Cathedral City
March 16, 2026
Honorable Jerry McNerney
California State Senate
State Capitol, Suite 6640
Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBJECT: SB 872 (McNerney) - SUPPORT
Dear Senator McNerney:
The State Water Contractors (SWC) are pleased to support SB 872, as amended on February 18, which would require the appropriation of $150 million annually for a period of 20 years to the Department of Water Resources for the purposes of supporting capital improvements to restore the original design water conveyance capacity for state water conveyance systems impacted operationally by land subsidence, and would require the appropriation of $150 million annually for a period of 20 years to the Delta Conservancy for projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to improve existing levees.
The SWC is an organization representing 27 public water entities that hold contracts with the California Department of Water Resources for the delivery of State Water Project water. Collectively, the SWC members provide a portion of the water supply delivered to approximately 27 million Californians, roughly two-thirds of the state's population, and to more than 750,000 acres of irrigated agriculture, supporting a $2.3 trillion economy. Water supply delivered to the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, and Southern California from the State Water Project is diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Restoring water conveyance capacity through SB 872 is a direct climate investment. Without repairs to the state's water conveyance system, water agencies will have reduced drinking water supplies, less water available to manage groundwater basins, fewer opportunities to transfer water between parties utilizing existing infrastructure, fewer opportunities to refill below and above ground water storage, increased operational costs, and potentially be forced to rely on more carbon-intensive alternatives. California cannot rely solely on ratepayers to cover subsidence repair costs, especially when the SWP serves a region that includes 75% of the state's disadvantaged communities, many of whom reside far from the physical damage but will still bear the consequences should it not be affordably repaired.
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero • Cathedral City • California • 92234 www.cathedralcity.gov RECYCLID INTER
Additionally, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which supports local communities and the state and federal water projects, is also experiencing the impacts of climate change. Increasing droughts, more extreme precipitation events, earlier snowmelt, and sea level rise all create concerns for how to manage the dynamic ecosystem in a way that continues to support human life and natural ecosystems. The Delta is home to 1,100 miles of levees which provide protection to residences, agricultural lands, and electrical, transportation, and other infrastructure and help ensure fresh drinking water supply to millions of Californians. But many levees were constructed in the 1800s and are in desperate need of repair and reinforcement.
Addressing levee repairs and improvements will reduce risk of flooding, the potential for water supply disruptions, environmental harm, economic disruptions, and save money by addressing deficiencies before they turn into emergency measures. In 2025 alone, there were 3 near-levee breaches that were fortunately caught before a full breach but the risk is growing.
Committing to a durable, long-term funding gameplan for water conveyance subsidence repairs and Delta levees will ensure the state is contributing to a shared and coordinated investment to avoid further degradation of the state's primary water delivery systems and reducing hardship for communities and ecosystems that depend on it. Inaction will increase the cost of water for millions of Californians, increase strain on California's energy grid, and negatively impact disadvantaged communities, farms, businesses and ecosystems that depend on state and federal water project supplies, while fixing subsidence and Delta levees offers significant public benefits for the environment, economy, water reliability, and public safety.
We strongly appreciate your leadership in forging a unique partnership through SB 872 to elevate and address California's near-term infrastructure crises. Collectively, we stand ready to provide the needed support to amplify SB 872 and advance a meaningful investment program.
Sincerely,
Andrew Firestin
City Manager, City of Cathedral City
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero • Cathedral City • California • 92234 www.cathedralcity.gov RECYCLED PAPER