunnels are outberkeley experts say thats a good thing.
Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta conservation plan by dan bacher on april 30 at a press conference in oakland, governor jerry brown and federal officials unveiled controversial plans that they claim accelerate restoration of the delta s ecosystem and fix the states aging water infrastructure by building two massive underground tunnels. Does the bay delta plan signal the end of the water wars, a mere. Delta tunnel is a big drain compared to bullet train. Adverse comments upon the bay delta conservation plan california waterfix partially recirculated draft environmental impact reportsupplemental draft environmental impact statement rdeirsdeis. Congressmen want gao investigation of federal money siphoned to delta tunnels. Under development for eight years, the bay delta conservation plan calls for building two underground tunnels, 40 feet across and 30 miles long, to send. By now, most california residents have heard about gov. Bay delta conservation plan water education foundation. Sierra club california water committee, december 20 the baydelta conservation plan bdcp, through which the brown administration proposes to move unknown new amounts of water out of the sensitive san francisco bay delta. The bay institute, a wellregarded environmental group, has determined the the bay delta conservation plan to construct tunnels to send water south. The links between delta tunnels and faux marine protected. Ca officials release financing plan for twin tunnels. Documents for the bay delta conservation plan were originally released in.
It appears dwr is pursuing another inadequate and scientifically flawed project with one tunnel. Book a tent calendar rates accommodations for your stay lair faq. Apr 30, 2015 restore the delta rtd responded to gov. The twin tunnels are outberkeley experts say thats a. The brown administration assured everyone that the problems with the. In the world of california water, nothing is a sure thing. Delta tunnels action take a stand and stop the delta. Diverting the sacramento river, which constitutes 80 percent of the freshwater flow into the san francisco bay delta. Bec preps comments on the bay delta conservation plan. System of tunnels, levee reconstruction best approach to protecting state, silicon valley water supply. The bay delta conservation plan proposes building a tunnel to transfer water from the sacramento. It would consist of two 40foot wide tunnels, placed 150 feet underground, running 35miles within the sacramentosan joaquin bay delta.
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