Delta tunnel — Inconvenient truths about sea level rise and salinity intrusion

Polar ice sheet melting

The Delta tunnel Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has a new Sea Level Rise Study in Technical Appendix 5A-F. The study was done with Bay-Delta SCHISM, a 3-D hydrodynamic model of the San Francisco Bay and Delta. The new SCHISM study has limitations, in that it assumes that Delta levees are raised to keep up … Continue reading Delta tunnel — Inconvenient truths about sea level rise and salinity intrusion

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

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

Thoughts on DWR’s Delta Conveyance Webinar on Fisheries

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

Delta Tunnel: DCA’s new bylaws allow MWD staff person to be Executive Director

On February 18, 2021 the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (“DCA”) adopted new bylaws which allow the Executive Director to be a "member entity" staff person. On March 9, 2021, the DCA met in closed session to consider employment of the current Executive Director, Kathryn Mallon. Mallon is working under a 5 year contract … Continue reading Delta Tunnel: DCA’s new bylaws allow MWD staff person to be Executive Director

Delta Tunnel: MWD executives in labor negotiations with DCA Executive Director

The new Board of Directors for the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority ("DCA") has called a special meeting for Tuesday, March 9th from 3-5 pm.  The closed session agenda lists the following items with regard to the DCA's Executive Director, Kathryn Mallon: (a) Public Employee Performance Evaluation (b) Public Employment (c) Conference with Labor … Continue reading Delta Tunnel: MWD executives in labor negotiations with DCA Executive Director

“General Bond Resolution” could fund twin tunnels project in stages

Money tunnel

Environmental groups have been strongly critical of the Department of Water Resources’ “blank check” Delta Program Revenue Bond / General Bond Resolution..  The General Bond Resolution is expected to fund Governor Newsom's Delta tunnel project, which is currently estimated to cost $15.9 billion. The State Water Contractors have countered that DWR is simply "validating its … Continue reading “General Bond Resolution” could fund twin tunnels project in stages

Delta tunnel: DWR plans for ESA consultation under Trump administration

On June 18, 2020, the Department of Water Resources submitted an application to the US Army Corps of Engineers for a Section 404 Clean Water Act permit for the Delta tunnel. Getting federal permits for the Delta tunnel is complicated by Attorney General Becerra's lawsuit over the Bureau of Reclamation’s new Long-Term Operations  for the … Continue reading Delta tunnel: DWR plans for ESA consultation under Trump administration