San Joaquin River

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix E. Invasive Plant Management Plan

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) developed this Invasive Plant Management Plan (or Plan) as part of the Conservation Strategy of the Central Valley Floo

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) developed this Invasive Plant Management Plan (or Plan) as part of the Conservation Strategy of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP). The Conservation Strategy tiers from the Conservation Framework, which was an integral part of the State’s preferred SSIA, identified in the 2012 CVFPP. The Conservation Strategy describes how to make progress toward meeting the environmental objectives of the Central Valley Flood Protection Act of 2008 (Act) and related legislation throughout the flood management system in the Systemwide Planning Area (SPA). The SPA comprises five Conservation Planning Areas (CPAs) in California’s Central Valley: the Feather River CPA, the Upper and Lower Sacramento River CPAs, and the Upper and Lower San Joaquin River CPAs (Figure 1-1). The SSIA includes developing and implementing multipurpose projects, and this Plan will guide the invasive plant management approaches undertaken as part of these projects.  The Conservation Strategy recognizes invasive plants as a primary stressor on the habitats, species, and ecosystem processes that are the focus of conservation planning. As of 2014, at least 68 plant species considered to be invasive by the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) potentially occur in upland, riparian, wetland, and open water habitats in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (Cal-IPC 2013a). Many are widespread and abundant in vegetation managed as part of State Plan of Flood Control (SPFC) operation and maintenance (O&M). These species degrade riverine and floodplain habitats by altering ecosystem processes and displacing native plants. In addition, some of these invasive species, such as tamarisk (or saltcedar) (Tamarix spp.), giant reed (Arundo donax), and red sesbania (Sesbania punicea), are stressors that increase the cost and difficulty of operating and maintaining the SPFC.  These species can alter hydrology and sedimentation rates in riparian and aquatic systems (Cal-IPC 2011a) and can degrade flood system effectiveness. Importantly, recent studies have shown that certain invasive plant species have greater impacts on channel conveyance than native species adapted to the same areas (Stone et al. 2013). Dense stands of certain invasive species can alter channel morphology by retaining sediments and increasing the hydraulic roughness of the channel, which restricts flows and reduces flood conveyance (Bossard et al. 2000). For example, saltcedar traps and stabilizes alluvial sediments, narrowing stream channels and contributing to more frequent flooding (Bossard et al. 2000). Species with shallow root systems, such as giant reed and red sesbania, promote bank undercutting, collapse, and erosion (Bossard et al. 2000; Cal-IPC 2011b). Invasive terrestrial plants can reduce groundwater availability by transpiring large amounts of water, leaving less water available for native riparian vegetation (Bossard et al. 2000).  Invasive plants can also reduce the integrity of native riparian plant communities by outcompeting native plants, reducing habitat quality and food supply for wildlife, and interfering with wildlife management (Bossard et al. 2000; Cal-IPC 2011a). Nationally, invasive species are the second greatest threat to endangered species, after habitat destruction (Cal-IPC 2011a), and approximately 42 percent of the species listed as threatened or endangered by the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) are at risk primarily because of the adverse effects of invasive species (Pimentel et al. 2005). Aquatic invasive plants can degrade aquatic habitat by reducing areas of open water used by waterfowl for resting, by shading out algae in the water column and thereby diminishing the basis of the aquatic food web, and by displacing native aquatic plants that are used for food or shelter by wildlife (Bossard et al. 2000). In addition, invasive aquatic plants often form dense mats that kill fish by lowering pH, dissolved oxygen, and light levels and by increasing carbon dioxide and turbidity (Bossard et al. 2000).  Because of these adverse effects and the threats they pose to achieving the goals of the Conservation Strategy, this Plan is driven by the following vision: to reduce the impact of invasive plants as a stressor on conservation targets and as an impediment to the operation and maintenance of the State Plan of Flood Control.  This Plan seeks to increase DWR institutional support for an SPA-wide invasive plant treatment program, and facilitate consistent invasive vegetation treatment actions by levee maintaining agencies and other partners such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service who are also conducting invasive plant control efforts. SPA-wide implementation of invasive plant treatment faces challenges that include ever-decreasing O&M budgets, regulatory requirements to protect sensitive resources, and the need to meet multiple and sometimes conflicting management objectives. This Plan recognizes those challenges, but it is beyond the scope of a single plan to resolve them all. Instead, the Plan provides first steps toward addressing the challenges through a series of goals, objectives, and implementation actions. The Plan includes measurable objectives for the treatment of four target species (Initial Priority Species) in Channel Maintenance Areas within the SPA (Channel Maintenance Areas; Figure 1-2) and identified in the DWR State Plan of Flood Control Descriptive Document (DWR 2010). It is the intent of this Plan to increase the resources available for invasive plant treatment actions by fashioning an approach that meets multiple needs and, therefore, may take advantage of funding sources not previously available for these actions. 

