California Construction News staff writer
The Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), California’s ambitious effort to secure the state’s water future, achieved a major milestone this week, bringing the project one step closer to construction.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has received biological opinions from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These approvals cover construction and construction-related maintenance activities, marking the completion of the Endangered Species Act review process for the project.
“This important milestone moves California closer to completing the complex state and federal planning and permitting processes needed to begin project implementation,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “The science is clear: California must quickly complete the Delta Conveyance Project to meet our water needs in the future. By meeting this milestone, we are closer than ever to seeing this vital piece of infrastructure completed and benefiting all Californians. Let’s get this built.”
The milestone follows a decision by the Delta Stewardship Council in April, which largely upheld a certification of consistency for the project, leaving only two technical issues to be addressed in future proceedings. The decision reaffirmed that the project can proceed while protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The Delta Conveyance Project is a cornerstone of California’s State Water Project, which moves and stores water used by 27 million people and irrigates 750,000 acres of farmland. Experts warn that hotter and drier conditions could reduce California’s water supply by 10% by 2040, potentially limiting the reliability of the State Water Project by as much as 23%. The DCP is designed to offset these climate-driven losses and enhance water supply reliability while maintaining fishery and water quality protections.
During last year’s atmospheric rivers, the project could have captured enough water to supply 9.8 million people for a year, illustrating its potential impact on water security.
Stretching from Oroville to Riverside, the State Water Project serves 29 public water agencies, primarily in the South Bay, Central Coast, South Coast, Inland Empire, and Kern County. These agencies cover the costs of operating the project, and completion of the Delta Conveyance Project is seen as critical to maintaining reliable water delivery to homes, farms, and businesses.
Governor Newsom first announced his commitment to modernizing the project during his first State of the State address, aiming to address seismic and reliability issues while expediting construction. Since then, he has led efforts including DWR’s certification of a final environmental impact report in December 2023 and securing financial support from water agencies serving the majority of Californians.
With federal approvals in place, the Delta Conveyance Project is closer than ever to breaking ground and securing California’s water future.
