This is how the Governor describes his plan for the Delta:
"Central to the life of our state is water and one sixth of that water flows through the San Joaquin Delta. Silicon Valley, the Livermore Valley, farmers on the East side of the San Joaquin Valley between Fresno and Kern County and farmers on the West side between Tracy and Los Banos, urban Southern California and Northern Contra Costa, all are critically dependent on the Delta for water.
If because of an earthquake, a hundred year storm or sea level rise, the Delta fails, the disaster would be comparable to Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy: losses of at least $100 billion and 40,000 jobs. I am going to do whatever I can to make sure that does not happen. My proposed plan is two tunnels 30 miles long and 40 feet wide, designed to improve the ecology of the Delta, with almost 100 square miles of habitat restoration. Yes, that is big but so is the problem.
The London Olympics lasted a short while and cost $14 billion, about the same cost of this project. But, this project will serve California for hundreds of years."
About the Delta Project
The Contra Costa Water District supplies 500,000 customers with water from the Delta. The project's goal is to allow freshwater to flow from the Bay Area to San Diego allowing for the irrigation of three million acres of farmland.
Immediate reactions -
Supporters
The California State Water Contractors thanked the Governor for making this project a priority for his 2013 administration. They emphasize the Delta's vulnerability and the importance of investing in its infrastructure which will secure the state's water supply.
About the State Water Contractors
It is a non-profit association of 27 public agencies from Northern, Central and Southern California that purchase water under contract from the California State Water Project. Their commitment is to promote reliable and safe drinking water.
Opponents
The opposition believes that the project could destroy the already fragile ecosystem of the Delta
The President of the Golden Gate Salmon Association is concerned that the project will adversely impact salmon runs
What do you think?
