California's Water: A Vanishing Resource

Tunnel under delta could be alternative to canal

By Michael Gardner
U-T Sacramento Bureau
2:00 a.m. July 31, 2009

SACRAMENTO – A possible answer to Southern California's water-delivery woes has emerged right underfoot, literally.

The state Department of Water Resources is exploring the price and engineering challenges associated with digging a roughly 35-mile tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to bring more supplies to Southern California.

“We don't have the costs worked out,â€