McNerney Joins with Delta Enviros & State Water Contractors on Major Bill to Protect CA’s Water

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, today announced the introduction of SB 872, groundbreaking legislation that would help protect California’s primary water source for decades to come.

Supported by environmentalists and State Water Contractors that have often been at odds over water use, SB 872 would safeguard both the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the State Water Project (SWP). 

“Historically, California’s water wars have pitted North against South, the environment versus agriculture,” said Sen. McNerney, who is co-chair of the Delta Caucus and whose district includes the heart of the Delta. “SB 872 is a commonsense solution that brings traditional adversaries together to support vital water projects that will protect California’s water and the Delta, while also benefitting the entire state.”

Together, the Delta and the SWP make up California’s primary water system, providing freshwater supplies to 27 million people, businesses, and farms in the Central Valley, the Bay Area, and Southern California. The Delta also supports a vibrantly diverse ecosystem of plants and animals.

But the Delta’s levees and the SWP’s water canals are in desperate need of repair. Many of the Delta’s aging levees are at risk of collapse, threatening the entire Delta ecosystem and the surrounding region with catastrophic flooding. The SWP’s California Aqueduct, meanwhile, is being seriously impacted by sinking land, known as subsidence, imperiling up to 80% of the system’s water supplies.

SB 872 will protect California’s main water system by directing $300 million annually in greenhouse gas reduction fund (GGRF) dollars to essential levee repairs in the Delta and shoring up SWP’s canals to prevent interruptions in essential water deliveries.

SB 872 is supported by the environmental group, Restore the Delta, and the State Water Contractors. The contents of SB 872 are being amended today into a previously introduced spot bill. 

“Delta levees have been historically disinvested in, putting the Delta economy and its 4 million county residents at risk. We are proud to support SB 872, because it prioritizes funding for the Delta, investing in our levees in a commitment to protect our communities,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta. “We are also committed to working to protect the future health and vitality of the Delta and the tribes and communities that depend on it while remaining committed to reducing reliance on the Delta and exploring other strategies for stabilizing California’s water supply.”

“Subsidence of water infrastructure is one of the biggest threats to Californians' water security — more than 200 miles of the State Water Project have been impacted and require significant repairs as soon as possible, or we risk an 87% reduction in delivery capability," said Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors. “Without funding assistance like Senate Bill 872, the 27 million people who rely on the State Water Project would be burdened with the full cost of repairing our water delivery system, reducing water affordability and reliability for all Californians. We are proud to support SB 872 so that we can ensure our infrastructure can continue to deliver safe, affordable water, is climate responsive, and can maintain its contributions to the electrical grid.”

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the largest and most important estuary on the West Coast. In addition to providing the state’s main supply of water, the Delta consists of 1,100 miles of levees that protect farms, ecosystems and freshwater from saltwater intrusion and provide essential flood protection for the region, including for more than 500,000 people, along with farms, businesses, and historic resources. 

However, many of the Delta’s critical levees date back to the 1800s and no longer meet the US Army Corp of Engineers safety standards. The levees are at risk of breaching. The Delta Stewardship Council estimates that necessary levee improvements will cost, in total, about $3.24 billion, but will protect $22 billion in state assets. 

Subsidence, or the sinking of land due to loss of groundwater or soil matter, is also one of the greatest challenges facing CA’s water infrastructure. Over-pumping of groundwater has led to significant land subsidence along the California Aqueduct, which delivers water from the Delta to much of the state. If not repaired, subsidence threatens to reduce the water carrying capacity of the SWP by 87% by 2040. 

Subsidence repairs to the SWP are estimated to cost about $3 billion over 20 years. Without this investment, subsidence damage will lead to higher costs and risks to California ratepayers who are already struggling with multiple affordability issues. Energy and food costs for average Californians are continuing to grow, and water rates in Southern California are expected to rise 17% by the end of this year.

SB 872 would appropriate the following amounts of GGRF dollars annually over 20 years to ensure water reliability for years to come:

• $150 million annually to the Delta Conservancy for levee improvements, including projects that restore habitat
• $150 million annually to DWR for subsidence repair along SWP canals.

Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, and his 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.