Tell Metropolitan Water District (MWD) not to fund the next phase of the Delta Tunnel Project

Please Vote NO on Delta Tunnel Funding

Dear Chair Ortega and Members of the Board, I am writing to urge the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors not to allocate any additional funds to the proposed Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel). The Delta Tunnel project is a proposal to construct a single underground tunnel to divert millions of acre-feet of freshwater that would otherwise flow naturally through the Sacramento River and Bay-Delta, without preserving sufficient flows for salmon species and other endangered and threatened species. For years, the Bay Delta ecosystem has been severely depleted of freshwater flows that have led to the loss of natural habitat for species and reduced the livelihood of residents in Delta communities. This project will absolutely hasten the decline of the Delta. Ratepayers - represented by agencies from the Inland Empire Utilities Agency to San Diego County Water Authority - will see higher water bills and property taxes with no guarantee of a sustainable water supply if MWD continues to spend millions of dollars on this project. The board is ultimately responsible to your ratepayers- your voters- who do not want our bills to go up in an era of constant inflation amidst an affordability crisis. The Delta tunnel project is an expensive and environmentally destructive project that will not provide new water in a time of climate change. MWD must ensure that the $141.6 million of public dollars being considered for planning are spent on projects that will provide sustainable water supplies for Southern California and real benefits for water quality in the Bay Delta. From the Pure Water Southern California project, that would produce 150 million gallons of clean, recycled water a day, to the Delta Levee Investment Strategy, which outlines a priority list of levee infrastructure investments to protect the State Water Project, there are projects that promote water security that this funding should go to support instead. Water resiliency does not have to come at the cost of Northern California watersheds. MWD can invest in smart water solutions that meet the needs of its customers, while being an environmental leader. Please make a responsible and informed decision and do not fund this project. Sincerely,