Grimes: Newsom Vetoes Important California Water Bill, Despite Unanimous Passage by Legislature

The threats to California’s water supply were important enough that the bill was passed by the California Legislature unanimously

California Governor Gavin Newsom just vetoed Senate Bill 872, by Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), an important water infrastructure bill that would have provided funding to aging Delta levees and sinking State Water Project canals. These two threats to California’s water supply were important enough that the bill was passed by the California Legislature unanimously.

The bill would have created the Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund, to require the appropriation of $150 million annually for 20 years to the Department of Water Resources to support capital improvements to restore the original design water conveyance capacity for state water conveyance systems impacted operationally by land subsidence, and would require the appropriation of $150 million annually for a period of 20 years to the Delta Conservancy for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to improve existing levees.

“Not only did Governor Newsom veto a much needed bill to bring Delta levees to the necessary standards to deal with climate change, he vetoed funding for fixing existing conveyance for the State Water Project. Why? His never-ending quest for the Delta Conveyance Project. It is his white whale. And he has set California water infrastructure on a course for complete failure as a result of his wrongful quest,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director at Restore the Delta.

In his veto message, the Governor called the legislation “unnecessary,” while the state considers much more costly infrastructure like the Fair Ranch deal. The veto leaves critical infrastructure needs unresolved and raises questions about California’s priorities for protecting its water system. (Newsom veto below.