Delta Tunnel

What Is The Delta Tunnel?

The Delta Tunnel project is the latest version of a massive water infrastructure project that would divert water from the Sacramento River at Hood and Courtland, and put it in a 40+ mile tunnel 40 feet access to be exported to State Water Project contractors. Could also be used for wheeling Central Valley Project water.

Other names:

Peripheral Canal (1940's to 1982)
Bay Delta Conservation Plan (2008-2014)
Californias Water Fix (2015-2019)
Delta Conveyance (current)

Why Is The Tunnel So Damaging?

It takes water out at the top of the delta, so less fresh water goes through the delta.

Conveyance of Previously Stored Water with Proposed Project

Primarily in the summer, previously stored water in the Oroville is released as inflow into the Delta
Some of the flow passes through cross channels to the central and south Delta export locations and some would be diverted through the tunnel
This alternative path to the exports would lessen the saline ocean water entering into the Delta interior and lessen the need for additional water for Delta outflow

Map showing current flow of Delta and how tunnel will divert water

It's magnitude, Construction, and the Cost

Map showing different proposed routes of the tunnels by California Department of Water Resources

Routes For The Tunnel Being Considered By The CA Department Of Water Resource

Project would include:

Two 3,000 cubic feet per second intakes at Hood and Courtland (each almost 1 mile long)
40+ miles of 40’ in diameter tunnel buried 150 feet down with shafts
Southern Complex Facilities: Pump Station, Forebay
14 years of construction
Heavy truck trips on I-5 and local roads (200,000+ truck trips)

Project does not include:

Any local benefits (e.g., water supplies)

Cost: $16 billion +

Massive Visual and Aesthetic Impacts on the Sacramento River at Hood and Courtland

Existing and Simulated Views of Intake 2 East from South River Road. Each screen is over 1,300 feet long - almost 4 football fields Image showing Existing and Simulated Views of Intake 2 East from South River Road. Each screen is over 1,300 feet long

Image showing Existing and Simulated Views of Intake 2 East from South River Road. Each screen is over 1,300 feet long

Years of construction traffic on narrow local roads

Intake 3 Site Access Routes
Map of Intake 3 Site Access Routes

Tunnel Construction

The Delta Conveyance Project Permitting and Review Status is Nowhere Near Done
- DCP Permitting Status Chart

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Delta Tunnel

Delta Tunnel