Support for Governor Newsom’s Delta Conveyance Project streamlining bill continues to grow
June 11, 2025
Coalition letters signed by Legislators and a statewide coalition of more than 120 organizations, including more groups from the Inland Empire, submitted letters in support of the Governor’s Trailer Bill
Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bill to streamline the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) continues to garner support from legislators and a broad and growing coalition of 120 organizations—including labor, business, social justice advocates, local governments, and water agencies. Groups from the Inland Empire also offered a strong letter of support for the project.
The Governor’s budget trailer bill will help modernize California’s aging water infrastructure, protect water security for millions of Californians, and address the costly and redundant obstacles that have stalled critical projects like the DCP for years—all while maintaining strong environmental protections for Delta communities and habitats.
Twenty-eight legislators voiced their support for the bill to ensure that the State Water Project is prepared for the impacts of climate change:
“Most major water systems – including the State Water Project – were built for a more predictable bygone pattern of precipitation and are not equipped for the stronger storms, deeper droughts, and abrupt swings driven by climate change. The system simply cannot capture the type of big flows now becoming more common, and that must change. Without action, the ability of the State Water Project to reliably deliver water to homes, farms, and businesses will decline”.
Organizations from the Inland Empire, one of the fastest growing regions in the state, support the project because it is central to supporting the region’s efforts to develop local supplies of water. Water conveyed through the State Water Project is critical to ensure that water remains clean and affordable for the region’s residents.
“San Bernardino and Riverside counties are home to over five million Southern Californian residents and one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Water agencies, through their ratepayers, have invested BILLIONS of dollars to ensure water supply reliability through recycled water, water-use efficiency, stormwater capture, brackish desalination and water conservation. These efforts have reduced our reliance on imported water, but imported supplies remain crucial to ensuring safe and affordable water for all residents of the Inland Empire.”
And lastly, a broad coalition of more than 120 diverse organizations from across California have unified in support of the bill:
“For decades, the Delta Conveyance Project has been stalled by frivolous lawsuits and duplicative reviews. These are the universal problems facing major infrastructure throughout California, and foundational to why it is so difficult to do big things in our state and bring major infrastructure to completion.
The budget trailer bill proposal restores balance to this process – ensuring legitimate concerns are addressed, while removing tools for obstruction and delay. Every year of delay in construction of the DCP costs California’s water ratepayers – including nearly 8 million people living in disadvantaged communities – approximately $600 million. The budget trailer bill proposal reduces bureaucratic red tape, which translates into real savings for Californians and for the State budget.”
You can read each of the coalition letters here:
Read the Legislators letter here.
Read the Inland Empire coalition letter here.
Read the Coalition support letter here.
Dozens of leaders from groups ranging from the California NAACP to the California Chamber of Commerce have also voiced their strong support:
“As climate change casts a shadow of uncertainty, this question of affordability balanced with reliability looms squarely over the shoulders of disadvantaged communities who suffer a historic and disproportionate share of economic, health, and environmental burdens,” said Rick Callender, President, California Hawaii State Conference NAACP. “By moving the Delta Conveyance Project forward, California is making a commitment to protecting the State Water Project and the communities that rely on this system for their water. We applaud the Governor for moving this project forward.”
“For too long, attempts to modernize our water infrastructure have become mired in endless red tape and our processes have been exploited by unnecessary delay,” said Jennifer Barrera, President & CEO, California Chamber of Commerce. “The Governor’s proposal removes barriers to innovation and advancement for our state’s water system, while protecting the environment and meeting all regulatory and operational requirements.”
About Californians for Water Security
CWS is a growing coalition of more than 12,000 California citizens and more than 80 organizations representing business leaders, labor, family farmers, local governments, water experts, infrastructure groups, taxpayer associations, and others who support the plan to fix California’s broken water distribution system. The coalition is waging an active advertising, grassroots lobbying, social media and public advocacy campaign to support this important project to fix our aging water distribution infrastructure and improve water reliability and security throughout the state. For more information on Californians for Water Security, visit: www.watersecurityca.com