California Can't Tunnel Its Way Out of Drought Conditions

By Dan Bacher | January 18, 2014 |

Restore the Delta (RTD) and other opponents of Governor Jerry Brown’s rush to build the peripheral tunnels under the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) held a tele-conference on Monday, January 13 calling the tunnels a “flawed solution for a drought-plagued state." 

Six experts criticized the tunnels as an "outdated, inappropriate solution to California’s water challenges, one that would create no new water, be of no use in dry years, and drain $70 billion that could otherwise be spent on projects that create new water and increase regional water independence." 

Barbara Barrigan Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, said, "It is worth noting that presently, reservoirs in Southern California are filled to 93 % capacity. Yet, water levels are at record lows in the north part of the state, and corporate agribusiness growers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley are continuing the push for water deliveries, even though the water system is depleted." 

The tunnels will hasten the extinction of Central Valley Chinook salmon, Delta smelt, longfin smelt and other fish species. 

Listen to the tele-news conference featuring Jonas Minton, Tom Stokely, John Herrick, Dr. Jeff Michael, Bill Jennings, and Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla by going to: http://www.restorethedelta.org/drought-tele-news-conference-listen-to-tele-news-conference. 

Photo courtesy of Restore the Delta.