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ACTION ALERT: Time to Oppose the Delta Tunnels at the Delta Stewardship Council!

What:  Public Hearing Regarding Appeals of the Consistency Certification for CA WaterFix: public comment period

When: Oct. 26th starting at 9 am

Where: Ramada Inn, West Sacramento, Conference Center

Pack a lunch; pack a book and some knitting; charge up your cell phone.  And be ready to stand up for the Delta!

But first you have to do some prep work!

The California Department of Water Resources has filed with the Delta Stewardship Council a “consistency determination” for California Water Fix.  This filing is how DWR will get approval from the Delta Stewardship Council that the Delta tunnels project is consistent with the Council’s Delta Plan. This process checks off a box to move forward with construction of the tunnels.  It’s time to tell the DSC, the project needs to be stopped once and or all.

Of course we know that the Delta tunnels do not meet the standard of co-equal goals set by the Delta Reform Act of 2009.  This is how the DSC is supposed to evaluate WaterFix. Here’s a reminder what that legislation says:

 “‘Coequal goals’ means the two goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem. The coequal goals shall be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place.” (CA Water Code §85054)

Please note the DSC, never posts in their materials the part of the Delta Reform Act that calls for reduced reliance on the Delta — something that cannot be achieved by building two 35-mile-long tunnels to divert 9000 cubic feet per second of the Sacramento River. But we can remind them of that criteria.

This is why your public comment is important!  This may be one of the last events in which you can voice to the government your opposition to the Delta tunnels project.

Nine Appeals, including one on behalf of RTD and other coalition partners, of DWR’s consistency determination were  filed with the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC.)

Public comments on why CA WaterFix, the tunnels, does not fit into the DSC’s Delta plan can be made on the morning of October 26th, starting at 9 am.  Comments are to be no longer than 3 minutes.  That’s about 300 prepared words without elaborate introductions or pleasantries.

News flash: Three DSC members have recused themselves from voting on the consistency determination. Two of the three recused because their spouses work for entities tied to CA WaterFix. The recused third for working on water sustainability projects in another part of the state. This leaves four Council members who can vote: Chair Randy Fiorini, Frank Damrell, Mike Gatto, and Skip Thomson. It is important that this smaller version of the Council hears from you!

Leave a Comment

{ 57 comments… add one }
  • Lisa Lynch
    October 3, 2018, 1:46 pm

    Please stop the delta tunnels!

  • Kevin dorn
    October 3, 2018, 9:03 pm

    Stop trying to steal from the environment and destroy it while giving water to factory farms for profit for a few!!!

  • Carol de Sa Campos
    October 3, 2018, 9:17 pm

    It is time to do what is best for California. Until now, special interests have made deals and quietly planned and positioned themselves to serve themselves, not California. When a southerly Water District purchases islands in Northern California in an attempt to force through the Tunnels Project, it is obviously a desperate attempt to drain the Delta and Northern California water for private gain.
    Please do what’s right and put California first. Californians do not deserve to have water taken out from under them, diverted from Rivers, drained from the Delta through sunken tunnels and sent South for some people to profit at the expense of other people, businesses, even habitats and species of Northern California. One region of California should not have their resources drained for another. Establishing cities in the desert that rely on water being pumped in, planting orchards in the hills where there is insufficient water and expecting others to sacrifice who already have orchards and vineyards and communities in areas where there has been water, is nothing but greed and opportunism.
    Why do they do it? Because they can. It’s no better than a thief taking what does not belong to him. Suggesting that these interests are buying the water is ludicrous. Everyone knows that the funding would have to be supplemented by the rest of us. In other words, Californians will have to pay for private profiteers, you know, those who just got the tax breaks, don’t want to provide health insurance or pay minimum wage. It’s time for this State to stand up to the special interests that will move out once our water is depleted (or contaminated).
    Other States are just learning that their drinking water has been contaminated and there are crises and depleted aquifers being discovered now. Let us learn from others’ mistakes and protect California’s people by preserving our water, soil, habitats and species for generations to come.
    Thank you.

