Yesterday, a coalition of conservation groups that included Restore the Delta, the CSPA, the Sierra Club, the Winnemem Wintu, and others sent a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein, asking for all relevant financial, fiscal and economic data and information regarding the Delta tunnels financing be released the public, and specifically the project costs and repayment strategy for the Central Valley Project contractors.
Here’s what the letter said:
“We seek your assistance in obtaining presently unavailable and undisclosed data and financial information from Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) regarding how Central Valley Project (CVP) water contractors will pay the proposed 45% share (approximately $8 Billion) of the approximately $17 billion dollars (currently estimated) that will be required for the planning, engineering and construction of the Delta tunnel project currently called Cal Water Fix .
Over many years, we have diligently participated in the public process of evaluating costs and benefits of the water export tunnel project. Throughout this time we have repeatedly sought financial data, fiscal information and legal pledges that would detail project commitment and project funding. This information is critical to public review and understanding of the project.
To date, however, the requested data and financial information has been withheld by Reclamation and DWR, apparently with the intent of preventing the public from understanding the shaky financial underpinnings of the project. … “
Click here to read the letter.
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