Congressman Josh Harder uses the State of California’s own words to make his case to make it impossible for the $20 billion Delta bypass tunnel to be built.

It would:

*Increase salinity.

*Devastate San Joaquin County agricultural production.

*Deteriorate critical ecological systems that fish rely on.

*Land a severe economic blow to the region.

And just how would Harder make it impossible from his position in Congress to pull the plug on a state water project pushed by urban Southern California and large southern San Joaquin Valley corporate farm concerns?

Harder is pushing for the adoption of legislation directing the Army Corps of Engineers not to issue a required permit to allow federally controlled Central Valley Project water — essentially flows from Shasta Dam — to be diverted into the proposed tunnel south of Sacramento.

Without the permit or the participation of the federal Bureau of Reclamation, the tunnel can’t be built or the water diverted.

Harder called the state’s proposal to address the environmental and economic havoc the tunnel project would create by providing one-time funds of $250 million to local entities to help cope with the long-term problems the project will create as “outrageous.”

“It’s not even a drop in the bucket,” Harder said.

Harder pointed to toxic algal blooms — just one part of the long list of negative impacts — to illustrate how the tunnel would deteriorate the quality of life in and around the Delta as well as create regional health hazards.

The environmental impact report noted the diversion of water would likely increase the growth of such toxic algal blooms.

The Centers for Disease Control note such blooms cause a variety of mild to serious illness for humans and can be deadly for animals.

Harder said he has enlisted bipartisan support within the California delegation — basically the Central Valley, the Bay Area, and Northern California.

Beyond the state’s borders, Harder said it is more of a challenge given most others in Congress have never heard of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

He is working to change that in the roughly two year time frame until the state is expected to formerly ask for the required federal permits.

Harder noted the San Joaquin Valley — which would be significantly impacted by the tunnel  produces 40 percent of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

The ripple effect of the tunnel would take land out of production, reduce farm production and drive up prices nationally.

“(The EIR )acknowledges what we’ve known all along: the Delta Tunnel is meant to benefit Beverly Hills and leave Delta communities out to dry,” Harder said.

Among the project’s negative impacts:

*3,787plus converted acres of prime, unique farmland along with more saline water and reduced crops.

*70 plus significant impacts requiring mitigation.

*17 plus significant impacts on Delta communities identified, including noise, air quality, aesthetics, and agriculture.

*$20 billion cost to statewide ratepayers.

*13 plus years of disruptive construction across 6 counties with 4,383,500+ truck trips on Delta roads.

*Massive water intake structures on top of productive farms and adjacent to Delta legacy communities

The 40-foot diameter tunnel proposed 150 feet below the ground is almost universally opposed in the region.

Nowhere is that truer than in San Joaquín County that has the bulk of the Delta that will negatively be impacted by the bypass of water via a tunnel to reach the California Aqueduct pumps northwest of Tracy.

Environmental report concludes

tunnel  will have major impacts

on San Joaquín County

The Army Corps of Engineers’ 691-page Environmental Impact Study on the proposed Delta determined building the tunnel will have major impacts on San Joaquín County as well as the Northern San Joaquin Valley including agricultural, local water supply, air quality, endangered species, and essential fish habitat.

The tunnel — if built — could have domino impacts beyond the actual project.

That’s because courts and the state will be pressed to  seek to replace water that is now used for environmental purposes to keep salt water at bay, and sustain ecological systems before being diverting into the California Aqueduct northwest of Tracy.

By diverting the water into a tunnel south of Sacramento to bypass the Delta to reach the pumping station it would result in higher saltwater intrusion farther east in the Delta especially during droughts.

The most likely target to replace the water are the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced river watersheds that are key to the economic vitality of Northern San Joaquin Valley urban areas and farming as well as regional ecological systems.
 Harder along with fellow Congress member John Garamendi in July 2022 introduced an amendment to prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing a Clean Water Act permit for the tunnel

Their argument is the tunnel would rob the Delta of the benefit of Sacramento River water that currently flows through it on the way to the pumps at the head of the California Aqueduct northwest of Tracy.

That would impact not just the quality of water but it would reduce the volume which in turn can raise water temperatures than can be fatal to fish as it robs water of dissolved oxygen. At the same time less water in the Delta means salt water would push farther to the east toward Stockton, Lathrop, and Manteca.

Potential fallout for San Joaquin County, which has the largest land mass within the Delta region, include:

*Extensive damage to the Delta ecological system.

*Negative impact on fish including the endangered Chinook salmon.

*Long-range issues with saltwater intrusion impacting water supplies the cities of Lathrop, Tracy, Manteca, and Stockton take from the underground aquifer that is impacting when fresh water levels above and below  the surface in the Delta drop.

*The quality and sustainability of Delta recreational opportunities.

*Tens of thousands of  acres of farmland, some of the richest agricultural ground in the world, could go out of production.

*Domestic water supplies would be impacted.

The state’s Delta tunnel plan benefits the massive Metropolitan Water District in Southern California, several East Bay cities as well as  billionaire and corporate farmers in West Kern County. 

Originally it was rolled out as a twin tunnel plan with the idea of protecting Delta water supplies for Southern California in the event that earthquakes collapsed Delta levee. It has since been scaled back to one tunnel.

The justification has morphed into one where the project is now justified to combat anticipated rises in sea level not by protecting the Delta from intrusion with a  seawall or such but by diverting water to users in the south state taken from Northern California via a tunnel.

As such it would rob the Delta of water flows that for centuries has helped sustain fish and the Delta’s unique ecological system that serves as the biggest estuary along the Pacific Flyway.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com