State of the Estuary 2019 Update

San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) | October 22nd, 2019

The San Francisco Estuary is a large and diverse system. Hundreds of miles of coastline stretch from the wide valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers to the stee

The San Francisco Estuary is a large and diverse system. Hundreds of miles of coastline stretch from the wide valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers to the steep headlands of the Golden Gate, with vast agricultural fields in the Delta and urbanized shorelines in Silicon Valley and many of the region’s cities. The complexity and scale of this system means it can take years to detect and assess changes. This interim State of the Estuary Report checks in on a few indicators of health and explores where the assessment should head over time. In the four years since the 2015 State of the Estuary Report, two issues have emerged as critical to how we assess the health of the estuarine ecosystem at the heart of the Bay Area and the Delta. First, the health of the Estuary and of the people who live near it and depend on it are inextricably linked. We need a healthy Bay and Delta to protect our shorelines from sea level rise, help keep our waters clean, provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife, and give people a place to enjoy nature. We also need to think more about human communities as we assess the health of natural communities. This focus means addressing environmental injustices that are deeply embedded in our culture and patterns of development. The second critical issue to emerge is the need for a greater focus on landscape resilience—how well the Bay and the Delta are equipped to respond to change—so that people and wildlife can thrive as climate change progresses. Taking these two ideas together, this report focuses on the nexus of social and ecological resilience as we look toward the future. The first section of the Report updates indicators of ecological health that span the entire extent of the San Francisco Estuary (Bay and Delta). Recent data show continued progress along the trajectories of the past decade. Tidal marsh restoration is proceeding at a brisk pace in the Bay and gaining traction in the Delta, while urban water conservation continues to meet mandated benchmarks, even during the drought. On the other hand, flows through the Estuary and across its floodplains continue to be well below levels that could increase and restore ecosystem health. Freshwater flows are a lynchpin of ecosystem processes that sustain physical habitats, fuel the food web, and regulate water quality. Creative approaches to using and re-using fresh water for environmental purposes are needed. Long-term trend analysis shows that fish communities in the Bay are declining. This analysis scores an index of 10 attributes of a healthy fish community. The index focuses on fish in offshore areas, and may not capture benefits to fish from near-shore wetland restoration projects. Despite this slow decline, fish communities in the saltier parts of the Estuary remain in good condition, while those in the brackish and freshwater areas are in poor condition. The next section of the report discusses three emerging indicators of Estuary health, offering options for how to assess resilience in future reports. Here, for the first time, the resilience of the Estuary’s shores is evaluated through the lens of subsidence and nature-based features. Elevation relative to sea level is a basic currency that must be tracked as the Pacific Ocean rises into the Estuary. The potential for the Estuary shore to be resilient to climate change and continue to provide benefits to people is related to how much of the shore zone is nature-based. The final emerging indicator, urban green space, is a first attempt to assess how access to nature is distributed across more and less advantaged communities. More work is needed to finalize all these emerging indicators before they can be included in any future quantitative assessment of the State of the Estuary. These emerging and updated indicators will help focus efforts to restore the Estuary’s health. In addition to continuing the successful aspects of restoration and conservation that this report describes, we need more investment in creative ways to use and restore flows for environmental health, to expand and build resilient shorelines and to weave considerations of social equity more strongly into efforts to improve environmental health. - J. Letitia Grenier, Lead Scientist

State of the Salmonids: Status of California’s Emblematic Fishes 2017

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | August 1st, 2017

California has, or had, 32 distinct kinds of salmonid fishes. They are either endemic to California or at the southern end of their ranges. Most are in serious decline:

