Aerial view of part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. (Photo: water.ca.gov)
Gov. Newsom Vetoes Important California Water Bill, Despite Unanimous Passage by Legislature
The threats to California’s water supply were important enough that the bill was passed by the California Legislature unanimously
By Katy Grimes, September 28, 2026 7:00 pm
California Governor Gavin Newsom just vetoed Senate Bill 872, by Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), an important water infrastructure bill that would have provided funding to aging Delta levees and sinking State Water Project canals. These two threats to California’s water supply were important enough that the bill was passed by the California Legislature unanimously.
The bill would have created the Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund, to require the appropriation of $150 million annually for 20 years to the Department of Water Resources to support 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.
🚨 BREAKING: Governor Newsom vetoes key water protection bill
Yesterday, Governor Newsom officially vetoed SB 872, a key water infrastructure bill that would have provided funding to address two major threats to California’s water supply: aging Delta levees and sinking State… pic.twitter.com/FWqDExCouC
— Mike Netter (@nettermike) September 28, 2026
“Not only did Governor Newsom veto a much needed bill to bring Delta levees to the necessary standards to deal with climate change, he vetoed funding for fixing existing conveyance for the State Water Project. Why? His never-ending quest for the Delta Conveyance Project. It is his white whale. And he has set California water infrastructure on a course for complete failure as a result of his wrongful quest,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director at Restore the Delta.
In his veto message, the Governor called the legislation “unnecessary,” while the state considers much more costly infrastructure like the Fair Ranch deal. The veto leaves critical infrastructure needs unresolved and raises questions about California’s priorities for protecting its water system. (Newsom veto below)
“SB 872 was supported by more than 60 organizations and brought together Northern and Southern California legislators, environmental groups including Restore the Delta, and water interests around the need to protect critical water infrastructure and the state’s primary water source,”Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla added.
“In his veto message, Governor Newsom cited budget constraints and called the legislation ‘unnecessary.’ The veto comes as the state considers other major, and significantly more expensive, water investments including the Fair Ranch deal, a voluntary agreement supported by Newsom that is expected to cost approximately $1 billion,” Barrigan-Parrilla said.
“Delta advocates are criticizing the veto, arguing that the decision leaves critical infrastructure vulnerable and fails to adequately prepare California’s water system for future challenges. They are also questioning the Governor’s priorities in water planning.”
The bill would have created the Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund to support two priorities through fiscal year 2046-47:
- About $150 million a year (subject to available funds) for Department of Water Resources projects to restore conveyance capacity in State Water Project canals and aqueducts damaged by land subsidence from groundwater overdraft.
- About $150 million a year for levee improvements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh.
The legislation explicitly barred the money from being used for design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of any new Delta conveyance facilities – specifically, the proposed Delta tunnel.
Supporters, including some environmental groups such as Restore the Delta and State Water Contractors—argued the work was urgent: aging 19th-century Delta levees face seismic and sea-level-rise risks, while subsidence threatens a large share of State Water Project delivery capacity that serves roughly 27 million people and extensive farmland.
While Newsom’s administration described the bill as unnecessary, Restore the Delta’s Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla said the governor is prioritizing the far more expensive Delta Conveyance Project over repairs to existing infrastructure.
The veto is now pending possible override consideration in the Senate.
VETO-msg-SB-872SB872-NASCARLetter3.11LOGOS
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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if it passed the legislature unanimously, will the Dems have enough courage to override a governor’s veto? or will they demonstrate once again that CA’s one-party rule has devolved into one-man rule? is everyone too afraid to buck the party’s fuhrer to pass common-sense water bills!?!
The CCP wants to buy that rich farmland on the cheap at the bank foreclosure sales…
Newsom is running interference for them and setting up those sales via his polices…
Nothing else makes sense….