The peripheral canal was a series of proposals starting in the 1940s to divert water from. Before 2015, the bay delta conservation plan had two coequal goals of habitat restoration and water supply improvement. The lee tunnel is part of a multitunnel effort that makes up the thames tideway project in london. Feasibility level design of the delta tunnel response to eireis for states waterfixtunnels 2016 phase 1 geotechnical exploration program 2019 preceqa planning and preliminary design of delta tunnel 2022 ceqa. Although the province and delta have provided considerable. Restore the delta protestpetition to swrcb february, 2015 pdf other letters letter to usbr. Tunnel and, instead of a new crossing between delta and richmond, it was.
About 30 miles long, 40 feet across and up to 150 feet underground, the tunnels would carry water from the northern tip of the delta to the pumps in the south. Southern californias powerful metropolitan water district source of tap water for 75 percent of ventura county residents voted recently to cover twothirds of the cost of building the controversial delta tunnels in one of the most significant california water actions in decades. The project is similar to the previously proposed peripheral canal, which was rejected by voters in a statewide referendum in 1982. Delta and richmond, and connects to key gateways such as vancouver. Project advertising and bidding is anticipated to occur in early 2016. George massey tunnel replacement projectproject definition report. Local water agencies provided funding for preliminary planning on the tunnels project, known as the bay delta conservation plan. The delta tunnels project, if built, would be one of the most expensive and illplanned projects in the country it would consist of two 40foot wide tunnels, placed 150 feet underground, running 35miles within the sacramentosan joaquin bay delta. An introduction to californias delta tunnel and salmon controversy. Release of partially recirculated draft environmental impact. The afb has absorbed almost all of this growth, because of the lack of. Update on delta tunnel project 08102015 03242020 restore the delta has just released a sidebyside comparison of two massive public works projects in california that looks at the promised costs, seismic risks, outsourcing, and lack of transparency and oversight.
The rfp for professional engineering services is the first step to advance and develop the delta tunnel project from the conceptual design level through final design. But when youre governor jerry brown, even one step forward can seem like two steps back. In the world of california water, nothing is a sure thing. Jerry browns multibilliondollar watertunnel system, the project calls for the installation of two tunnels, each 40 feet in diameter and 35 miles long, to be built beneath the sacramentosan joaquin delta. Each tunnel would be 150 feet below ground, 40 feet in diameter and 30 miles in length. Publicise the procurement schedule for new contracts within the international tunnelling industry. The twin tunnel water project would create two sidebyside underground tunnels to carry fresh water from the sacramento river to tracy. Delta tunnels impacts on baydelta water quality operation of the proposed delta tunnels, according to the department of water resources recirculated environmental impact report, will reduce essential fresh water flows through the delta to suisun bay and san francisco bay.
From 1967 through 2015, populations of striped bass, delta smelt, longfin smelt, american shad, splittail and threadfin shad. The california tunnels project, now referred to by its proponents as the waterfix. Chevron australias wheatstone micro tunnel links a 225 kilometre offshore gas pipeline to the onshore processing facilities. Delta water conveyance tunnels june 14, 2012 summary this report is the first comprehensive economic benefitcost analysis of the water conveyance tunnels at the center of the bay delta conservation plan bdcp. Upcoming tunneling projects tunnel geotill provides. We find the tunnel is not economically justified, because the costs of the tunnel are 2. An introduction to californias delta tunnel and salmon. Delta conveyance project nop department of water resources.
Construction is envisioned to utilize pressurized face tunnel boring machines tbm with a segmental lining for initial support. Moving water directly to the pumps could be less confusing to the fish, moyle said. Earlier designs called for a canal to skirt the delta to the east, hence its name. Bay delta conservation plancalifornia waterfix ceq.
Water quality impacts of the delta tunnels project by tim stroshane. The delta cost project database is updated with 201415 data. Supporters say the proposed tunnels could help solve both problems. Benefitcost analysis of the california waterfix university of the. In july of 2015, after taking public and agency input into account, the lead agencies formulated. The seventeen billiondollar plan to build two tunnels under the sacramentosan joaquin delta delta in california, currently known as california waterfix ca waterfix, has been a concern for. Update on delta tunnel project bass angler magazine. The proposed tunnel project would provide greater protection against sudden. California water wars in the delta snug harbor resort. Delta water tunnel project revised again, but concerns linger two massive tunnels proposed under the sacramentosan joaquin delta could help ease future droughts, but some say the risks are too great. The single main tunnel would follow one of two potential optional corridors as. Benefit cost analysis of delta water conveyance tunnels. In effect, the 50year guarantee to restore the deltas environment has been dropped.