California has, or had, 32 distinct kinds of salmonid fishes. They are either endemic to California or at the southern end of their ranges. Most are in serious decline: 45% and 74% of all salmonids will likely become extirpated from California in the next 50 and 100 years, respectively, if present trends continue. Our results suggest that California will lose more than half (52%) of its native anadromous salmonids and nearly a third (30%) of its inland taxa in just 50 years under current conditions. Climate change is a major overarching threat driving population declines throughout California and strongly affects the status of 84% of all salmonids reviewed. In addition, dams, agricultural operations, estuary alteration, non-native species, production hatcheries, and myriad other human-induced threats have contributed to declines. 81% of salmonids in California are now worse off than they were in 2007, when the previous version of this report was prepared. The changes in species status are the result of the 2012-2016 historic drought, improved data collection and review, and an improved understanding of climate change impacts. Returning these iconic species to sustainable levels requires access to productive and diverse habitats which promote the full range of life history diversity necessary to weather change. We recommend (i) protecting and investing in fully functioning watersheds such as the Smith River and Blue Creek, (ii) protecting and restoring source waters such as Sierra meadow systems, groundwater, and springs so that the impacts of climate change are reduced, (iii) restoring function and access to once productive and diverse habitats such as Central Valley floodplains, coastal lagoons, and estuaries, (iv) adopting reconciliation ecology as a basis for management in human dominated landscapes, (v) improving habitat connectivity and passage to historical spawning and rearing habitat, and (vi) improving salmonid genetic management throughout California.

State of the Salton Sea: A Science and Monitoring Meeting of Scientists for the Salton Sea

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 19th, 2017

The Salton Sea (Sea) is an ecosystem facing large systemic changes in the near future. Managers and stakeholders are seeking solutions to the decline of the Sea and have

The Salton Sea (Sea) is an ecosystem facing large systemic changes in the near future. Managers and stakeholders are seeking solutions to the decline of the Sea and have turned to the scientific community for answers. In response, scientists gathered in Irvine, California, to review existing science and propose scientific studies and monitoring needs required for understanding how to retain the Sea as a functional ecosystem. This document summarizes the proceedings of this gathering of approximately 50 scientists at a September 8–10, 2014, workshop on the State of the Salton Sea (SoSS).  In 1997, a similar gathering of nearly 100 scientists and others in Palm Springs, Calif., yielded a number of scientific proposals establishing a foundation for a program of integrated science investigations. The 1997 workshop results were combined with recommendations from a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Tiger Team (Shipley and others, 1999), resulting in the eventual creation of a Strategic Science Plan (SSP) for the Salton Sea (Salton Sea Science Subcommittee, 2000). The vision from the 1997 workshop of an integrated and coordinated program of scientific investigations, embraced by the SSP, was implemented through the SSC and the USGS Salton Sea Science Office (Science Office). The integrated science program, mandated by the Salton Sea Reclamation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–372) and spelled out in the SSP, directly led to an increased scientific understanding of the Salton Sea ecosystem. The workshop concluded that “rehabilitation of the Sea is essential and requires that current ills be rectified in a manner that allows the Sea to sustain social values of importance to the human populations of the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, as well as society in general” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997). The 2014 SoSS workshop built upon the foundations of the 1997 workshop, with particular emphasis on changes in the condition of the Sea and its environment in the intervening years. Over the past five decades, investigations of the Salton Sea have addressed water quality, biological, recreation, and (or) economic issues at the Salton Sea (California Resources Agency, 2006, chap. 8). Many stakeholders believe that the Salton Sea has been “studied to death” (Claiborne, 1996). Although it is true that a great deal of research has been completed at the Salton Sea, much of it has been short term and focused on specific topics with little or no integration across science disciplines, time, and space. Additionally, there have been numerous attempts at resource management of the Salton Sea (previously referred to as restoration planning).  Study objectives have differed, but the main focus has generally been on methods to control the salinity and elevation of the Salton Sea (California Resources Agency, 2006, chaps. 1 and 4). Most investigations resulted in proposed plans to preserve the Salton Sea as a thriving fishery and recreational destination, and most of these plans addressed methods to preserve the “whole Sea.” More recently, however, studies have recognized that maintaining a smaller Salton Sea should be considered, owing to declining inflows to the Salton Sea (California Resources Agency, 2006).  Prior investigations considered hundreds of alternatives for managing Salton Sea salinity, nutrients, and water elevation. Some alternatives generated revenue to help pay for rehabilitating the Sea. These alternatives have been addressed in multiple studies, as summarized in chapters 1 and 4 of the “Salton Sea Ecosystem Restoration Program Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Report” (California Resources Agency, 2006).  Although there have been multiple efforts to characterize the Salton Sea ecosystem and develop management plans, it was not until 1996 that a comprehensive and integrated research needs assessment was developed (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997). The 1997 report captured the combined thinking of scientists and managers and identified several areas of scientific research that would be required for a fuller, more complete understanding of the Salton Sea necessary to undertake any management project. The report defined these broad categories of science as physical environment, biological environment, cultural resources, pathogens and diseases, and contaminants. These categories form the basic framework for all scientific investigations at the Salton Sea. Some science categories continue to receive greater emphasis because limited funding has required the prioritization of projects.  A Salton Sea Science Subcommittee (SSC) authorized by Public Law 105–372, representing a broad range of Federal, State, local, and other stakeholder interests, endorsed a long-range Strategic Science Plan for the Salton Sea (Salton Sea Science Subcommittee, 2000). Whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997 report established the types of science needed, the SSP further established the governing processes and expectations of how this science program should be conducted. The SSP provided the framework for scientific investigations and remains the source for identifying how scientific studies should be undertaken to better understand the Salton Sea ecosystem. Based substantially on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1997) analysis of science needs, and in consultation with many stakeholders, the SSC authorized and funded a number of initial reconnaissance-level projects. The structure of this SoSS document follows the basic framework of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997 report, placing emphasis on physical environment (air and water quality), biological environment (birds, fish, invertebrates, carbon, and algae), contaminants, and socioeconomics.  The SoSS meeting in 2014 was convened to build upon previous scientific efforts and to provide guidance to managers on what experts believe are the most critical science needs going forward. Experts were invited to participate in the SoSS meeting based on a review by the organizing committee of individuals with subject area expertise and experience working at the Salton Sea or in similar environments. The SoSS organizing committee presented a synopsis of known science to the gathered scientists, who were then tasked to evaluate the completeness of that science and make recommendations for science needs to fill information gaps. Participants were challenged to think and act independently of their organizational affiliation in order to generate conceptual proposals designed to address scientific and monitoring concerns identified by the managerial meeting participants.

