This has been in the pipeline for decades as California authorities have been seeking a solution to create a water tunnel system.

The tunnel in theory would gather rainwater from the Sacramento River and then shuttle it south to store it.

It is then transported south creating a supply for 30 million residents of California along with irrigating 6 million acres of farmland.

As part of this project, various reservoirs, dams, and canals provide water to 27 million people and irrigate 750,000 acres of farmland.

However, in Brown’s idea, he wanted 2 tunnels to be built. Newsom thinks that one giant tunnel will be better so that it can capture more water after a storm and send it south for storage.

With climate change and environmental regulations shifting the water supply will be reduced which has led to the Delta Conveyance Project being developed.

According to research from the Berkley Research Group, the price has increased by $5 billion over previous estimations to $20 billion.

The funding for this project is due to come from 29 local water agencies meaning that it will come from the public’s pocket.

However, four years on and it doesn’t seem that anything is happening with the project; other than the price going up by at least $4 billion.

According to UC Berkeley professor David Sunding, in his analysis he sees that “The benefits clearly justify the costs.”

Experts have said that the numbers speak for themselves. While it may be a $20 billion project, it will help to serve a $2.3 trillion economy.

Their concern is that an endangered species of salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s ecosystem will be at further risk if the plan goes ahead.

According to opposition groups, the state hasn’t properly done the cost-benefit analysis that it should have done and hasn’t taken into account the negative effects this tunnel would have on communities.

These comments were made by US Representative Josh Harder, a Democrat like Newsom. Harder said he feels that politicians in Sacramento are completely ignoring what those who live in the Valleys are saying.

People living in big Californian cities will benefit most. However, scientists have recognized that this water is needed to recover Chinook salmon and steelhead populations.

Newsom was meant to have appointed a board in 2018 to come up with proper standards to help keep over 1 million workers safe from the heat, but 6 years on and it still hasn’t happened.

Those living in the Antelope Valley are at risk of losing their homes so the new reservoir can be built. Construction has only just started on this project, and it should be finished by 2029.

As a bit of a further blow, construction will not be taking place until 2029 at the earliest and the tunnel itself will not be able to deliver water until 2045, after a 15 year construction period.

The building will cause damage to farmlands, lower the water quality in the Delta, and contribute to noise and air pollution.

The supporters state that as long as the people of the Golden State don’t want their water supplies to decline, this tunnel will have to be built.

In Central Valley, however, there are concerns over water being siphoned from the area to benefit Southern California.

He went on to state: “I’m sick and tired of politicians in Sacramento ignoring our Valley voices, and I will do everything in my power to stop them from stealing our water.”

However, the drought is causing reservoirs to drop to dangerously low levels, and it has been predicted that by 2070, these water project deliveries will be down by 22% due to climate change.

The decrease in average annual water supplies could result in losses of 50,000 jobs and 900,000 acres of farmland.

The backlash to Newsom’s proposal could signal a need for alternative solutions to combat the water supply woes of California moving forward.