What’s next for the opponents of the governor’s proposed Delta water tunnels? Some people think the passing grade from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service findings that there would be “no jeopardy” in the project’s biological opinion for species was a huge setback. This finding is a major green light leading to the beginning of construction of the highly controversial three story high 40’ diameter twin tunnels that would go 150 feet underground for 35 miles from Hood to Tracy to drain much of the Sacramento River before it could flow into the California Delta.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to route much of California’s mightiest river into two massive tunnels poses new perils for salmon and other struggling native species, but could give them a couple of breaks as well, experts and project supporters and opponents say in the wake of two newly issued wildlife rulings on the $16 billion project.