Sacramento River

The Sacramento River region includes the entire drainage of the Sacramento River and its tributaries, spanning from Chipps Island in Solano County northward to Goose Lake in Modoc County. The state’s two largest water systems, the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, originate here. Agriculture is the main driver, with over 1.5 million acres irrigated on the valley floor. Top grossing crops include rice, walnuts, almonds, and tomatoes.

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Recommendations for a Modeling Framework to Answer Nutrient Management Questions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | March 1st, 2016

Summary

Management actions in the Delta related to nutrients could cost billions of dollars to implement in the coming decades depending on decisions that will come before the Ce

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Recommendations to the State Water Resources Control Board Pursuant to California Water Code Section 10609

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | September 29th, 2022

Summary

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to provide the following recommendations developed in response to the 2018 Legislation (Senate Bill 606 [Hertzberg] and

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Reconciling fish and farms: Methods for managing California rice fields as salmon habitat

PLOS | February 24th, 2021

Summary

Rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in California, the southernmost portion of their range, has drastically declined throughout the pa

Rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in California, the southernmost portion of their range, has drastically declined throughout the past century. Recently, through cooperative agreements with diverse stakeholders, winter-flooded agricultural rice fields in California’s Central Valley have emerged as ecologically functioning floodplain rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook Salmon. From 2013 to 2016, we conducted a series of experiments examining methods to enhance habitat benefits for fall-run Chinook Salmon reared on winter-flooded rice fields in the Yolo Bypass, a modified floodplain managed for flood control, agriculture, and wildlife habitat in the Sacramento River Valley of California. Investigations included studying the effect of 1) post-harvest field substrate; 2) depth refugia; 3) duration of field drainage; and 4) duration of rearing occupancy on in-situ diet, growth and survival of juvenile salmon. Post-harvest substrate treatment had only a small effect on the lower trophic food web and an insignificant effect on growth rates or survival of rearing hatchery-origin, fall-run Chinook Salmon. Similarly, depth refugia, created by trenches dug to various depths, also had an insignificant effect on survival. Rapid field drainage yielded significantly higher survival compared to drainage methods drawn out over longer periods. A mortality of approximately one third was observed in the first week after fish were released in the floodplain. This initial mortality event was followed by high, stable survival rates for the remainder of the 6-week duration of floodplain rearing study. Across years, in-field survival ranged 7.4–61.6% and increased over the course of the experiments. Despite coinciding with the most extreme drought in California’s recorded history, which elevated water temperatures and reduced the regional extent of adjacent flooded habitats which concentrated avian predators, the adaptive research framework enabled incremental improvements in design to increase survival. Zooplankton (fish food) in the winter-flooded rice fields were 53-150x more abundant than those sampled concurrently in the adjacent Sacramento River channel. Correspondingly, observed somatic growth rates of juvenile hatchery-sourced fall-run Chinook Salmon stocked in rice fields were two to five times greater than concurrently and previously observed growth rates in the adjacent Sacramento River. The abundance of food resources and exceptionally high growth rates observed.

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Record of Decision, Trump Administration Action 5 Operations Plan for the Central Valley and State Water Projects, per Executive Order 14181

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | December 4th, 2025

Summary

On January 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14181 “Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources In California And Improve Disaster Response I

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Recovery plan for Central Valley winter-run chinook salmon, spring-run chinook salmon, and steelhead

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | July 7th, 2014

Summary

Recovery is the process by which listed species and their ecosystems are restored and their future is safeguarded to the point that protections under the Endangered Speci

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Recovery Plan for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta native fishes

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) | November 26th, 1996

Summary

Eight fish species are included in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Native Fishes Recovery Plan. The delta smelt is listed as a threatened species. The Sacramento splitta

