The construction, though not the long-term operation, of a proposed 45-mile extension to the State Water Project, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, has received permission from two key federal wildlife agencies. On Friday, the California Department of Water Resources received permits known as biological opinions from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service concluding that construction can proceed under conditions designed to protect endangered species and sensitive habitat. … The opinion of the Fish and Wildlife Service orders builders to take measures to avoid harming endangered or threatened species. 

Other Delta tunnel news:

• KTVU (Oakland, Calif.): Delta Conveyance Project gets federal clearance to advance construction
• The Sacramento Bee (Calif.): See summertime Delta barriers go up as wildlife officials OK future tunnel project
• The Sacramento Bee (Calif.): Opinion: Stop the Delta Tunnel before it becomes another High Speed Rail
• Daily Kos: Blog: Governor Newsom applauds Trump administration for advancing Delta tunnel construction