Jerry browns administration is overhauling its proposal for a controversial tunnel project in the sacramentosan joaquin delta in the wake of doubts about whether water exporters can meet stringent federal conditions for operating the system over a 50year period. As one of the communities most directly impacted by this project, delta will provide. Stcda president karen mann displaying our new signs. Combined traffic growth at these two crossings has averaged 0. In addition, although not part of the waterfix project, the state of california has. Calendar year 2015 report to the rio grande compact. Delta tunnel the peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Restore the delta joins lawsuit against delta tunnels project. These data have been translated into analytical formats to allow for longitudinal analyses of trends in postsecondary education with a focus on revenues and expenditures. Sierra club opposes the delta tunnels project and is participating in the phase of the hearings regarding environmental impacts. The peripheral canal, which since 2015 has been called the california waterfix, was a planned twin fortyfoot 12 m tunnel project that would extend through the center of the delta, 150 feet 46 m below ground. The california waterfix is a slightly modified version of the delta tunnels that were originally the.
Governor browns delta tunnels project will have serious detrimental water quality impacts on. Save the california delta alliance stcda has filed its third lawsuit to stop the delta twin tunnels, sept. Delta tunnels plan draws protest the sacramento bee. Federal scientists find delta tunnels plan will devastate salmon. Assemblywoman susan talamantes eggman dstockton speaks, on the north steps of the state capitol in sacramento in opposition of the states proposed delta tunnel project on. Another project is building a huge levee to protect west sacramento.
Planning and engineering services for the mokelumne. The seattle tunnel, a single tunnel, will eventually be. Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement, revisions to the coordinated longterm operations of the central valley project and state water project, and related facilties january 31, 2018 pdf. By financing twothirds of the project, it will control far more tunnel capacity than it needs for its own customers.
Cost overruns on the massive project like the multibilliondollar price jumps that affected the bay bridge and. Order reprint restore the deltas barbara barriganparrilla speaks friday at the capitol in opposition to the delta tunnel project. Sacramento delta habitat conservation and conveyance program the delta habitat conservation and conveyance program dhccp is a. Restore the delta campaigns so that all californians recognize the sacramentosan joaquin bay. The primary state agency responsible for the delta tunnels project could run out of money soon, requiring tens of millions of dollars to move forward, said a new report by californias legislative analysts office. Department of the interior bureau of reclamation albuquerque area office albuquerque, new mexico march 2016. It is noted that additional geotechnical investigation work has been carried out by golder as part of the overall george massey tunnel replacement project and the results of this investigation work is presented in separate factual reports. Californias waterstealing delta tunnels could be approved in september.
In april 2015, the habitat restoration plan and the water supply improvement. Water would travel south to farms in the central valley and urban areas in the east and south bay and in southern california. Jerry browns pet projects face threat from ballot measure. Acreage cited in comments by local agencies of the north delta on the. Stakeholders weigh in on who pays for californias multimillion dollar project. Impacts of downsizing the delta twin tunnels project. The geotechnical exploration should be completed by march 2015. Delta water tunnel project revised again, but concerns. Road at green slough in delta, bc during september and october, 2015, as authorized by moti. This weekend, the sacramento bee ran a piece explaining the status of the tunnels proponents efforts to build the tunnel.
It does not require a 50year permit by federal agencies. In april 2015, the habitat restoration plan and the water supply improvement plan were separated. Calendar year 2015 report to the rio grande compact commission. The delta conveyance project will also involve federal agencies that must comply with the national environmental policy act nepa, likely requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement eis. Stop the delta tunnels project take a stand and stop the. Afb serve traffic demand between surreydelta and vancouverrichmond. Newsom pulls delta tunnels permits, takes steps for one.
Farmers in the delta are among the most opposed to the project because it would. Water quality impacts of the delta tunnels project by tim stroshane, policy analyst august 27, 2015 pdf dante nomellini, the peripheral. A coalition of conservation groups is suing the california department of water resources over its approval of the controversial delta tunnels project. Modeling shows that longterm average sacramento river flows below the north.
The kern county water agency and the westlands water district, despite already receiving the majority of the water exported from the bay delta, are demanding more water. Chris clarke was kcet s environment editor until july 2017. The tunnel project is as big or bigger than the english channel tunnel and bostons big dig. In april2015, reclamation and dwr announced fundamental. He is a veteran environmental journalist and natural history writer. Delta to the state water project swp and central valley project cvp. Benefitcost analysis of the tunnel conveyance has been called for in numerous reports and. Save the california delta alliances 2015 administrative comments on the eir. Westside purple line extension final supplemental environmental impact statement and section 4f evaluation appendix l. In addition, funds from the voterapproved water bond, proposition 1, will be used for the projects required habitat restoration even though voters were promised no money from proposition 1 would be used for the delta tunnels project. Federal scientists find delta tunnels plan will devastate.