West False River Drought Salinity Barrier Final EIR

With the proposed project, a temporary drought salinity barrier would be installed in West False River up to two times over 10 years, with each installation remaining in place for up to 20 months over two consecutive calendar years. The barrier would be installed if a drought were to occur during the 2026–2035 period and the drought conditions indicate that a barrier in West False River would be an effective tool to preserve upstream reservoir storage for health, safety, and regulatory releases, while preventing saltwater intrusion into the central and southern portions of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The drought salinity barrier would be constructed only if DWR, in cooperation with other State and federal agencies, determines that drought conditions have reduced water storage in Northern California reservoirs to critical levels, such that projected Delta outflow would be insufficient to control increased salinity intrusion into the Delta.