The State Water Project is a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations, canals, and pipelines that brings water from Northern California to the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California. Construction began in the 1960s, with the first deliveries to the Bay Area in 1962, the Central Valley in 1968, and Southern California south of the Tehachapi Mountains in 1973.
A major feature of the State Water Project is the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Station, located in the southern portion of the Sacramento River Delta northwest of Tracy. The Banks Pumping Station lifts water into the California Aqueduct, which carries it south.
A variety of environmental concerns limit the operation of the Banks Pumping Station. These include the occasional presence of the federally protected Delta Smelt, the need to preserve adequate river flow for salmon runs, and controlling saltwater intrusion from San Francisco Bay into the central and upper Delta.
Over the decades, several efforts have been proposed to divert water farther upstream and avoid harming the Delta Smelt. These include the Peripheral Canal, California WaterFix (two tunnels around and under the Delta), and now the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), a single tunnel alternative. Environmental review of the DCP has been completed, but permitting has stagnated due to opposition from communities near the proposed construction and concerns that water could be diverted at the expense of fish populations or Delta water quality.
Governor Newsom has taken the unusual step of including measures to expedite DCP permitting and legal review—as well as authorizing the State Department of Water Resources to issue bonds to fund the project—in a package of budget trailer bills. These bonds would be repaid by State Water Project users, not taxpayers. Budget trailer bills receive faster legislative review than traditional bills, and under the State Constitution, the Legislature must adopt a budget by June 30. Newsom has said he hopes to see DCP construction begin before his term ends in January 2027.
The DCP would allow water to move around the Delta without shutting down the Banks Pumping Station when Delta Smelt are present, since they do not travel as far upstream as the DCP intake. It would not operate when flows are needed for salmon spawning or to prevent saltwater intrusion. The tunnel could also help reduce flood risk by capturing some high flows and protecting levees.
Not having the DCP available during recent wet years meant large volumes of water flowed through San Francisco Bay and into the ocean with no environmental benefit:
In winter 2021–22, 236,000 acre-feet of water—enough to serve more than 2.5 million people—was lost.
In January 2022 alone, 228,000 acre-feet—enough for more than 2.3 million people—was lost.
From Jan. 1 through June 13, 2024, 941,000 acre-feet of water—enough to serve 9.8 million people—was lost.
Southern California utilities are investing in ways to store more water when it’s available, including new surface reservoirs and expanded underground storage. But to prepare for dry years, we need both the additional water the DCP can deliver and more places to store it.
We should know in the next few weeks whether the governor’s approach to expediting the DCP proves successful.
A Riverside resident of 50+ years, Mike served on the City Council for 12 years, 11 years on the State Seismic Safety Commission, and is currently on the Western Municipal Water District Board.
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