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Letter: Rethink tunnels project

Coalition response…California’s system of water rights allocates water supply to users throughout the state even though the majority of the supply is in Northern California. Water is a public resource intended to benefit the population as a whole. This protects both area-of-origin water users in Northern California and water rights holders elsewhere.

Water rights were issued long ago to public water agencies in central and southern California for the purpose of serving farms, homes and businesses. The Delta tunnels are simply a more efficient way to move that water while minimizing negative impacts on fish species and the Delta ecosystem. And to protect in-Delta water users export pumping will vary depending on the volume of available in the system. When the water level in the Sacramento River is high more water will be available to move through the tunnels. Lower flows means less water will be exported. Learn more at www.farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf.