Category: Uncategorized

State Tries to Sideline Sacramento & Stockton’s Lawyers — Court Hears Stay Request

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

On January 23, 2026, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a motion in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking to disqualify the law firm of Somach Simmons & Dunn, longtime counsel for the County of Sacramento, the City of Stockton, in three of the ten consolidated cases challenging DWR’s approvals of the Delta Conveyance … Continue reading State Tries to Sideline Sacramento & Stockton’s Lawyers — Court Hears Stay Request

Delta tunnel EIR shows predictable megaproject management biases

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

Professor Brent Flyvbjerg is an internationally renowned expert in megaprojects. His research has shown how megaprojects are systematically subject to "survival of the unfittest." Flyvbjerg’s 2021 paper, Top Ten Behavioral Biases in Project Management: An Overview, describes several behavioral biases which are relevant to the Delta tunnel project. They include strategic misrepresentation, optimism bias, planning … Continue reading Delta tunnel EIR shows predictable megaproject management biases

Delta ISB review of Delta tunnel project proceeding under huge time pressure

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On June 8, 2022, DWR’s Director, Karla Nemeth, made a presentation on the Delta tunnel project to the Delta Independent Science Board (Delta ISB), with several of the scientists who had worked on the project. She said that she supported the Delta ISB’s review of the project. But unlike the twin tunnels project, the Department … Continue reading Delta ISB review of Delta tunnel project proceeding under huge time pressure

Legislature approves audit of water management by DWR and SWRCB during 2021

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On Monday, June 27, the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved Assemblymember Adam Gray's request for an audit of the management of surface water by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board in 2021. The Acting State Auditor is also proposing to audit DWR's plan to uphold its contractual … Continue reading Legislature approves audit of water management by DWR and SWRCB during 2021

Thoughts on DWR’s Delta Conveyance Webinar on Fisheries

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

The single tunnel project was supposed to be redesigned to limit impacts on Delta legacy communities and fish.  But many of the bad design decisions from the previous project have been kept. The most glaring examples are the enormous, 3,000 cfs intakes, which were carried over from the twin tunnels project. Dave Vogel wrote about … Continue reading Thoughts on DWR’s Delta Conveyance Webinar on Fisheries

Valley Water proposing to borrow $310 million on parcel tax revenues

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

Environmental and fishing groups express concern about proposed borrowing, lack of sunset date, reduced commitments to fish and wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

Delta tunnel: DWR signs agreement allowing real estate acquisition at 60% design

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 3 Comments

It is unclear whether land will be acquired for the Delta tunnel project before the Final Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Determination under CEQA.

Delta tunnel: DCA staff downplay opposition to stakeholder engagement process continuing during pandemic

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

The continuation of the Delta tunnel stakeholder engagement process during the COVID-19 pandemic has been strongly opposed by Delta Counties and Delta residents.

Delta tunnel engineering design rushes forward as major disaster declared in California

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 3 Comments

The DCA's plan to conduct Delta Stakeholder Engagement Committee meetings by web conference during what is likely to be the height of the pandemic in California simply fails to consider the very real impacts on Delta communities.

Delta Tunnel: DCA and DWR Reject Findings of Independent Technical Review Panel

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

Under the supervision of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (DCA) is providing “engineering, field studies and design work to inform the environmental planning process, and assist[ance] in evaluating and minimizing community impacts” for the Delta Tunnel project. On December 4-6, 2019, the DCA convened an Independent … Continue reading Delta Tunnel: DCA and DWR Reject Findings of Independent Technical Review Panel