Inside DCA Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2026 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Inside this Quarter's
Work to Advance the DCP

	The DCA Board of Directors elected Director Juan Garza to serve as Board President.
	DWR advanced key planning and permitting processes, including the Delta Plan Certification of Consistency and Change in Point of Diversion proceedings.
	In case you missed it: DCA Executive Director Graham Bradner joined California Insider for an in-depth conversation on the Delta Conveyance Project's (DCP) role in water reliability and how careful planning and design refinements are helping reduce costs and environmental impacts.
	DCA was on the ground at the SoCal BIA Water Conference and the Urban Water Institute Annual Conference in August to share information and answer questions about the project.
	A new fact sheet, "DCP a Different Approach to Infrastructure," is now live on the website, along with its Spanish and Chinese translations.

	ADVANCING PROJECT ENGINEERING: Geotechnical explorations continued to support ongoing project engineering, with a larger ramp-up in field activities anticipated in early 2027. In early September, DCA also conducted an airborne magnetic survey (AMS) along the tunnel alignment using a helicopter-mounted system. The survey collected subsurface data to help identify buried metal objects, such as abandoned wells or utilities, and further inform project design.
	PROJECT DESIGN & COST: Work on the Basis of Design Report (BODR) and Class 3 cost estimate continued, further refining project design and construction planning.
	ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERMITTING PROGRESS: DWR submitted a revised Certification of Consistency with the Delta Plan on July 24, addressing the two policy areas remanded by the Delta Stewardship Council in April. The Council is scheduled to consider the revised certification on October 15.
	WATER RIGHTS UPDATE: DWR presented sur-rebuttal testimony and participated in cross-examination from August 20 through September 3 as part of the State Water Resources Control Board's Change in Point of Diversion (CPOD) hearing. Testimony addressed fisheries, hydrology, climate change, water quality, groundwater and the project's benefit-cost analysis.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Graham Bradner Talks Delta Conveyance with California Insider

DCA Executive Director Graham Bradner sat down with California Insider to discuss the Delta Conveyance Project, including DCA's proactive approach to environmental review, the project's role in California's water reliability and how design refinements and careful planning are helping reduce costs and minimize environmental impacts.

Watch the interview

Graham Bradner California Insider Interview

Juan Garza Selected as DCA Board President

The Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority Board of Directors selected Juan Garza to serve as Board President at the August 20 Board Meeting. Garza represents the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on the DCA Board and serves as Vice Chairman of Metropolitan's Board of Directors, representing the Central Basin Municipal Water District and approximately 2 million Southern California residents.

Garza brings experience in public service, infrastructure and regional governance. He also serves on the Central Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors and previously served as Mayor of the City of Bellflower and President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities.