(Image Credit: IMAGN) A fisherman trolls his boat as wisps of an early morning fog rise off of the waters of the Sacramento River near the Delta town of Locke on Oct. 26, 2015.
Hood, California – Hood, a small agricultural town nestled along the Sacramento River in California, is bracing for a massive upheaval as it stands at the center of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed $20 billion Delta water tunnel project. The quiet community, home to just 271 residents, is feared to be forever altered by the construction of a 45-mile tunnel designed to divert river water to Southern California’s sprawling farmlands and urban areas.
Dan Whaley, who manages the Willow Ballroom, a local landmark, expressed concern for the future of the town. “This will make our town uninhabitable,” he said. “There will be so much heavy equipment and traffic that the locals will be driven out.” Hood is set to be at the heart of the construction zone, with two major intake facilities planned just north and south of the town, where the river will be diverted into the tunnel system.
The tunnel’s goal is to bypass the ecologically sensitive Delta, ensuring more water is available for Southern California. The project, which still requires several permits and faces multiple legal challenges, aims to increase water flow by 6,000 cubic feet per second, ensuring a more reliable water supply for the state’s southern regions. However, the residents of Hood fear their community will be destroyed in the process.
Mario Moreno, a longtime resident and current chairman of the Hood Community Council, pointed out the extent of the planned infrastructure. “The entire property could eventually become a complex of cement and steel,” he said, referencing a nearby pear orchard that could be transformed into a holding basin for the tunnel. The intake facilities would cover hundreds of acres, including farmland, and disrupt the natural landscape with fuel stations, parking lots, and access roads. The construction itself will bring years of dust, noise, and air pollution to the area.
Opposition to the project has been vocal, particularly among environmentalists and local communities who fear it will harm the already struggling Delta ecosystem. Many believe the tunnel will exacerbate saltwater intrusion, damage fish populations, and increase pollution. Farmers like Harvey Correia, who grows chestnuts and figs downstream of Hood, are concerned that the tunnel will lower water quality, further harming their crops.
Despite these concerns, proponents argue that the tunnel is essential for California’s water future. Supporters, including major water agencies, see it as a necessary step to modernize the state’s water delivery system, protect against potential levee failures, and respond to climate change.
“This will help provide a more reliable water supply,” said Carrie Buckman, the project’s environmental program manager. “The intakes will be less vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, and we can ensure the river’s health by following stringent pumping regulations.”
However, residents of Hood and surrounding Delta communities feel ignored and excluded from the decision-making process. Many question why the intake sites are being placed in smaller, less politically powerful towns like Hood, rather than in more prosperous areas of the state. Michael Brodsky, an attorney for the local community council, believes Hood was chosen because it lacks the clout to fight back effectively.
State officials have attempted to address concerns by offering “community benefits” such as new recreation areas and economic development programs. But local residents remain skeptical, especially given the scale of the disruption expected. Restaurant owner Michelle Mota, whose business could be severely affected, described the state’s proposals as insufficient. “It’s our only means of livelihood right now,” she said. “We’re really unsure about the future.”
The transformation of Hood, a town that has remained largely unchanged for generations, serves as a microcosm for the larger debate over California’s water future. While the state’s water officials insist the project is necessary for climate adaptation, the residents of Hood are left grappling with the potential loss of their homes, their businesses, and their way of life. “They don’t intend for Hood to be here,” said Gia Moreno, a local teacher and resident. “It’s more than a mapping error. It’s a sign.”
As the legal and environmental battles continue, Hood and other Delta communities fear they will bear the brunt of a project designed to benefit regions far beyond their borders. With construction slated to begin as early as 2029, the town’s future remains uncertain, and the debate over the Delta tunnel is far from over.