Statement of E. Joaquin Esquivel, Chair, California State Water Resources Control Board Before the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee Hearing on Federal and State Efforts to Restore the Salton Sea

Salton Sea Authority | September 24th, 2020

Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. My name is Joaquin Esquivel and I am the Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Th

Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. My name is Joaquin Esquivel and I am the Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Thank you for the invitation to join you today to speak about the Salton Sea and the opportunity we all have to help bring attention to California’s largest lake.

Status and Trends of Delta-Suisun Services

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | March 1st, 2007

Covering only about 1 percent of California’s area, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including Suisun Bay and Marsh (hereafter referred to as Delta-Suisun), contribute

Covering only about 1 percent of California’s area, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including Suisun Bay and Marsh (hereafter referred to as Delta-Suisun), contributes much more to the state and nation than one might expect from its small size. The Delta-Suisun provides a set of environmental and economic services whose benefits extend well beyond its borders. To help people gain a common understanding of these services, this report provides an overview of the existing status of these services and a perspective about how these services may change in the future. This report was prepared to highlight observations and to present a common understanding about the status and trends of key Delta-Suisun services. The Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) is considering these observations while conducting a risk assessment for the Delta-Suisun and will report on its findings in spring 2007. Having a common understanding of the area’s services will benefit ongoing and new Delta-Suisun studies and initiatives. Information in this report will be considered by members of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force and Stakeholder Coordination Group as they begin work on the Delta Vision and Strategic Plan.

Status Review of California coho salmon north of San Francisco

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | May 9th, 2002

On July 28, 2000, the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a petition to list coho salmon north of San Francisco as an endangered species under provisions of th

On July 28, 2000, the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a petition to list coho salmon north of San Francisco as an endangered species under provisions of the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The Commission referred the petition to the Department of Fish and Game (Department) on August 7, 2000, for evaluation. The Department found that the information in the petition was sufficient to indicate the action may be warranted and recommended the Commission accept the petition. The petition was accepted by the Commission on April 5, 2001. On April 27, 2001 the Commission published a Notice of Findings in the California Regulatory Notice Register declaring coho salmon a candidate species, thereby starting the candidacy period. The Department solicited information and undertook a status review of the species using the best scientific information available. This report contains the results of the Department’s status review and recommendations to the Commission. The Department evaluated the status separately for the two coho salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) that occur in California: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho ESU (SONCC Coho ESU - those populations from Punta Gorda north to the Oregon border) and the Central California Coast Coho ESU (CCC Coho ESU - those populations from San Francisco Bay north to Punta Gorda). This approach is consistent with previous listings, the federal approach to species’ evaluation, and the generally accepted biological criterion that a species is “a group of interbreeding organisms that is reproductively isolated from other such groups.”

Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan for California

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | February 1st, 1996

This document will serve as the blueprint for the Department's efforts to restore this prized, and oftentimes overlooked, resource. Restoration of California's anadrom

This document will serve as the blueprint for the Department's efforts to restore this prized, and oftentimes overlooked, resource. Restoration of California's anadromous fish populations is mandated by The Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and Anadromous Fisheries Program Act of 1988 (SB 2261) which states that it is a policy of the State to significantly increase the natural production of salmon and steelhead by the end of the century. SB 2261 directs the Department to develop a program that strives to double naturally spawning anadromous fish populations by the year 2000. Steelhead management is often included in, and sometimes lost within, management of the more economically important Pacific salmon. Recognizing this, several legislators along with prominent angling organizations urged the Department to incorporate a Statewide Steelhead Restoration Plan into the initial elements of the SB 2261 program. Thus, the development of the Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan for California (Steelhead Plan) has been an important feature of the SB 2261 program since its inception in 1988. Various organizations, principally California Trout, Inc. and Trout Unlimited, remain committed to assisting the Department in its efforts to recover steelhead populations and eagerly await the publication of the Steelhead Plan so that implementation of the identified restoration measures can begin.  Many other angling and conservation organizations are committed to the Steelhead Plan and have corresponded with the Department during its development. Governor Pete Wilson pointed out in his Water Policy Statement of April, 1992, the urgent need for a long-term, comprehensive water policy that includes safe, reliable water supplies for cities and farms and sufficient water to restore fish and wildlife resources. The goals and recommendations set forth in the Steelhead Plan are consistent with this latter aspect of the Governor's Water Policy. Because steelhead are present within the range of all other anadromous salmonid species in California, and because they use a greater portion of a particular river system than do other anadromous fish, restoration of steelhead habitat will have a salutary effect on many other anadromous fish species as well. The Steelhead Plan is one in a series of documents developed by the Department to address the mandated doubling policy stated above. Restoring Central Valley Streams, A Plan for Action was published in 1993 and presents a multi-species approach to restoration of anadromous fish populations in the Central Valley. The Steelhead Plan dovetails with, and is an integral component of, this Action Plan. The Steelhead Plan identifies the life history requirements and needs of an important element of Central Valley anadromous fish ecosystems.

Still Imperilled, Still Important: The Little Hoover Commission’s Review of the CALFED Program

Little Hoover Commission | November 17th, 2005

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a treasured and imperiled resource. And CALFED has been the best hope to restore it. The ambitious state-federal partnership is

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a treasured and imperiled resource. And CALFED has been the best hope to restore it. The ambitious state-federal partnership is proof that political will and leadership can resolve seemingly intractable conflicts. And yet in recent years, the program also has demonstrated the propensity for rudderless bureaucracies to get caught in inescapable eddies. It is not too late for the Delta, or for CALFED. But restoring the estuary and managing the resource in a sustainable manner will require continuous political support, expert leadership, and smart management.

Storing and managing water for the environment is more efficient than mimicking natural flows

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | June 27th, 2024

Storing Water for the Environment: Operating Reservoirs to Improve California’s Freshwater Ecosystems

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | August 23rd, 2022

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits includi

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits including water supply, hydropower, flood management, and recreation. However, construction and operation of these reservoirs have also imposed significant environmental costs, including native fishes’ loss of access to high-quality habitat above dams and degradation of freshwater ecosystems below them. Moreover, regulatory uncertainty for water users is rising as these ecosystems decline. California needs a new approach for managing environmental water in its large reservoirs, particularly as the climate warms and droughts become more intense.