Delta Caucus Leaders Applaud Exclusion of Delta Tunnel Fast-Tracking from CA Budget

Delta Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, D-Suisun City, on Wednesday applauded the 2025-26 California budget agreement for excluding Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial proposal to fast-track the costly and destructive Delta Tunnel Project.

“Keeping the tunnel fast-tracking proposal out of the state budget is an important victory for California and the Delta, and for the communities, farms, and historic resources surrounding the largest estuary on the West Coast. The 45-mile-long, $20-plus billion water tunnel project not only would devastate much of the Delta region, but is also unaffordable and unnecessary,” said Sen. McNerney, whose district includes the heart of the Delta region. “The Legislature and Governor should pursue alternatives that will cost far less and would safeguard California’s main water supply system without inflicting major harm to it, such as fortifying Delta levees and increasing water recycling, water efficiency, and groundwater storage.”

“Excluding this proposal from the budget rightly avoids rushing a decision on a project of this magnitude,” said Assemblywoman Wilson. “If the Governor chooses to pursue the Delta Tunnel, I urge him to bring it forward through the standard policy committee process, where it can receive the full transparency, debate, and scrutiny it deserves. The Delta Tunnel is a massive, costly, and destructive project that demands serious review, not shortcuts. I echo Senator McNerney’s call to focus instead on smart, sustainable alternatives like levee improvements, water recycling, and groundwater storage — solutions that strengthen our water system without devastating the Delta.”

Last month, Gov. Newsom proposed to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project in this year’s state budget. The plan would have effectively eliminated environmental and judicial review of the project, while giving the state a blank check to float bonds to pay for the water tunnel. 

But after the fast-tracking proposal was met with strong opposition by a broad bipartisan coalition, both the Senate and Assembly agreed to reject it and instead refer the governor’s plan to the regular legislative process.