  • Isabel
    October 4, 2018, 12:47 am

    No tunnels!

  • Marc Mallary
    October 4, 2018, 4:58 am

    The Delta Tunnels are a crime against nature and the people of California.

  • Lance J Gannett
    October 4, 2018, 7:58 am

    Unfortunately I will be out town on October 26th but I would like to say I strongly oppose the idea of the tunnels. I am a home owner on the delta and have grown to love the area and it’s beauty. The risk with this project not only the very unknown effects of the process but the environmental impact of the construction is enough to it is very bad idea. Thank you for your time.

  • Jacquie Peteson
    October 4, 2018, 8:45 am

    Please note the DSC, never posts in their materials the part of the Delta Reform Act that calls for reduced reliance on the Delta — something that cannot be achieved by building two 35-mile-long tunnels to divert 9000 cubic feet per second of the Sacramento River. But we can remind them of that criteria. It is imperative that there be not tunnels to protect the delta and our water supply here. Please realize that it is vital to Northern CA to not have the two tunnels thing our water away!!!

  • Janine Hatchett
    October 4, 2018, 9:01 am

    We the people of California need to wake up. Why would you destroy the Delta. This is a natural waterway that not only has an emence population, it is a shipping channel, recreation area, and the water that is used to farm the land. When you allow a Southern CA water district to buy the land and then make the entire state taxpayers pay for it is WRONG. Do not allow this to happen.

  • Marilyn Reineman
    October 4, 2018, 11:07 am

    It is time to be realistic about the water problem: Shipping water down to the southern part of the state will be prohibitively expensive. Once all the money is invested and the water system n the north is irrevocably destroyed, the cost of the water per gallon will be prohibitively expensive. Who knows. Will it be $5000.
    per gallon, or what? Southern California should follow the actions of Honolulu, Hawaii, and adopt desalinization as a plan instead. I have been to Hawaii several times and the water tastes fine. This would be a cheaper, faster solution without the devastating environmental consequences. The LA basin could pick 10 or 15 sites to build these facilities. The only ones who might have a problem are those who would have a water treatment plant off shore that would interfere with their ocean view. That is nothing compared to the damage and hideous expense of shipping all that water from the north. Another option would be to simply cut off water to commercial farming. The reality is that we can no longer provide water for commercial farming. Citrus would all have to be farmed in Florida and its vicinity. We must provide water first to the people who are here. I realize that commercial farming interests would love for the taxpayers to pay to bring water to them so they can make their profits. But the cost is too high for we Californians. I hope that a very thorough nvesrigation is done regarding conflicts of interest for all of those who are nvolved with this project. This includes the governor and his wife and those on the state Water Resources Board. If a conflict s found, it should be dealt with HARSHLY.

  • Lynda Tatrai
    October 4, 2018, 12:46 pm

    Please protect the largest estuary on the West Coast The Delta from tunneling to Southern CA Removing water by unnatural means would clearly harm the entire interconnected fragile eco-system of the Delta. Please do not participate. I encourage you if you have never seen the Delta in person to drive or boat the Delta to see first hand what I’m talking about! It’s Beautiful but it’s also fragile! Thank you so much for your time. Lynda Tatrai

  • William Cooper
    October 4, 2018, 1:36 pm

    I feel strongly that this entire process is illegal. Over 30 years ago the PEOPLE of California voted NO on the proposed Peripheral Canal. This is EXACTLY the same issue. Putting the canal underground changes nothing. Deny this project!

  • Dorothy Golz
    October 4, 2018, 2:05 pm

    Even though I live in Southern California and perhaps would benefit, I am opposed to the Delta Tunnels project. Estuaries are important to the environment, the fishing industry and as protection from rising sea levels. The Delta estuary is an important ecosystem that should be protected.

  • Katherine Klusky
    October 4, 2018, 11:38 pm

    They cost more by a LOT than ever promised. They benefit less. They destroy some of the last precious nature we have. Everything we’ve learned says this is a bad plan. Please do not approve the tunnels. We will all pay the price.

