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 Project, a........

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