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix F. Existing Conditions

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

This appendix describes the existing conditions for the targets of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) Conservation Strategy (Conservation Strategy). It desc

This appendix describes the existing conditions for the targets of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) Conservation Strategy (Conservation Strategy). It describes these existing conditions for the same geographic units used in the objectives of the Conservation Strategy: conservation planning areas (CPAs) and landscape units within CPAs. 

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix G. Identification of Target Species and Focused Conservation Plans

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

 The purpose of the Conservation Strategy of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) is to provide direction for the California Department of Water Resources’

 The purpose of the Conservation Strategy of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) is to provide direction for the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR’s) environmental stewardship activities related to integrated flood management in the Central Valley, and to provide a framework and support for programmatic permitting of flood management activities.  One goal of the Conservation Strategy is to contribute to the recovery and stability of native species populations and overall biotic community diversity. A set of potential target species was identified to support measurable objectives for this goal. For those target species with the greatest need for recovery of their populations, focused conservation planning was conducted. This appendix documents the process used for selecting the target species of the Conservation Strategy, including 17 target species for which focused conservation planning was conducted. The results of this focused planning are also provided in this appendix, in the form of focused conservation plans. This document is scheduled to be updated every 5 years.   Because the conservation needs of species change, in the future, additional species may become suitable targets for the Conservation Strategy. Therefore, during preparation of the 5-year updates to the CVFPP, the preliminary list of species in this appendix will be reevaluated using the same criteria described below. Species meeting these criteria will be added, and focused conservation plans will be developed for them and included in subsequent updates of the Conservation Strategy. During the public comment period, new information regarding the status of the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and its habitat use in the Systemwide Planning Area (SPA) was made available, and a recovery plan for the species is expected to be released in 2016; therefore, this species will be considered for inclusion in the 2022 CVFPP and Conservation Strategy. Other species that were considered during the initial screening could be reconsidered, and targeted conservation plans may be developed. These species include the western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii), and western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). 

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix H. Central Valley Chinook Salmon Rearing Habitat Required to Satisfy the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program Doubling Goal

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

NewFields and Cramer Fish Sciences, in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources FloodSAFE Environmental Stewardship and Statewide Resources

NewFields and Cramer Fish Sciences, in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources FloodSAFE Environmental Stewardship and Statewide Resources Office Conservation Strategy team, applied best available tools and data to estimate the area of suitable juvenile salmonid rearing habitat required in each of the Conservation Planning Areas (CPAs) to achieve the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program (AFRP) “doubling goal” for Chinook salmon populations. The AFRP goal was used to align the Conservation Strategy objectives with existing,longstanding efforts by partner resource management agencies. Historical and existing suitable rearing habitat area for juvenile salmonids was estimated with the Estimated Annual Habitat approach that uses measured hydrology and modeled hydraulic relationships between river flow and inundation area to calculate areas of inundation with timing, duration, and frequency suitable for juvenile California Chinook salmon rearing. The rearing habitat required to support the doubling goal populations was estimated using the Emigrating Salmonid Habitat Estimation model. The details of the approach and the full range of calculated results are presented in the following sections and appendices.

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix I. Floodplain Restoration Opportunity Analysis

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

As part of the Conservation Strategy for the 2017 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP), a continuation of the Floodplain Restoration Opportunity Analysis (FROA) (

As part of the Conservation Strategy for the 2017 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP), a continuation of the Floodplain Restoration Opportunity Analysis (FROA) (DWR 2012a) was conducted to develop, identify, and prioritize potential locations for implementing management actions. Two types of management actions were considered in this analysis: modification of floodplain topography (specifically, lowering floodplain topography through targeted excavation) and levee relocation (specifically, constructing setback levees). Preliminary areas for floodplain modification and setback levees were identified within the Systemwide Planning Area (SPA) of the State Plan of Flood Control (SPFC) (Figure 1-1). The following technical memorandum documents the goal, objectives, methods, and results of this analysis.

