2021-2022 Comprehensive Emergency Drought Barrier Effectiveness Report

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 19th, 2024

This report summarizes the construction, monitoring, effectiveness, and impacts of the 2021–2022 West False River Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier (2021–2022 EDB).

This report summarizes the construction, monitoring, effectiveness, and impacts of the 2021–2022 West False River Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier (2021–2022 EDB). The purpose of this report is to meet the reporting requirements in the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) May 2021 Water Quality Certification (Section 8.0, Condition 1: Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting) and the commitment detailed in the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Monitoring Plan (updated in January 2022).

2022 Annual Report of the Delta Protection Commission

Delta Protection Commission (DPC) | January 20th, 2023

2022 Annual Review of the Construction and Operation of the State Water Project

California Water Commission (CWC) | January 18th, 2023

2022 State Plan of Flood Control Descriptive Document

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | February 28th, 2022

2022–2026 Science Action Agenda: A Vision for Integrating Delta Science

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | April 5th, 2022

2024 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Northern California Steelhead

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | July 9th, 2024

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abun

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abundance. Several factors contribute to these declines, including: overfishing, loss of freshwater and estuarine habitat, hydropower development, poor ocean conditions, and hatchery practices. These factors collectively led to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) listing of 28 salmon and steelhead stocks in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA, under section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every 5 years. A 5-year review is a periodic analysis of a species’ status conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List) (50 CFR 17.11 – 17.12; 50 CFR 223.102, 224.101) is accurate (USFWS and NMFS 2006; NMFS 2020). After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should: (1) be removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from endangered to threatened; or (3) have its status changed from threatened to endangered. If, in the 5-year review, a change in classification is recommended, the recommended change will be further considered in a separate rule-making process. The most recent 5-year review analysis for West Coast salmon and steelhead occurred in 2016. This document describes the results of the 2024 review of ESA-listed Northern California steelhead (NC steelhead). A 5-year review is: • A summary and analysis of available information on a given species; • The tracking of a species’ progress toward recovery; • The recording of the deliberative process used to make a recommendation on whether or not to reclassify a species; • A recommendation on whether reclassification of the species is indicated.

A conceptual model for floodplains in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | October 3rd, 2012

Floodplains are among the most biologically productive and diverse ecosystems on Earth and they provide significant benefits to society such as attenuation of floodwaters

Floodplains are among the most biologically productive and diverse ecosystems on Earth and they provide significant benefits to society such as attenuation of floodwaters, groundwater recharge, filtration of nutrients and sediments, carbon sequestration, fisheries productivity and recreation.  However, floodplains are also among the most converted and threatened ecosystems.  Floodplain habitats in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and throughout California’s Central Valley, have been greatly reduced from their historic extent and key processes that create and maintain floodplains, such as flood flows and meander migration, have been greatly altered.  These widespread alterations to habitats and processes have lead to declines in many species’ populations in California’s Central Valley and Delta, creating challenges for both environmental and water management. To address these challenges numerous entities and programs are now focused on restoring floodplains and other Delta habitats.  This paper provides a conceptual model for floodplains that characterizes the key features and identifies the critical processes, drivers, and linkages that allow floodplains to produce a variety of functional outputs of management importance.  These outputs include: (1) the floodplain habitat mosaic, including riparian vegetation and its associated wildlife; (2) spawning and rearing habitat for native fish; and (3) food-web productivity that can support native fish on the floodplain as well as be exported to downstream ecosystems.  The model emphasizes that the production of these outputs from floodplains requires vertical and lateral hydrological connectivity across a broad range of flow conditions.  For example, long-duration flooding in the spring promotes native fish spawning and food-web productivity that benefits native species.

A Delta Renewed: A Guide to Science-Based Ecological Restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

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

This report offers guidance for creating and maintaining landscapes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that support desired ecological functions, while retaining the ove

This report offers guidance for creating and maintaining landscapes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that support desired ecological functions, while retaining the overall agricultural character and water-supply service of the region. Based on extensive research into how the Delta functioned historically, how it has changed, and how it is likely to evolve, we discuss where and how to re-establish the dynamic natural processes that can sustain native Delta habitats and wildlife into the future. The approach, building on work others have piloted and championed, is to restore or emulate natural processes where possible, establish an appropriate mosaic of habitat types at the landscape scale, use multi-benefit management strategies to increase support for native species in agricultural and urban areas, and allow the Delta to adapt to future uncertainties of climate change, levee failure, and human population growth. With this approach, it will be critical to integrate ecological improvements with the human landscape: a robust agricultural economy, water infrastructure and diversions, and urbanized areas. Strategic restoration that builds on the history and ecology of the region can contribute to the strong sense of place and recreational value of the Delta.

A Delta Renewed: A Guide to Science-Based Ecological Restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | November 15th, 2016

This final report of the Delta Landscapes Project, A Delta Renewed, offers guidance for creating and maintaining landscapes that can provide desired ecological functi

This final report of the Delta Landscapes Project, A Delta Renewed, offers guidance for creating and maintaining landscapes that can provide desired ecological functions for decades to come. Based on extensive research into how the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta used to function, how it has changed, and how it is likely to evolve, we make recommendations for how to re-establish the dynamic natural processes that can sustain native Delta wildlife as healthy populations into the future. The approach, building on work others have piloted and championed, is to restore or emulate natural processes where possible, establish an appropriate configuration of habitat types at the landscape scale, and use multi-benefit management strategies to create a more viable Delta ecosystem that can adapt and continue to provide valued functions as the climate changes. This approach is designed to integrate with the human landscape: ecosystem improvements as a part of a robust agricultural economy, water infrastructure and diversions, and urbanized areas. Strategic restoration which builds on the history and ecology of the region can contribute to the strong sense of place and recreational value of the Delta in the future. See more at: http://www.sfei.org/projects/delta-landscapes-project#sthash.RryQdaII.dpuf

A Delta Transformed: Ecological Functions, Spatial Metrics, and Landscape Change in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | October 1st, 2014

In A Delta Transformed, completed in 2014, SFEI researchers used the spatial data generated in the Delta Historical Ecology Investigation, as well as updated modern veget

In A Delta Transformed, completed in 2014, SFEI researchers used the spatial data generated in the Delta Historical Ecology Investigation, as well as updated modern vegetation and land cover datasets, to carry out detailed analyses of how the Delta landscape has been altered since the early-1800s. By quantifying changes in metrics relevant to native wildlife (such as the extent and timing of inundation, habitat patch sizes, length of channel networks), the report provides a foundation for defining, designing, and evaluating landscapes that support desirable ecological functions in the future. See more at: http://www.sfei.org/projects/delta-landscapes-project#sthash.RryQdaII.dpuf