Bay delta conservation plan tunnels the book

With the close of comments this week on the california water fix or the delta tunnels project, i have been receiving a. The delta conservation framework is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource and guide for planning conservation in the delta through 2050. The bdcp could not adequately provide for habitat restoration or the construction and operation of the two massive twin tunnels. Why nrdc opposes the bay delta conservation plan nrdc. Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta conservation plan by dan bacher on april 30 at a press conference in oakland, governor jerry brown and federal officials unveiled controversial plans that they claim accelerate restoration of the deltas ecosystem and fix the states aging water infrastructure by building two massive underground tunnels. In an effort to stabilize the sacramentosacramento river deltas fisheries and water supply, the bay delta conservation plan proposes building a tunnel to transfer water from the sacramento river.

Frobish performs multiphase fluid flow experiments throughout the delta. It would create a costly pair of giant tunnels to divert deltabound water directly from the sacramento river. The california water fix, as its now called, was proposed by gov. Pumps create such a powerful suction that the boundary between freshwater.

Jerry browns new proposal for water export tunnels, but it might actually. System of tunnels, levee reconstruction best approach to protecting state, silicon valley water supply share this. The framework provides a template for regional and stakeholderled approaches to restoring ecosystem functions to the delta landscape. No bay delta tunnels campaign cspa news and archives. The tunnels are the linchpin of the bay delta conservation plan bdcp, a draft of the environmental impact assessment for which was released tuesday by the california. San francisco baysacramento san joaquin delta estuary. The project, formerly known as the bay delta conservation plan, would build two massive tunnels beneath the sacramentosan joaquin river delta, replacing the northern portion of the state water.

Financing the tunnels would impose billions of dollars of tax and water rate increases on all californians to enrich a few large and powerful agribusinesses and oil companies. Fresh, clean, water supports the delta, the largest nursery for california fisheries, the largest pacific coast fly. Following the demise of calfed, the continuing collapse of delta fisheries and the prospect of more restrictive endangered species act esa limitations on delta. Tunnel opponents blast governors revised bay delta. Bay delta plan a solid start for water future sfgate. At the june 24th meeting of metropolitan water districts special committee on the bay delta, committee members heard a presentation on the seismic performance for the proposed twin tunnels, the centerpiece of the bay delta conservation plan. Then schwarzenegger began the bay delta conservation plan. Bay delta conservation plan center for watershed sciences. An introduction to californias delta tunnel and salmon. Delta tunnel is a big drain compared to bullet train. The bay delta conservation plan, supported by the brown and obama administrations, would restore thousands of acres of delta habitat and install 30mile tunnels as an alternative way to deliver. Before the california water fix, there was the bay delta conservation plan bay delta science conference.

The bay delta conservation plan was a habitat conservation plan proposed by the california department of water resources, u. Ultimately, the project would move water toward the thirsty cities and. Map of proposed bay delta tunnels on july 25, california gov. Gayle vaughan is a resident of the north bay area and an avid sailor. Stockton record may 20, 2014 speaking as a member of the delta independent science board, jay lund said the bay delta conservation plan as gov. Under his leadership, the council released a delta plan that creates a clear path to the construction of the delta tunnels.

Tunneling under californias bay delta water wars tunneling under. Tunnel proponents have come up with the bay delta conservation plan as a way to mislead people about the actual impact that the twin tunnels would have on the san francisco bay delta. First, on december 12, 2018, through state water board resolution no. The tunnels could grab the sacramento river, which is the main supply of fresh water in the delta, san joaquin county, and the entire san francisco baydelta estuary. Under development for eight years, the bay delta conservation plan calls for building two underground tunnels, 40 feet across and 30 miles long, to send water from the sacramento river around the. For nearly 30 years, the bay institute has been developing and leading model scientific research, habitat restoration, education and advocacy programs to preserve californias most important. The baydelta plan is being updated through two separate processes plan amendments. The bay institute is a leader in protecting, restoring and inspiring conservation of san francisco bay and its watershed from the sierra to the sea.

Science panel faults bay delta conservation plan the new. It also serves as important habitat to more than 750 animal and plant species, including more than 40 aquatic species. Stop the delta tunnels project take a stand and stop the. Bay delta conservation plan water education foundation. Jerry brown to revise plan for twin water tunnels in delta. Jerry brown announced to an expectant press corps that the state plans to construct a pair of multibilliondollar tunnels under the. I argue that the bay delta conservation plan, which represents the largest. Changes announced for california bay delta conservation plan. Bay delta conservation plan the bay delta conservation plan is a permitting process for longterm project permits for the sacramentosan joaquin delta that centers on coequal goals of species conservation and improving water supplies and delivery. The warring forces farmers who need irrigation water on one side, environmentalists and fishermen seeking water to maintain endangered fish populations on the other have tried to reach agreement or, in current parlance, to achieve coequal goals, under the auspices of statecreated umbrella known as the bay delta conservation plan. The california department of water resources is changing the bay delta conservation plan. The project, known as the bay delta conservation plan, calls for the construction of two tunnels, 40 feet in diameter and 30 miles long, to. Brown tells critics of water tunnels project to shut up.