CVFPP Conservation Strategy Appendix J. Existing Conservation Objectives from Other Plans

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

The Conservation Strategy, in conjunction with the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP), geographically overlaps with multiple regional and collaborative conserva

The Conservation Strategy, in conjunction with the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP), geographically overlaps with multiple regional and collaborative conservation plans that have been implemented or are planned for the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Regional planning efforts such as the Conservation Strategy are most effective when coordinated with similar programs and plans, in terms of both cost efficiency and ecological benefit. For example, knowledge gained through implementation of existing plans has refined the Conservation Strategy’s objectives and approaches. Additionally, during strategy implementation, collaboration with other planning efforts will provide greater opportunities for effective, integrated, landscape-level conservation. This could support achievement of individual plans’ important ecological objectives, such as improving habitat connectivity and increasing the size of habitat preserves. In other words, the collaborative approach will allow the Conservation Strategy to contribute to the shared objectives of the other plans while meeting its own objectives.  The purpose of this appendix is to describe completed and ongoing planning efforts that have regional, geographically based, or quantifiable conservation measures that may be relevant to the Conservation Strategy. All of the plans and programs described overlap at least partially with the Systemwide Planning Area (SPA). The list presented herein is not comprehensive, but provides examples of efforts that were considered in developing the Conservation Strategy. In this appendix, completed planning efforts are summarized first, followed by those that are in progress. Potential relationships between these plans or programs and the Conservation Strategy are summarized in Table 1-1. Some programs, such as efforts to identify total maximum daily loads or implement Integrated Regional Water Management Plans, may support conservation work, but their objectives are dissimilar to those of the Conservation Strategy (i.e., focused on meeting water quality standards), so were not included.  This appendix is not intended to present an analysis of each plan in detail. Rather, the intent is to identify areas of potential overlap between relevant plans and the Conservation Strategy. As the Conservation Strategy is implemented, potentially synergistic areas and areas of possible conflict between the Conservation Strategy and individual plans can continue to be identified.  This appendix supports and recognizes considerations that will be essential as the Conservation Strategy is implemented. Specifically, this appendix:  • efficiently uses current information to inform the Conservation Strategy regarding potential conservation goals; recognizes that multiple conservation plans and collaborative planning efforts have been completed, are in development, or are being implemented: in whole or in part, the plans address many of the targeted species and habitats that occur in the SPA, and the plans help identify conservation needs and priorities in the flood risk management system; highlights potential conservation partnerships for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in implementing the Conservation Strategy, by: describing opportunities to share costs on conservation projects and describing opportunities for DWR to simultaneously meet its own conservation goals and contribute to plans or programs through specific projects; and identifies completed conservation planning efforts, from which “lessons learned” can be applied to Conservation Strategy implementation

CVPIA 10 Years of Progress

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | June 27th, 2015

In 1992, Congress passed the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Act, or CVPIA), which amended previous authorizations of the California Central Valley Project (CVP)

In 1992, Congress passed the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Act, or CVPIA), which amended previous authorizations of the California Central Valley Project (CVP) to include fish and wildlife protection, restoration, enhancement, and mitigation as project purposes having equal priority with power generation, and irrigation and domestic water uses. Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), to operate the CVP consistent with the purposes of the Act, to meet the Federal trust responsibilities to protect the fishery resources of affected Federally recognized Indian tribes, and to achieve a reasonable balance among competing demands for use of CVP water. For the past 10 years, Reclamation and the Service, working together to implement the CVPIA, have embarked on one of the Nation’s largest fish and wildlife restoration efforts. Reclamation and the Service have developed programs to improve environmental conditions and modify operations, management, and physical facilities, and thus, the associated environmental conditions of the CVP to comply with the purposes and goals of the Act. All of the Act’s restoration measures are planned and implemented by Reclamation and the Service and coordinated with the State of California, CALFED, and other partners. In the following pages, you will find a summary of the protection, restoration, enhancement, and mitigation measures that have been implemented as of the end of fiscal year 2002, demonstrating the contributions Reclamation and the Service have made to the Central Valley. As you read the summary, it should become clear that progress is being made in unprecedented programs, and advancements have been made in resolving complicated watershed issues throughout the Central Valley. Yet much work lies ahead.

Dams within Jurisdiction of the State of California

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 31st, 2023

Data to Decisions: How to Make Science More Relevant for Management of the San Francisco Estuary

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | March 23rd, 2023

Dealing with the Delta: Envisioning Futures, Finding Solutions (Research Brief)

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | February 15th, 2007

This research brief summarizes a report by Jay Lund, Ellen Hanak, William Fleenor, Richard Howitt, Jeffrey Mount, and Peter Moyle, Envisioning Futures for the Sacramento�

This research brief summarizes a report by Jay Lund, Ellen Hanak, William Fleenor, Richard Howitt, Jeffrey Mount, and Peter Moyle, Envisioning Futures for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta.