San Francisco Bay

Optimal Selection and Placement of Green Infrastructure in Urban Watersheds for PCB Control

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) | May 1st, 2019

San Francisco Bay and its watersheds are polluted by legacy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), resulting in the establishment of a total maximum daily load (TDML) that req

San Francisco Bay and its watersheds are polluted by legacy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), resulting in the establishment of a total maximum daily load (TDML) that requires a 90% PCB load reduction from municipal stormwater. Green infrastructure (GI) is a multibenefit solution for stormwater management, potentially addressing the TMDL objectives, but planning and implementing GI cost-effectively to achieve management goals remains a challenge and requires an integrated watershed approach. This study used the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) coupled with the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) to find near-optimal combinations of GIs that maximize PCB load reduction and minimize total relative cost at a watershed scale. The selection and placement of three locally favored GI types (bioretention, infiltration trench, and permeable pavement) were analyzed based on their cost and effectiveness. The results show that between optimal solutions and nonoptimal solutions, the effectiveness in load reduction could vary as much as 30% and the difference in total relative cost could be well over $100 million. Sensitivity analysis of both GI costs and sizing criteria suggest that the assumptions made regarding these parameters greatly influenced the optimal solutions.

Optimizing sampling methods for monitoring pollutant trends in San Francisco Bay urban stormwater

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

The Small Tributaries Loading Strategy (STLS) focuses on urban stormwater loadings from small tributaries. To date, STLS monitoring has been geared towards dete

The Small Tributaries Loading Strategy (STLS) focuses on urban stormwater loadings from small tributaries. To date, STLS monitoring has been geared towards determining concentrations and annual loads of PCBs and Hg; the sampling approach has yet to be fully optimized for detecting trends over time. Here, we evaluate the variability and statistical power for detecting future trends in PCBs based on baseline STLS data in the Guadalupe River watershed. The objective was to improve our understanding of the influence of climatic and seasonal factors on baseline stormwater pollutant conditions, and inform refinements to the STLS monitoring design for detecting trends.

Optimizing the dammed: Water supply losses and fish habitat gains from dam removal in California

Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier) | April 1st, 2014

Dams provide water supply, flood protection, and hydropower generation benefits, but also harm native species by altering the natural flow regime and degrading aquatic an

Dams provide water supply, flood protection, and hydropower generation benefits, but also harm native species by altering the natural flow regime and degrading aquatic and riparian habitat. Restoring some rivers reaches to free-flowing conditions may restore substantial environmental benefits, but at some economic cost. This study uses a systems analysis approach to preliminarily evaluate removing rim dams in California's Central Valley to highlight promising habitat and unpromising economic use tradeoffs for water supply and hydropower. CALVIN, an economic-engineering optimization model, is used to evaluate water storage and scarcity from removing dams. A warm and dry climate model for a 30-year period centered at 2085, and a population growth scenario for year 2050 water demands represent future conditions. Tradeoffs between hydropower generation and water scarcity to urban, agricultural, and instream flow requirements were compared with additional river kilometers of habitat accessible to anadromous fish species following dam removal. Results show that existing infrastructure is most beneficial if operated as a system (ignoring many current institutional constraints). Removing all rim dams is not beneficial for California, but a subset of existing dams are potentially promising candidates for removal from an optimized water supply and free-flowing river perspective. Removing individual dams decreases statewide delivered water by 0–2282 million cubic meters and provides access to 0 to 3200 km of salmonid habitat upstream of dams. The method described here can help prioritize dam removal, although more detailed, project-specific studies also are needed. Similarly, improving environmental protection can come at substantially lower economic cost, when evaluated and operated as a system.

Order Approving Temporary Urgency Changes to Water Right License and Permit Terms Relating to Delta Water Quality Objectives

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | February 21st, 2023

Origins of Extreme Climate States during the 1982–83 ENSO Winter

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | November 1st, 1997

Oroville Dam: A key unit of the State Water Project

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 1st, 1973

Our Vision for the California Delta

Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force (Delta Vision) | March 19th, 2008

Our Vision for the California Delta

Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force (Delta Vision) | March 19th, 2008

Executive Order S-17-06, directed us to “develop a durable vision for sustainable management of the Delta” with the goal of “...managing the Delta over the long te

Executive Order S-17-06, directed us to “develop a durable vision for sustainable management of the Delta” with the goal of “...managing the Delta over the long term to restore and maintain identified functions and values that are determined to be important to the environmental quality of the Delta and the economic and social well being of the people of the state.” The executive order calls for our vision to be completed by January 1, 2008 and a strategic plan by November 2008.

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations et al v. Wilbur Ross et al

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California | December 12th, 2019

Pared-Down Water Plan to Be Submitted in 1987

Los Angeles Times | June 17th, 1985

SACRAMENTO — Gov. George Deukmejian’s Administration is preparing to submit a new water package to the Legislature in 1987, a stripped-down version of the plan that f

SACRAMENTO — Gov. George Deukmejian’s Administration is preparing to submit a new water package to the Legislature in 1987, a stripped-down version of the plan that failed in 1984, according to David N. Kennedy, director of the state Department of Water Resources. The plan, contingent on Deukmejian’s reelection next year, would reverse the position the governor took after the stinging rebuke of a year ago, when he blamed Democratic lawmakers for the defeat. He said then that it would be up to the Legislature to produce an acceptable plan for supplying the state’s water needs. But now the Administration is once again gearing up to take the initiative on the water issue. The package would contain three key elements: - Authorization for $300 million in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta projects needed to ship additional surplus water south. - A commitment to help maintain and restore deteriorating delta levees. - Environmental protections for San Francisco Bay.