The draft bay delta conservation plan still outlines the need for three enormous water intakes on the sacramento river and two 40footdiameter, 30milelong tunnels to bypass the system of. Studies indicate that reduced water flows into, through and out of the delta damage water. An associated project, known as the california waterfix, would have to meet the standards of the bay delta plan and includes the construction of two massive delivery tunnels around the delta, the current source for much of the water transported to southern california farms and cities. The tunnels would divert millions of acrefeet of water from rivers before it reaches the baydelta.

Delta conservation framework california department of. 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. Frobish is an occasional contributor to the california waterblog and director of life enrichment for the uc davis center for watershed sciences. Harvest, hatchery returns, and straying of salmon released at bay and delta sites during californias drought. The bay delta conservation plan in the nutshell of california water. The peripheral canal was a series of proposals starting in the 1940s to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta, to uses farther south. The bay delta and the twin tunnels butte environmental. The deeplyflawed plan has been contested by 7 lawsuits from a diverse. Diverting the sacramento river, which constitutes 80 percent of the freshwater flow into the san francisco bay delta. The baydelta conservation plan bdcp, through which the brown administration proposes to move unknown new amounts of water out of the sensitive san francisco bay delta, is not the right plan for the 21st century. Bay delta conservation plan california waterfix san francisco.

It would consist of two 40foot wide tunnels, placed 150 feet underground, running 35miles within the sacramentosan joaquin bay delta. Bdcp fact sheet and contact information of representatives and water representatives. California water fix and eco restore, formerly known as the bay delta conservation plan, is a. Really, the idea that two massive tunnels would be built in the delta was always well, a pipe dream, says. A plan to build two tunnels that would divert water from sacramento to san joaquin valley farms poses a dire threat to salmon, according to a bay area salmon protection group. Bay delta conservation plan could tunnel california funds. The twin tunnels are outberkeley experts say thats a good thing. Thousands of sandhill cranes winter in the delta, roosting in shallow wetlands and foraging on nearby farmlands. Document and comments library blogs and background jump to cspas better solution without the bay delta tunnels. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp steering committee is preparing a draft habitat conservation plan hcp and natural communities conservation plan nccp for the sacramento sanjoaquin delta delta, expected to be available for public comment by the end of 2010. The delta tunnels project, if built, would be one of the most expensive and illplanned projects in the country.

The states plan to build two tunnels to carry water from the. Brown and the california department of water resources in 2009, when they pitched it as the bay delta conservation plan. The links between delta tunnels and faux marine protected. Here, you will find her summaries, reflections and concerns with the proposed bay delta conservation plan as she embarks on a four month journey to read the 34,000 page plan. The bay delta conservation plan bdcp includes conservation actions for 57 plant and wildlife species, including the greater sandhill crane, believed to be one of the worlds oldest bird species.

Jerry browns twin tunnels plan is formally known contains too many flaws. On the other hand, the bay delta conservation plan process began under the bush and schwarzenegger administrations to achieve the socalled. Bay delta conservation plan archives mavens notebook. Water movement in the sacramentosan joaquin delta our delta duration. In short, there must always be a minimum sacramento river flow before water could be diverted through the tunnels. Rail authority is five times higher than the proposed bay delta water conveyance tunnel. The peripheral canal is a recurring proposal to divert water from californias sacramento river, around the periphery of the san joaquinsacramento river delta. Bay delta conservation plantwin tunnels project input.

I dont think the document was organized to provide a convincing or particularly solid justification for the project, though. Browns abandonment of habitat restoration in his bay delta conservation plan bdcp tunnels scheme by saying the new plan violates the statutory co. In santa clarita, we depend on the sierra nevada snow pack that flows through the sacramentosan joaquin delta. Fishing and conservation groups sue to block delta tunnels. If approved, the plan would become a habitat conservation plan hcp under the federal endangered species act and a natural communities conservation plan nccp. Federal agencies would not approve a 50year permit in the bay delta conservation plan bdcp because it did not provide for environmental assurances over that 50year term. A revised bay delta conservation plan moves a forebay for the controversial peripheral tunnels for water further east and shrinks the. The tunnels would divert water from the sacramento river to water users south of the delta. The presentation included details on the seismic design criteria and the construction of the tunnel and its lining.