In The News Press Releases Construction of Tunnel for State Water Supplies Could Create Nearly 130,000 Jobs In California
Construction of Tunnel for State Water Supplies Could Create Nearly 130,000 Jobs In California
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
State Water Contractors Respond to Employment Analysis on Bay Delta Conservation Plan Conveyance Proposal
Results of an analysis on employment impacts from the proposed construction of a water conveyance tunnel were presented today at the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) public meeting.
Results of an analysis on employment impacts from the proposed construction of a water conveyance tunnel were presented today at the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) public meeting. The proposed tunnel would move water supplies underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, separating water delivery operations from the fragile Delta ecosystem. Through the BDCP, the state is studying multiple alternatives for conveyance, including a canal, underground tunnels and the existing conveyance route through the Delta itself. This analysis focused exclusively on the tunnel options, including two size alternatives, and found that either 74,000 or 130,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs would be created in California during the 7-year construction phase, depending on the size of the facility.The analysis was conducted by the Brattle Group.
Sacramento, CA—“Beyond the long-term economic benefits of protecting California’s single most important water supply, there are clear immediate benefits to building a better system. Investing in new conveyance will put tens of thousands of Californians back to work during the 7-year construction phase. These jobs are greatly needed, considering more than two million Californians are unemployed. The project itself is greatly needed as well—we need to keep water flowing to people, businesses and farms throughout the state in a manner that is more compatible with the Delta ecosystem. A better Delta conveyance system will provide the water supply reliability California needs.”
Terry Erlewine
General Manager
State Water Contractors
Read the full report here.
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