Los Angeles Department of Water and Power 2016 Annual Owens Valley Report

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) | December 1st, 2015

This report includes Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) proposed Owens Valley operations plan for the first six months of the 2016-17 runoff year, an u

This report includes Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) proposed Owens Valley operations plan for the first six months of the 2016-17 runoff year, an update on Owens Valley conditions, the current status of LADWP’s environmental mitigation projects, and the status of other studies, projects, and activities.

Lower Peninsula Watershed Condition Assessment 2016: Southwest San Francisco Bay, Santa Clara County, San Francisquito to Stevens Creeks. Technical memorandum prepared for the Santa Clara Valley Water District

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | October 2nd, 2017

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the C

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM), for the Lower Peninsula watershed in Santa Clara County; consisting of Stevens-Permanente Creek, Adobe Creek, southern extent of San Francisquito Creek, and their tributaries. The Lower Peninsula watershed covers approximately 98 square-miles with creeks flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into southwest San Francisco Bay and its tidal wetlands.  The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (District) Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program has many priorities, including Priority D for restoring and protecting vital wildlife habitat, and providing opportunities for increased access to trails and open space. The D5 Project focuses on ecological data collection and analysis at a watershed scale to support the District, other County agencies and organizations in making informed ecological asset management decisions. The key performance indicators (KPIs) for D5 are to:  1. Establish new or track existing ecological levels of service for streams in 5 watersheds.  2. Reassess streams in 5 watersheds to determine if ecological levels of service are maintained or improved. 

Lower Peninsula Watershed Condition Assessment 2016. Technical memorandum prepared for the Santa Clara Valley Water District - Priority D5 Project

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | October 2nd, 2017

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the C

This report describes baseline information about the amount and distribution of aquatic resources, and evaluates that overall ecological conditions of streams using the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM), for the Lower Peninsula watershed in Santa Clara County; consisting of Stevens-Permanente Creek, Adobe Creek, southern extent of San Francisquito Creek, and their tributaries. The Lower Peninsula watershed covers approximately 98 square-miles with creeks flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into southwest San Francisco Bay and its tidal wetlands.

Making the Delta a Better Place for Native Fishes

Orange County Coastkeeper | March 1st, 2018

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the heart of California’s water delivery system, connecting the precipitation-rich regions of the north with the dry farmlands and

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the heart of California’s water delivery system, connecting the precipitation-rich regions of the north with the dry farmlands and demanding urban areas of the south and coast, including the Bay Area. Scarce water resources create conflicts between people and fishes; as demand by people for water grows, less water is available for the environment. This white paper explores the ways to keep the native fishes, and the functional ecosystems they require, from disappearing. Our analysis is fish-oriented because salmon, smelt, and other declining fishes are major drivers of decisions on where to focus aquatic restoration efforts.  The goals of this white paper are to first provide a brief introduction to the Delta and then to describe why restoration of native fishes and natural processes is such a challenge in this system. We follow this with some general guidelines for restoration projects in the Delta and apply those guidelines with a project evaluation tool. We used this tool to evaluate 26 projects, mostly part of EcoRestore, to provide insights to help determine action items. We then present 17 action items, listed below, some of which can be accomplished fairly quickly, some that will take longer, and few that will have to be continuous. But taken together, our recommended actions could significantly improve the welfare of native fishes and help to create a novel aquatic ecosystem with many desirable features.

Managing Surface Water-Groundwater to Restore Fall Flows in the Cosumnes River

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) | June 15th, 2004

Declining fall flows are limiting the ability of the Cosumnes River to support large fall runs of Chinook salmon. Management scenarios linking surface water and g

Declining fall flows are limiting the ability of the Cosumnes River to support large fall runs of Chinook salmon. Management scenarios linking surface water and groundwater alternatives to provide sufficient fall flows are examined using groundwater flow and channel routing models. Results show that groundwater overdraft in the basin has converted the river to a predominantly losing stream, practically eliminating base flows. Management alternatives to increase net recharge for example, pumping reductions were examined along with surface water augmentation options. Using a minimum depth standard for fish passage, average surface water flow deficits were computed for the migration period of Chinook salmon. Groundwater deficits were evaluated by comparing simulated current groundwater conditions with conditions under various scenarios. Increases in net recharge on the order of 200 to 300 million m3/year would be required to reconnect the regional aquifer with the channel and in turn reestablish perennial base flows. Options that combine surface water augmentation with groundwater management are most likely to ensure sufficient river flows in the short term and to support long-term restoration of regional groundwater levels.

Marsh Sediment in Translation: A Review of Sediment Transport Across a Natural Tidal Salt Marsh in Northern San Francisco Bay

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | March 15th, 2025

Deposition of inorganic sediment is essential for the sustainability of tidal salt marshes. Understanding variability in sediment sources and the processes of sediment de

Deposition of inorganic sediment is essential for the sustainability of tidal salt marshes. Understanding variability in sediment sources and the processes of sediment delivery to salt marshes are high priorities for decision-makers responsible for managing sediment and conserving and restoring marshes.

Measuring Cost-Effectiveness of Environmental Water Transactions

Klamath Riverkeeper | August 4th, 2016

The diversion, storage and consumptive use of water in the western United States (US) has drastically altered streamflow, water quality and a raft of ecological, social a

The diversion, storage and consumptive use of water in the western United States (US) has drastically altered streamflow, water quality and a raft of ecological, social and economic goods and services. Over the last fifty years, western states have begun to address this problem through a range of approaches. Water quality regulations, endangered species protections, application of the public trust doctrine to water allocations and other regulatory approaches reflect an effort to prevent further degradation of streamflow and associated values. For example, in Oregon, minimum streamflow requirements created in the 1950s were converted into full-fledged instream water rights in the 1980s and 1990s to limit further appropriations of water for out-of-stream use. Unfortunately, as junior (or low) priority rights, these rights do not serve to restore flow to already dewatered streams. In other cases, both large and small, regulatory enforcement has led to real improvements in water for the environment. In California, the protections afforded to Mono Lake water levels and the re-dedication of contract water to environmental uses under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, are but two examples. However, the controversy, costs and lengthy time span of dedicating water to the environment through litigation and regulatory approaches are unappealing to some conservation groups, particularly those that prefer to collaborate and purchase water rather than litigate to achieve streamflow restoration. An alternative approach to meet streamflow restoration needs is to proactively negotiate in the “water market” for the acquisition of existing out-of-stream rights or for changes in water use and management in order to benefit the environment. These transactions result in “environmental flows,” including the dedication or protection of water instream or the provision of water to Roughly 80% of California’s developed water supply is used for agricultural irrigation.*

Mercury, Monomethyl Mercury, and Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations in Surface Water Entering and Exiting Constructed Wetlands Treated with Metal-Based Coagulants, Twitchell Island, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 30th, 2015

Coagulation with metal-based salts is a practice commonly employed by drinking-water utilities to decrease particle and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in water.

Coagulation with metal-based salts is a practice commonly employed by drinking-water utilities to decrease particle and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in water. In addition to decreasing dissolved organic carbon concentrations, the effectiveness of iron- and aluminum-based coagulants for decreasing dissolved concentrations both of inorganic and monomethyl mercury in water was demonstrated in laboratory studies that used agricultural drainage water from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta of California. To test the effectiveness of this approach at the field scale, nine 15-by-40-meter wetland cells were constructed on Twitchell Island that received untreated water from island drainage canals (control) or drainage water treated with polyaluminum chloride or ferric sulfate coagulants. Surface-water samples were collected approximately monthly during November 2012–September 2013 from the inlets and outlets of the wetland cells and then analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey for total concentrations of mercury and monomethyl mercury in filtered (less than 0.3 micrometers) and suspended-particulate fractions and for concentrations of dissolved organic carbon.

Methods Used to Update Ecosystem Restoration Maps Using New Digital Elevation Model and Tidal Data

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | June 29th, 2022

Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study: Data Collection Summary (Technical Report)

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

The goals of the Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study were to collect and compile high-priority historical data about the Mission Bay landscape, identify

The goals of the Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study were to collect and compile high-priority historical data about the Mission Bay landscape, identify sources that could help to develop a deeper understanding of early ecological conditions, and to identify future possible research directions based on the available data. This technical memorandum is intended to document the archives consulted during the reconnaissance study, summarize the collected and compiled data, and to identify potential next steps. A separate technical presentation to project staff and advisors will summarize the preliminary findings and questions generated from a review of the historical dataset. Ultimately, this research is intended to support the San Diego Audubon Society’s Mission Bay Wetlands Conceptual Restoration Plan (CRP) and the ReWild Mission Bay project. Also on this topic: Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study: Data CollectionSummary and Initial Findings (Presentation)