  • Greg von Buchau
    October 5, 2018, 4:38 pm

    NO DELTA TUNNELS
    We can’t afford ro send all out precious water South.

  • Pam Burns-Clair & Robert Clair
    October 6, 2018, 8:32 am

    NO TUNNELS!

  • October 6, 2018, 11:25 am

    Its so important for are states to look to the future of water , some day it’s going to become the most important resource , way make it worse . life depends on it . I oppose the Delta Tunnels.

  • Billie Reece
    October 6, 2018, 3:32 pm

    We don’t need NO stinkin’ tunnels. Vote NO!!

  • Tina Arnold
    October 6, 2018, 4:27 pm

    I am 100% opposed to the Delta Tunnels. The Delta ecosystem is special and fragile. We need a plan to protect and preserve it–not a plan to gut it with these highly destructive tunnels.

  • Robert Brainerd
    October 7, 2018, 8:20 am

    Stop the tunnels!

  • Rich Van Fossen
    October 7, 2018, 9:11 am

    Lived on the south Delta since the mid 50’s the water quality has went down as they started taking water out first toTracy pumping plant Mendota canal ! late 60s the Clifton Court forebay for the California Aqueduct ! The tunnels would kill the delta

  • Charlene Perry
    October 7, 2018, 4:49 pm

    NO! no, no to the tunnels

  • Amy Lee Hammack
    October 7, 2018, 5:57 pm

    The state has over-allocated water from the river by 151% according to the organization Friends of the River. That means that we take more water out of the river than it provides in a normal water year. And government agencies want to take even more water. Much of the water would be diverted from the Sacramento River upstream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through the Governor’s proposed Delta Tunnels project. This plan will severely impact water quality and habitat in the Delta, through which all of the Sacramento River’s salmon and steelhead must migrate. The Delta Tunnels project does not serve what is best for California. I vote to stop the Delta Tunnels project.

  • Ernest Tufft
    October 7, 2018, 9:33 pm

    Delta Stewardship Council:

    Although everyone knows CA WaterFix is good for your families and a few export farmers in parched and barren south of San Joaquin Valley, everyone also knows that CA WaterFix is an unsustainable project for the Delta environment and economic burden for citizens of California. Please wake up and vote NO on CA Water Fix NOW and recommend to the contractors and billionaire farmers that they pull out their wallets to consider more affordable means of paying their water supply business than destruction of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. California needs a healthy habitat in the Delta BEFORE it needs farmers tapping the water supply, but even if water supply and habitat are considered co-equal, it’s obvious this CA Water Fix water tunnel bypass scheme isn’t going to work anyway.

  • October 8, 2018, 9:59 pm

    We oppose the tunnels on so many fronts. Coming and present droughts mandate the water stays in the Delta and free flows to the sea. Fisheries and the health of the estuary depend on and the in and out flow of fresh water. This is a State resource and a public trust, sending our water south to support multinational Ag corps, to waterbank for private and future use, is not a “reasonable and beneficial ” use for the people of this State.

  • Paul nagata
    October 8, 2018, 10:11 pm

    Oppose the building of the tunnels

  • Earl Lagomarsino
    October 9, 2018, 8:28 am

    Vote against the twin tunnels!
    The Delta Reform Act calls for reduced reliance on the Delta, something that cannot be achieved by building two 35 mile long tunnels that will drain 9000 cubic feet of water per second feom the Sacramento River!
    To allow for the twin tunnels to move forward is madness, the kind of madness that destroys the incredibly rich and diverse delta ecosystem for the sake of a pittance of profit in comparison. Do the right thing and vote against any proposal before this board that would move the monstrosity called the twin tunnels forward in any way!
    Thank You

  • Greg von Buchau
    October 9, 2018, 12:57 pm

    No more water to rich interests in the Southland. The Renicks and their ilk have done enough damage and they are still teying to steal water rights from us..ENOUGH. NO TUNNELS

  • Alwilda Bohnstedt
    October 9, 2018, 2:06 pm

    We live on the river…we were hoping this address would be our last…we’re seniors…the tunnels would ruin our way of life as the third intake would be right next to our house 11179 state highway 160…if they go thru with it …i think they should do immenit domain and let us move…we can’t sell it if they put the tunnels in !!!

