Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Southern California Water Committee
March 26, 2010Ontario
KARLA NEMETH, Natural Resources Agency
Why is the Delta Important?
Where are we today?
Pelagic Organism Decline ESA lawsuits re: delta smelt and
salmon Additional species candidates for
listing• Green Sturgeon
• Longfin smelt
Drought
How WaterWater Currently Flows Across the Delta
How WaterWater Currently Flows Across the Delta
1111
SanSanJoaquin Joaquin
RiverRiver
SanSanJoaquin Joaquin
RiverRiver
2222
Sac River Sac River ReversesReversesSac River Sac River ReversesReverses
3333
SWP PumpsSWP PumpsSWP PumpsSWP Pumps
CVP PumpsCVP PumpsCVP PumpsCVP Pumps
Sac RiverSac River– Delta Cross ChannelDelta Cross Channel– Mokelumne River– Mokelumne River– Old & Middle River– Old & Middle Rivers
South DeltaSouth Delta River ReversalsRiver Reversals
Ocean/TidalOcean/Tidal High salinityHigh salinityOcean/TidalOcean/Tidal High salinityHigh salinity
What is the BDCP?
ESA - HCP NCCPA - NCCP
+ + + =Conservation
StrategyAspects of
implementationConservation
Plan
Multiple species, contribute to long-
recovery
Equal Goals
Water Supply Focus
Equal Goals
Ecosystem Focus
It is a major challenge to restore an ecosystem in an environment like the Delta that is
highly altered and largely unnatural.
• Planning Agreement – 2006• Stressors identified; Options evaluated
• Points of Agreement Document – 2007
• Independent Science Reports• BDCP Conservation Principles• Adaptive Management• Terrestrial Species
• Overview of Draft Conservation Strategy – 2009• Modeling
• Preliminary Draft Conservation Strategy – Fall/Winter 20109
Plan Development
Steering Committee
• Delta smelt
• Longfin smelt
• Chinook Salmon – winter, spring, fall and late fall
• Green and white sturgeon
• Central valley steelhead
• Sacramento splittail
• About 48 terrestrial species
Covered Species
Aquatic Conservation Measures Biological Goals& Objectives For
Covered Fish Species
Improve survival
Improve fitness
Improve distribution
Improve growth rate
Decrease mortality
Habitat RestorationConservation Actions
Phytoplankton andzooplankton (fish food)
Spawning and rearing
Other StressorsConservation Actions
Reduce contaminants
Reduce predation effects
Improve fish passage
Reduce Disease
Reduce non-natives
Water Operations Conservation Actions
Improve water quality
Reduce entrainment
Improve water flow and habitat conditions
Dual Conveyance Flow and Habitat Fundamentals
Dual Conveyance Flow and Habitat Fundamentals
East/west East/west flow patternflow pattern
1111
SWP PumpsSWP Pumps
CVP PumpsCVP PumpsCVP PumpsCVP Pumps
Ocean/TidalOcean/Tidal High salinityHigh salinityOcean/TidalOcean/Tidal High salinityHigh salinity
Habitat Habitat interactioninteraction
2222
Water Water reliability reliability and qualityand quality
3333
Draft Conservation Strategy – Major Elements
HabitatRestoration
• Up to 80,000 acres tidal marsh, riparian, and floodplain
• Enhanced floodplain in the Yolo Bypass-temporary inundation
• 20-40 linear miles channel restoration
Water Facilities &Operations
•North Delta diversion5 intakes15,000 cfs design
capacityTunnel/Pipeline subject
of focused study in BDCP
Minimum flows to ensure healthy habitat and water quality
Sacramento River flows are always greater than exports
Other Stressors
•Reduce methylmercury•Remove non-native
aquatic plants•Reduce illegal harvest•Establish hatchery and
genetic management plans
•Support Delta and longfin smelt propagation programs
•Reduce predators•Construct non-physical
barriers to re-direct juvenile salmonids
Draft Conversation Strategy - Flows
Inflow requirements
Outflow requirements and management of X2
Rio Vista Flow Requirements
Delta Cross Channel gate operations
Ratio between San Joaquin River inflow and South Delta exports
Old and Middle River flows
New North Delta diversion bypass flows
Water quality standards set forth in State Board rule D-1641
Preferential South Delta diversions
Channel Margin – 20 to 40 linear miles
Floodplain (new) – up to 10,000 acres
Tidal Marsh – up to 65,000 acres
Riparian – 5,000 acres
Floodplain (enhanced existing)
Potential Tunnel Conveyance
35 miles twin bore 33’ ID
8 miles single bore 23’ – 33’ ID
intake tunnel Forebay in the north with 750 acres of water surface area
+/- 150’ deep
5 Intakes between Freeport to Courtland
Potential Habitat Restoration
• Five water intake facilities along the Sacramento River, between Freeport and Courtland
• Isolated Conveyance Facility (East/West/Tunnel)
• Through-Delta (armoring the Delta)
• Dual Conveyance System
BDCP Conveyance Options
Natural Communities & Terrestrial Species
• 48 Species for Coverage
• 70,000 acres tidal marsh/riparian restoration also supports 28 terrestrial species
• Propose approx. 45,000 additional acres
• Total Terrestrial Restoration Target approx 101,000 – 115,000 acres
Key Issues - Conservation Strategy
• Refine/determine proposed conservation measures.
– Effects of plan on biological resources, other scientific efforts
– Climate change
– Design aspects of conveyance (pipeline/canal)
• Metrics, monitoring and adaptive management
• Coordination with other conservation plans in the Delta
– Address conflicts between aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration
Key Issues & Challenges
Regulatory assurances in light of scientificuncertainty
Cost and financing of conveyance, habitatrestoration, and other stressor measures
Limited control over other factors affecting fish species
By whom and how the plan would be implemented
Public support
Public Input & Schedule
• Delta Community Workshops Held in 2009– Technical focus on draft conservation strategy
• Ongoing Steering Committee Meetings- Open to the Public
• Ongoing Stakeholder Briefings– Local jurisdictions, Recreational interests, Water users,
Agriculture, Tribes, Environmental Justice communities
• Public Draft Conservation Plan – Fall 2010
Environmental Review Process
Karla Nemeth916-651-7587
