LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California, issues the following statement on
today’s announcement by the Newsom Administration to begin the
environmental review process for the construction of a single-tunnel
project to modernize conveyance through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
and improve water supply reliability for the state.
“We are pleased that Gov. Newsom’s Administration has reaffirmed a
strong commitment to modernize the state’s water delivery infrastructure
with a single-tunnel project in the Delta. We will work with the
administration to expeditiously advance a project that is long overdue
to both meet the water reliability needs of the state and minimize
impacts to the communities and ecology of the Delta.
“Governor Newsom and Natural Resources Secretary Crowfoot recognize that
the status quo in the Delta is simply not an option. New conveyance is
essential. The current system is already outdated and vulnerable;
climate change will further stress it with a future of sea level rise
and increasingly intense floods and droughts. We must work together to
update California’s infrastructure and make our water supply more
climate resilient.”
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a
state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail
suppliers, provide water for nearly 19 million people in six counties.
The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern
California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to
develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other
resource-management programs.
Contacts
Maritza Fairfield, (213) 217-6853; (909) 816-7722, mobile
Bob Muir
(213) 217-6930; (213) 324-5213, mobile
