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Southern California Water Agency Takes Step To Buy Delta Land

  •  Amy Quinton 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
Credit / Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
 

Credit / Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has voted to enter into a contract to buy 20,000 acres of land in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Metropolitan Water District is the largest water wholesaler in the state. It wants to buy four islands in the center of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and a a portion of a fifth island.

Delta Islands 111015 P.JPG

Some of the land is also in the path of two tunnels Governor Jerry Brown wants to build to carry water to southern California. MWD doesn’t deny owning the land would help the project.

“Should a California WaterFix project that the Governor’s administration is pursuing go forward, we believe this land could be beneficial to that,” says Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager with MWD.

Kightlinger also says should an earthquake in the Delta shut down the state’s water supply, owning the land would help get it back up and running.  MWD also says it wants to restore habitat to improve water quality.

Delta residents say it’s a “water grab” that will clear the way for the tunnels. 

“I don’t buy their argument that they only want to restore habitat. They’re anxiously moving forward with promoting California WaterFix. They are at the water board helping push through the projects,” says Barbara Barrigan-Parilla with the advocacy group Restore the Delta.

Delta Wetland Properties currently owns the land. The deal could cost around $200 million.  

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    Related Stories

  • Groups Sue California's Largest Water Wholesaler Over Land Purchase

    Thursday, April 14, 2016
    Two counties and several environmental groups in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are suing California’s largest water wholesaler over its purchase of Delta land.
  • Credit / Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

    Southern California Water Agency Moves To Purchase Delta Land

    Tuesday, November 10, 2015
    A powerful Southern California water agency is moving ahead with plans to buy a cluster of islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

 deltawater resourcesSacramento-San Joaquin DeltaWater SupplyCalifornia waterMetropolitan Water DistrictMWDDelta islandstwin tunnelsCalifornia WaterFix

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

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