Sacramento River plans revealed

Preliminary drafts of California’s controversial Bay Delta Conservation Plan were released on Thursday, March 14.

The draft documents for the $14 billion project, which would involve two giant tunnels to divert water from the Sacramento River and three new intake points along the river in Sacramento County, are considered a preview of the formal draft expected in July, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The tunnels ostensibly would protect the water supply—which serves 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of farmland from San Jose to San Diego—from floods, sea-level rise and earthquakes. Supporters also maintain the project would restore 145,000 acres of habitat critical to wildlife.

Go to www.baydeltaconservationplan.com to view the documents.