Experts to examine whether Tunnels proposal is good for California

Water

From TheReporter.com.  A panel of experts will discuss unanswered questions about the tunnel proposal from Gov. Jerry Brown to move water to Southern California.

The Senate Select Committee on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, chaired by State Senator Lois Wolk, D-Solano, will host the discussion 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, in State Capitol, Room 112. The hearing also will be streamed live on the Senator’s website at http://sd03.senate.ca.gov/home.

In an attempt to determine whether the proposal is good for California, the hearing also will address unanswered questions on proposal’s cost, alternatives and more.

Topics for discussion include:

• Are the Tunnels a good investment?

• Will the Tunnels meet the co-equal goals of providing a ‘more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem’ in a manner that ‘protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place’?

• Are there alternatives for improved water supply reliability?

• What is the Legislature’s role?

Participants in the discussion:

• Jeffrey Michael, director of the Center for Business and Policy Research, University of the Pacific.

• Craig Wilson, former Delta water master for the State Water Resources Control Board.

• Don Nottoli, Sacramento County Supervisor 5th District.

• Christina Swanson, director of the Science Center for the Natural Resources Defense Council.