Newsom’s push to fast-track Delta water tunnel stalls in the California Legislature

Gov. Gavin Newsom and some of California’s major water agencies hit a setback this week when a proposal to fast-track plans for a 45-mile water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta died in the state Legislature.

Newsom has been trying to streamline legal and environmental review of the proposed water tunnel through budget measures that also would give the state authority to issue bonds to pay for the project.

Delta lawmakers said they were pleased that the governor’s proposal failed to move forward in the final days of the legislative session.

Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) called it a “major victory for California and the Delta.”

“The tunnel project not only would devastate much of the Delta region, but is also unaffordable and unnecessary,” McNerney said. “It’s very expensive. It’s very damaging to the environment.”

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