Options: Delta Conveyance Project compared with IPHROS

The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of southern California voted in support of the Delta Conveyance Project to fund $141 million for further study. This "latest version of a long-proposed tunnel would bring water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farms and cities in the southern part of the state." (1) The article notes many questions and concerns remain. In 2020, the project was estimated to cost about $16 billion, but it increased to $20.1 billion in 2023.

California Governor Gavin Newsom supports the project, and he recently met with the MWD. California State Natural Resources Secretary, Wade Crowfoot, also spoke at a recent meeting to garner MWD leadership support. "Crowfoot reiterated the Newsom administration’s position that building the tunnel is essential to modernize the state’s infrastructure for more severe droughts and deluges with climate change, and to withstand sea-level rise and the risks of an earthquake that could put existing infrastructure out of commission." “We need in coming decades to keep this source of plentiful, cheap water moving across California,” Crowfoot told the board. “This is a cornerstone project of our water resilience.” (2)

"The board voted overwhelmingly to support providing the funds the state requested.

A single board member, Mark Gold, voted no. Gold, who represents Santa Monica, raised various concerns and questions during a committee meeting Monday. He pointed out there are currently about 10 lawsuits in which environmental groups, local agencies and tribes are seeking to block the state’s plans. Gold noted that state regulators also are in the midst of a contentious process updating California’s plan for managing water in the Delta." (2)

IPHROS is an idea that should be funded for study as an alternative including a more localized approach for water security. Additionally, IPHROS would provide clean energy integrated in the same process. Local, affordable clean water and clean energy in the same process.

Sources:

1. Article written by Brandon Downs at CBS Sacramento Dec 11, 2024.

2. Article written by Ian James at Los Angeles Times Dec 10, 2024.