Rep. McNerney Blasts "WaterFix" Tunnels Plan that would Devastate the Delta Region

Press Release

Today, standing in the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) held a press conference where he voiced his opposition to Governor Jerry Brown's "WaterFix" tunnels plan, and explained why this ill-advised plan would devastate the Delta's fragile ecosystem and hurt the families, farmers, and businesses in the region. Rep. McNerney stressed his position while the public comment period for the "WaterFix" tunnels plan environmental review documents remains open through the end of October. The Congressman also highlighted why the plan is not the right solution for managing California's water supply, and the need to pursue alternative, forward-thinking solutions.

"Red flags have been raised across the board on the Governor's tunnels plan that does nothing to fix the state's existing water supply management and severe drought problems. From the underlying science and environmental impacts to the projected financial costs, this "fix' is riddled with uncertainty every step of the way," said Rep. McNerney. "The only thing clear is that the tunnels are a repackaging of old ideas that waste billions of dollars and threaten the way of life for an entire region without creating a single new drop of water."

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"Construction from the tunnels would cause serious disruption and irreparable damage to farms, communities, and the environment. While we cannot afford to waste money on this wrong, outdated approach, we also cannot just say no," added Rep. McNerney. "We should be using our resources to fund innovative, forward-thinking solutions that create new water and take pressure off the Delta by boosting regional self-sufficiency across the state."

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