The Delta Shadow

No, Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn’t forgotten about his Delta tunnel request.

On Wednesday, he reiterated his May proposal to fast-track a controversial tunnel routing more water to farms and cities, making sure the idea stays in the mix as lawmakers gear up to return to Sacramento to consider other big-ticket demands on cap-and-trade, refineries and electric utilities.

To sweeten the deal, he paired the revived demand with a list of commitments to incorporate feedback from Delta communities in the tunnel’s permitting and construction, including the creation of an ombudsman office and $200 million in community benefits.

Delta-region lawmakers who successfully rejected Newsom’s bid to tie the proposal to the budget in June are raring for another fight. Sen. Jerry McNerney and Assemblymember Lori Wilson quickly put out a statement saying “no amount of money can compensate” for the tunnel’s construction impacts on communities and urging instead to fortify the region’s levees and invest in water recycling and groundwater storage.

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