Calif. panel endorses more study of delta tunnel

By SAMANTHA YOUNG, Associated Press Writer
February 11, 2010 at 1:06 p.m.

SACRAMENTO — A government panel overseeing California's delta says a 43-mile underground tunnel appears to be the most promising way to keep water flowing to farms and cities.

The decision Thursday sets aside, but does not rule out, a second proposal that has been controversial for years: to build an above-ground canal that would funnel water around the vast estuary.

While a network of tunnels could be more costly, preliminary engineering work shows it would be less harmful to wildlife. Municipal and agricultural water users would pay for it.

The delta in Northern California serves as the hub of the state's water system, but the pumps that send water south have been blamed for a massive decline in fish populations.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... ta-tunnel/