California’s biggest irrigation district is throwing its support behind a controversial water diversion project that aims to help relieve the Golden State’s historic battle with drought but also faces widespread local opposition.

The Imperial Irrigation District — the biggest district not only in California, but also the nation — declared on Tuesday that it was issuing “a significant and unusual endorsement” for the state’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project.

The controversial, $20 billion project would involve tunneling more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region to southern portions of the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has long been promoting the plans as part of efforts to bolster the State Water........

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