From the Department of Water Resources:
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released and is now accepting comments on the proposed Delta Conveyance Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) through October 27, 2022. Everyone is invited to visit the Draft EIR website to access the document and accompanying informational resources and learn more about the proposed project and the public review process, including public hearing details and commenting opportunities.
The Draft EIR was prepared by DWR as the lead agency to comply with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act by evaluating a range of alternatives to the proposed project and disclosing potential environmental effects of the proposed project and alternatives, and associated mitigation measures for potentially significant impacts. No decisions will be made until the conclusion of the environmental review process, after consideration of public comments submitted on the Draft EIR and issuing a Final EIR. At that time, DWR will determine whether to approve the proposed project, an alternative or no project.
What: Public comment period for the Delta Conveyance Project Draft EIR
When: Comment period: July 27, 2022 – October 27, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
Where:
- Review Online: www.
deltaconveyanceproject.com - Review In-Person: A digital copy of the Draft EIR is available at the following locations:
- DWR Office: 3500 Industrial Blvd., Room 117, West Sacramento, CA 95691
- Libraries: A full list of libraries across the state where the public can access the Draft EIR can be found here
How:
Members of the public and other interested parties can submit comments on the Draft EIR in the following ways:
- Email: deltaconveyancecomments
@water.ca.gov - Online: www.
deltaconveyanceproject.com - U.S. Mail: CA Department of Water Resources, Attn: Delta Conveyance Office, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001
- Virtual Public Hearing: Provide verbal public comment at a virtual public hearing
- Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, September 22, 2022, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 28, 2022, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
About the Delta Conveyance Project: The purpose of the proposed Delta Conveyance Project is to upgrade the aging State Water Project (SWP) water transport infrastructure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) to protect the reliability of this important water supply. In pursuing this project, DWR seeks to address the effects of sea level rise and climate change, minimize water supply disruption caused by an earthquake and provide operational flexibility to improve aquatic conditions in the Delta.
The proposed Delta Conveyance Project would modernize the infrastructure used to move water through the Delta by adding new facilities in the north Delta to divert water and convey it through a tunnel to the SWP distribution facilities in the southern Delta. If approved, these infrastructure updates would help ensure climate resiliency and improve the reliability of the SWP. As the state’s largest source of safe, affordable, and clean water, the SWP serves 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland, and supports local water supply projects, such as local storage, recycling, groundwater recharge and water quality management.
Delta infrastructure is a vital component of California’s water distribution system and a critical link in how water is moved to all parts of the state. However, this infrastructure is outdated and at risk due to sea level rise and seismic activity. The infrastructure updates proposed as part of the Delta Conveyance Project would give DWR the flexibility to capture, move, and store water – consistent with all regulatory requirements – when it becomes available for use when supplies may otherwise be limited.
Thank you for your participation in the environmental review process for this important project.
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