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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 1 1.0 BACKGROUND The picturesque Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) is the hub of California’s water supply, supplying fresh water to two-thirds of the state’s population and millions of acres of farmland. There is clear evidence of the vulnerabilities in the Delta posed by climate change and earthquake risk. As sea levels continue to rise, the Delta will be faced with increasing water levels and salinity, which will dramatically alter and harm water quality and supply both, locally, and for 27 million Californians across the state. Immediate action is needed to upgrade Delta infrastructure, ensuring the state’s largest supply of clean water is climate resilient and able to respond to these risks. On February 12, 2019, Governor Newsom introduced a new approach to modernize Delta water conveyance, one which included the consideration of a new, single-tunnel project alternative (Executive Order N-10-19). Following Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-10-19, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pursuing a new environmental review and planning process for a single tunnel solution to modernize water infrastructure in the Delta. To inform this future process, DWR is proposing soil investigations to gather data on the physical properties of the soils and other typical geologic and geotechnical parameters that will be used to inform and evaluate future alternatives for a proposed single-tunnel Delta conveyance (requiring a separate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process). 1.1 Purpose The primary objective of the proposed project is to determine the composition, location, and geotechnical properties of soil materials commonly found in the Delta which would inform the design, environmental analysis, and development of alternatives for a potential Delta conveyance project and contribute to DWR’s overall understanding of Delta geology. This work will further inform DWR on how to construct a project while avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating impacts to the surrounding residents and environment. Ultimately, this work will help to determine project features, potential alignment options and environmental impacts for analysis of a future single tunnel project consistent with Governor Newsom’s new approach to modernize Delta water conveyance. 1.2 Regulatory requirements, permits, and approvals DWR has the responsibility to ensure that all requirements of CEQA and other applicable regulations are met. Other permitting requirements for this Proposed Project are listed below: