California Governor Jerry Brown has revised his plan to restore habitat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, much to the dismay of environmental groups. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, the plan also includes design changes for the proposed twin tunnels that would carry water south.
Governor Brown sold his plan to build two tunnels in the Delta with the promise that habitat would be restored. The number most commonly mentioned was 100,000 acres. Brown says that was just an “idea” with no way to pay for it. He now proposes 30,000 acres.
Brown: “This 30,000 is fantastic and we can actually get it done in the next few years”
But some environmental groups and people who live in the Delta say Brown broke his promise by scaling back the habitat restoration by two-thirds.
Kathryn Phillips is with the Sierra Club.
Phillips: “I see that as being terribly disappointing, because not only are they reducing the acreage, the governor is continuing to pursue a gigantic construction project that will bisect habitat.”
The habitat portion of the plan is now called “California EcoRestore.” A slightly redesigned twin tunnel project now called “California Water Fix” eliminates the need to drive hundreds of concrete pillars into the ground near three intakes.