After Water Town Hall, Harder Sends Letter of Community Feedback Opposing Delta Tunnel Project to Army Corps of Engineers

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Josh Harder announced that he has sent a letter on behalf of concerned members of his community to the US Army Corps of Engineers opposing the Delta Tunnel project. More than 150 community members attended Rep. Harder’s recent Water Town Hall, to share their unanimous opposition to Sacramento’s latest water grab. Rep. Harder hosted this town hall after the Army Corps of Engineers refused to host an in-person town hall to discuss the Delta Tunnel project.

“Sacramento has made it clear as day they don’t want to hear from our community when it comes to the Delta Tunnel water grab, but I refuse to let them off the hook,” said Rep. Harder. “Their failure to host a single in-person town hall on a project that will impact us for generations is inexcusable. Today, I’m sending them a letter from folks across San Joaquin County saying enough is enough. We will not let them take our water.”

Read Rep. Harder’s summary letter below and online here:

Lieutenant General Spellmon,

I am following up on my January 10^th letter regarding the Army Corps’ lack of public engagement on the federal permitting and environmental review processes for the State of California’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project. As I previously stated, the Army Corps needs to host an in-person hearing to allow impacted communities an opportunity to express their disapproval for this project.

After repeatedly requesting this in-person hearing, I decided to hold my own to allow my constituents to be heard. It’s no surprise that hundreds of stakeholders attended to convey their thoughts on this harmful project, and their frustration with the Army Corps of Engineers lack of public input. To ensure that the communities disproportionately impacted by the proposed Delta Tunnel project are included in the public comment process, I’m sharing a letter signed by countless constituents.

“As a resident of the Central Valley, I remain concerned about the impact of the Delta Tunnel project on my community. The Army Corps’ report, a 700-page draft Environmental Impact Statement with an additional 2,000-pages of appendices, clearly describes the significant negative impacts this project would have on the Central Valley’s historic communities, agricultural economy, flood control infrastructure, environment, and water supply.

I request that you schedule an in-person hearing in the Central Valley as soon as possible so you can hear from the people who will be impacted by this project. We deserve the opportunity to explain to you in-person how harmful the Delta Tunnel project would be to our community.”

My town hall should be an indicator that this community is united in its opposition to the Delta Tunnel project and wants to be heard. I urge you to provide that opportunity through an in-person hearing.

Sincerely,

Josh Harder

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