Delta Conveyance

In 2006, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) was proposed, with the stated intent of reducing the impacts of exporting water from the Delta. CCWD provided constructive input throughout the development of the BDCP and evaluated how proposed projects may impact local facilities and operations.

The BDCP evolved over the years into the California WaterFix (CWF), or the “twin tunnels.” This proposed project by state officials would have constructed additional intakes and conveyance facilities to transport water from the Delta to other parts of the state.

From the beginning, CCWD communicated concerns to the State about potential impacts to water quality and potential impacts of CWF construction on CCWD’s facilities in various public settings. Other CCWD concerns focused on federal financing and contract supply allocation, as CCWD is a Central Valley Project (CVP) contractor, were communicated to federal agencies. 

The State listened to CCWD’s concerns, and in early 2016, CCWD was able to reach a settlement agreement with the State for mitigation of impacts to CCWD from construction and operations of the BDCP/CWF.  In 2019, Governor Newsom directed state agencies to withdraw proposed permits for the BDCP/CWF project and to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy to build a climate-resilient water system.  In 2020, the State released a final Water Resilience Portfolio to address California’s water needs and initiated planning for modernized Delta Conveyance.

See more about CCWD’s Settlement Agreement below and review CCWD’s engagement timeline throughout BDCP/CWF development.

CCWD and DWR’s Settlement Agreement Update

In July 2022, the State released a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Delta Conveyance Project, evaluating a range of alternatives to the proposed project.  Due to differences between the BDCP/CWF project and the Delta Conveyance Project, CCWD and DWR came together to discuss possible updates to the 2016 settlement agreement.

In mid-2023 CCWD executed an updated settlement agreement with the State that protects drinking water quality for CCWD customers should the Delta Conveyance Project be implemented in the future. 

This settlement will result in the construction, operation, and maintenance of new facilities that will offset any potential impacts the Delta Conveyance Project, without new impacts to other stakeholders.  The cost of the mitigation will be paid for by the state, not CCWD customers. CCWD takes its role of serving our customers seriously, and views this settlement as an insurance policy to prevent future impacts for customers, should the conveyance be built. 

This legally binding settlement agreement will not result in customer rate increases or redirect any potential impacts. The CCWD Board of Directors is not a proponent the Delta Conveyance Project, and this agreement does not make the Delta Conveyance Project more likely to be built. CCWD will remain active on outstanding issues related to federal financing and contract allocations. To learn more about this settlement and how it will protect those CCWD serves, please view CCWD’s 2023 Update on the settlement agreement as well as other relevant documents below.

Settlement Agreement Documents