Eight fish species are included in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Native Fishes Recovery Plan. The delta smelt is listed as a threatened species. The Sacramento splittail (splittail) was proposed as a threatened species on January 6, 1994. This recovery plan will recommend restoration criteria for the splittail that would be appropriate recovery criteria should the species be listed. Longfin smelt, green sturgeon, spring-run, late fall-run, and San Joaquin fall-run chinook salmon are species of concern for which restoration criteria are recommended. Information is also included on Sacramento perch, a species believed to be extirpated from the Delta at this time. Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: The eight species included in this recovery plan depend on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for a significant segment of their life history. Threats to the Delta ecosystem and these species include loss of habitat due to increased freshwater exports resulting in increased salinity, loss of shallow-water habitat due to dredging, diking and filling, introduced aquatic species that have disrupted the food chain, and entrainment (movement offish by currents produced by diversions) in State, Federal and private water diversion. State and Federal water projects have also changed the pattern and timing of flows through the Delta. The salmon races are affected by sport and commercial harvest as well as by interactions with hatchery stocks. Recovery and Restoration Objective: Delisting of delta smelt. Restoration of splittail, longfin smelt, green sturgeon, spring-run, late fall-run, San Joaquin fall-run chinook salmon, and Sacramento perch. Recovery and Restoration Criteria: Recovery criteria are quantifiable and species specific and can be used to (1) monitor effectiveness of recovery actions, (2) determine when a species has recovered to a secure level (stabilized), and (3) determine when a species qualifies for delisting. In many cases, criteria are based on two independent measures: population abundance and geographic distribution. For each species a historic base period was established using available data to characterize abundance and distribution during a pre-decline period. The time period over which abundance and distribution criteria must be met was set at five generations. For five of the eight species there is an additional requirement of meeting the criteria through a minimum number of years of stressful environmental conditions. Action Needed: 1. Enhance and restore aquatic and wetland habitat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River estuary. 2. Reduce effects of commercial and recreational harvest. 3. Reduce effects of introduced aquatic species on Delta native fishes. 4. Change and improve enforcement ofregulatory mechanisms. 5. Conduct monitoring and research on fish biology and management requirements. 6. Assess recovery management actions and re-assess prioritization of actions. 7. Increase public awareness of importance of Delta native fishes.

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Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfires

Springer Nature | March 5th, 2025

Summary

When considering massive new costs for urban water systems to fight wildfires, we also need to look hard at the distribution of benefits from these investments, and desig

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Refinement of Rice Water Consumptive Use During the Growing Season — Sacramento Valley

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | June 6th, 2018

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate crop water use for the most commonly grown paddy rice variety grown in the Sacramento Valley, M206, based on field data collected

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Refinement of Rice Water Consumptive Use During the Growing Season — Sacramento Valley Phase II — Cal-SIMETAW Model Study

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 6th, 2018

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate crop water use for the most commonly grown paddy rice variety grown in the Sacramento Valley, M206, based on field data collected

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Regional Governance of Flood Management in the Central Valley

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | May 30th, 2014

Summary

California faces significant challenges in managing its highly variable water resources, particularly as climate change and a growing population exacerbate drought and fl

California faces significant challenges in managing its highly variable water resources, particularly as climate change and a growing population exacerbate drought and flood risks. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other state agencies have been encouraging integrated approaches to water management, taking into account the connections between water supply, water quality, flood protection, and ecosystem health. The recent California Water Action Plan calls for improved coordination between local, state and federal agencies and tribal governments in order to develop multi-benefit water management strategies. Regional-scale planning has become a crucial avenue for advancing these efforts. Initiated in 2002, the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning (IRWM) process has led to the formation of 48 water planning regions statewide, in which diverse local agencies have developed integrated plans for managing all aspects of a region’s water management. More recently, a Regional Flood Management Planning (RFMP) process was created in the context of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan to advance integrated approaches to reducing flood risks. Six flood planning regions, overlapping with nine IRWM regions, were formed in 2012. This study analyzes the origins and functioning of the IRWM and RFMP processes, and the degree of coordination between them to address flood risks in the Central Valley. In particular, it examines how each is working to generate multi-benefit strategies, and how they account for climate change. It also discusses opportunities for future coordination between the IRWM and RFMP processes, and DWR’s role in supporting this. This study is primarily based upon an analysis of publicly available documents related to the IRWM and RFMP processes. It is also informed by meeting observations and conversations with staff at DWR and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and participants in IRWM and RFMP processes. Since RFMPs were not yet completed at the time of this writing, this study’s findings are preliminary. Nonetheless, this report provides an indication of the overall functioning of these RFMP and IRWM regions, and some general considerations for DWR as it assesses next steps in supporting these programs.

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Sacramento River

Recommendations for a Modeling Framework to Answer Nutrient Management Questions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Recommendations to the State Water Resources Control Board Pursuant to California Water Code Section 10609

Reconciling fish and farms: Methods for managing California rice fields as salmon habitat

Record of Decision, Trump Administration Action 5 Operations Plan for the Central Valley and State Water Projects, per Executive Order 14181

Recovery plan for Central Valley winter-run chinook salmon, spring-run chinook salmon, and steelhead

Recovery Plan for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta native fishes

Redefining expectations for urban water supply systems to fight wildfires

Refinement of Rice Water Consumptive Use During the Growing Season — Sacramento Valley

Refinement of Rice Water Consumptive Use During the Growing Season — Sacramento Valley Phase II — Cal-SIMETAW Model Study

Regional Governance of Flood Management in the Central Valley

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