An initial proposal suggests a tunnel system could be comprised of two, side-by-side tunnels about 150 feet under the delta, along with a smaller intake tunnel. It would be capable of sending up to 15,000 cubic feet a second at its peak from the Sacramento River near Clarksburg to existing pumping stations south of the delta.
Environmental groups agreed the tunnel should be studied and cautioned the panel was moving too quickly. Ann Hayden, a water expert at the Environmental Defense Fund, said the panel ought to first set objectives for recovering sensitive species then find ways to ship water.
"I'm somewhat skeptical how much we can learn at this point in the process about tunnel impacts when we still don't know what outcomes we want for species like salmon," said Hayden, a member of the panel.
The Associated Press