  • Ludene
    October 10, 2018, 10:16 am

    Northern California needs it’s own water for the health of the environment and the enjoyment of the people who live and visit here. We do not want our rivers diverted to fill the SoCal swimming pools. Why are we not building desalinization plants along our coast? There is plenty of water in the ocean, yes?

  • Joan B. Weiner
    October 10, 2018, 12:36 pm

    I oppose the tunnels – one or two – we need to protect the Delta instead of altering the environment there, to alter environment in the SJ Valley in order to make lots of money for a few people to grow food for China at California taxpayer expense. Folks in the LA basin need to come to terms with the fact that they live in a place with little water – they need to aggressively conserve what they have, and use it wisely, like desert people … not like folks living in Florida. If that is how they want to live, they should move to a different climate area.

  • Adalina Paez
    October 10, 2018, 8:53 pm

    Please protect the estuary. Our water environment is sacred and we have take care of it.

  • Derek Wallacw
    October 11, 2018, 5:30 am

    Stop the Tunnels Project. Stealing Delta water and sending it underground is anti citizen and immoral.

  • Michael Rodgers
    October 13, 2018, 6:55 am

    Please do not support the water fix project. Not only is this project expensive but the potential environmental damage to the Delta Estuary and Bay cannot be understated. Salt intrusion and declining water quality including rising water temperatures will destroy fish populations, recreation and ultimately destroy fertile farmland in the Delta area. Follow the science not the money. Thank you.

  • J FROILAND
    October 13, 2018, 10:45 am

    This project is a water grab that will have lasting negative impacts on an already highly fragile system.

    Knock it off.

  • Glenn Gara
    October 13, 2018, 1:36 pm

    No tunnels.

  • Dan Christian
    October 13, 2018, 8:04 pm

    STOP THE TUNNELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tracey Ziomek
    October 14, 2018, 8:16 am

    This tunnel idea is short sighted. It steals from Peter to pay Paul. It does not ‘make’ more water and will ruin the lives of many people and the environment. We know that the Delta tunnels do not meet the standard of co-equal goals set by the Delta Reform Act of 2009. Please reconsider!

  • October 14, 2018, 11:33 am

    I DO NOT want to see our Delta reduced to SoCals watering hole. We don’t need twin tunnels built and destroy our Delta. There are many ways to service SoCal without destroying our way of life. Jerry Browns water grab will hurt our state and be tied up in court for years. Stop the madness!!!!! No tunnels!!!!

  • Melinda Haber
    October 14, 2018, 3:37 pm

    I don’t know one person who supports the horrible Tunnel Project. It is clearly a politically corrupt concept which will serve the monetary interests of a few while devasting the lives of many. If this had been fairly put on the ballot for a vote, it would have been a majority of no votes as has happened with past proposed “water fix” legislation. The very fact that Governor Brown and the few who support this found a way to circumvent the right for Californians to vote on this is an indictment about corruption among politicians and their disdain for their constituents. #notunnels!

  • Galen Chaney
    October 14, 2018, 10:56 pm

    Stop this nonsense. We didn’t want the peripheral and we don’t want this!

  • Doug Thompson
    October 15, 2018, 5:51 pm

    NO ON THE TUNNELS!!
    Spend time and money developing more water storage!!

  • Kent Rankin
    October 15, 2018, 6:31 pm

    You cannot enhance the health of the Delta by reducing the amount of fresh water entering it.
    By reconstructing wetlands you will have less farmland and what amounts to an engineered wetland. That would be quite unnatural.
    Just be sensible.

  • David Osinga
    October 15, 2018, 7:27 pm

    I’m a CA resident, catagorically against the Tunnel Project, its a short term waste of capital, with unacceptable evironmental consequences, time to pony up the money to start investing in a long term solution, desalination!

  • Albert Segal
    October 17, 2018, 1:40 pm

    Since a child I’ve fished and hunted over most of the Delta and know that this is our last hope to appeal to you , please vote against the project and give the largest remaining freshwater estuary/delta on the west coast a chance. With this the state wants too much water from valley irrigation districts to fix the new problem they create with the tunnels then pump that water down south as well. Sad!

  • John Morais
    October 17, 2018, 10:52 pm

    I would like to speak. What do I have to do?

  • Teresa Young
    October 18, 2018, 11:23 am

    This project to “Fix” the Delta….will destroy what is left of Delta and life that exists, which includes… people. The “Fix” is more that a flawed idea…. It is the destruction of California and its’ life.

  • Eladio Carreon
    October 18, 2018, 11:59 am

    We live on the delta and enjoy it year round. To put in tunnels will restrict our current navigational waterways and potentially cause more boating accidents on the delta. Also, it will increase the salinity levels in the water that could potentially harm farmland.

    I strongly oppose the tunnels!

  • YOU-JEN KUO
    October 19, 2018, 10:18 am

    I’m a CA resident. PLEASE STOP TUNNEL PROJECT. It’s a waste of capital and will make unacceptable environmental consequences in the future. It is time to pony up the money to start investing in DESALINATION!

  • George Day
    October 19, 2018, 4:00 pm

    For years now they’ve been draining northern California reservoirs to “save the smelt” now they want to send Delta water south? Time for LA to get serious about desalination of seawater. Oppose this water theft.

  • David Link
    October 19, 2018, 4:37 pm

    The Delta tunnels are just a bad idea. Remember the Owens Valley? Do we need to create another environmental disaster at the cost of millions of dollars? Have we learned nothing from the past??

  • Edward and Beatrice Simpson
    October 19, 2018, 9:11 pm

    We join those who oppose the Delta Tunnels. There is finite space in any environment, but Southern California is long over populated and becoming unlivable. By providing stolen water from the land and animals, people and plants of northern California we pretend the welcome mat is out. We must recognize there are limits and we have exceeded them.

  • Robert Letalien
    October 20, 2018, 4:03 am

    I believe a more reliable water supply for Southern California should be found rather than the ‘Twin Tunnels’, also need to protect, restore, and enhance the Delta ecosystem and in a manner which protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place for the future generations to come.

  • Victoria Brandon
    October 21, 2018, 11:18 am

    The Delta tunnels project needs to be stopped. Building two 35 mile long tunnels will not solve our problems. Restore the Delta.,Thank you.

  • David Davidson
    October 21, 2018, 11:38 am

    Delta tunnels do not meet the standard of co-equal goals set by the Delta Reform Act of 2009.

  • Sharon Stark
    October 23, 2018, 11:00 am

    I’m a native Californian resident that is against the Tunnel Project. It has unacceptable environmental consequences. Money needs to be invested in long term solutions, including
    Desalination.

  • Norma K. Peterson
    October 24, 2018, 7:00 pm

    I am horrified at the prospects of of destroying our vital waterways of Northern and Centreal California and the delicate ecosystem of the Delta. Southern California has done much in the past to destroy it’s own natural watershed and inhibit natures processes to provide. It has chosen instead to insist that people in Southern California’s population deserves more than any others to possess the waters of not only the Colorado, but the waters of Northern California. It seems of little thought or concern for the farmlands, ecosystem, waters and San Francisco Bay could be adversely affected or destroyed. Please, STOP the tunnels, NOW! Thank- you.

  • Rodger Silvers
    October 26, 2018, 11:29 pm

    Simply stated, California WaterFix will NOT fix California’s diminshing fresh water problem nor produce any. Some estimates have put California WaterFix at over $50 billion dollars, while only benefiting a few powerful growers in the valley.

    In stead, please focus more on the repair and improvement of the existing levy system and helping farmers adjust to climate change without inflating our debt so.

    California can do better!