Elected officials and advocacy groups in San Joaquin County are sounding the alarm after Gov. Gavin Newsom called for fast-tracking the Delta Conveyance Project. The $20 billion project would divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and send it south. Critics warn it could drain water needed for agriculture in the Central Valley and harm Delta smelt, Chinook salmon and other imperiled fish. “This $20 billion boondoggle won’t create a single drop of water for anyone, yet Sacramento is doing everything they can — including ducking the law — to force its destructive effects and ballooning costs on Delta families,” U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, said in a statement. 

Other Delta tunnel news:

• KTVU (Oakland, Calif.): Newsom wants to fast-track $20B Delta Tunnel, over objections from lawmakers
• The Fresno Bee (Calif.): Opinion: Legislature should reject governor’s plan to fast-track Delta tunnel project
• The Manteca Bulletin (Calif.): Editorial: Sacramento green gods: Delta expendable in their windmill tilting greenhouse gas battle
• SCV News (Valencia, Calif.): Opinion: SCV Water Board: Support for streamlined Delta Conveyance Project approvals