Metropolitan issues statement on Gov. Newsom's proposal to eliminate hurdles in DCP planning

Metropolitan Water District General Manager Deven Upadhyay issues the following statement regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom's package of legislation to streamline administrative processes for development of the Delta Conveyance Project:

"Gov. Newsom took a bold step today toward protecting one of our state's most important water supplies. Millions of Californians depend on water from the State Water Project, but its reliability is increasingly threatened by climate change and other challenges. The Delta Conveyance Project could offer a solution. Last December, our board approved funding the final elements of DCP planning. The legislation proposed today will support completion of this planning, reduce costs as well as regulatory and legal uncertainties, and allow Metropolitan's board to make an informed decision about a long-term investment in the DCP without delay.

"In the coming years, our board will make several major decisions on how best to invest resources to ensure Southern California continues to have reliable and affordable water in the century ahead. Delays and uncertainties regarding the DCP are unhelpful in determining the best path forward for our region and the state. The sooner we can finalize the DCP planning phase, the better informed our board will be as it considers all of these investments. "