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Jerry Johns Deputy Director Department of Water Resources

Improved Delta Water Conveyance as a Habitat Conservation Measure in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan __________ California Water Law Policy Conference April 17, 2007. Jerry Johns Deputy Director Department of Water Resources. California Water Systems. 9. The Bay/Delta System

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Jerry Johns Deputy Director Department of Water Resources

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  1. Improved Delta Water Conveyance as a Habitat Conservation Measure in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan __________California Water Law Policy Conference April 17, 2007 Jerry Johns Deputy Director Department of Water Resources

  2. California Water Systems 9

  3. The Bay/Delta System many things to many people Ever changing

  4. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  5. Earthquake Fault Zones Land Surface Elevations

  6. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  7. Changes in the Form of Precipitation Historical Evidence From: Roos, 2003

  8. Expected Storage Capacity Impacts from Changes in Runoff 13.5 MAF Reservoir Storage 14 MAF Snow Pack Storage 11 MAF Reservoir Storage A 3oC rise in temperatures is projected to result in a loss of water storage in the Sierra snow pack on the order of 4 to 5 MAF.

  9. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  10. Land SubsidenceDue to Farming & Peat Soil Oxidation - 30 ft. - 20 ft. - 5 ft. Subsidence • ~ 1.5 ft. per decade • 30 ft. in some areas - 30 feet Sea Level

  11. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  12. Exhibit J Synopsis of Toxicity Test FindingsFour Dates Feb through April 2007 Site 711-indication of OP’s on 4/11 Possibly both OP’s and Pyrethroids on 2/28 Sites of observed toxicity -Preliminary Indication of Pyrethroids Sites of observed toxicity -Preliminary Indication of Organo-Phosphates Dr. Inge Werner-UCD-Principle Investigator Rich Breuer - DWR Dr. Debra Denton-USEPA

  13. Exhibit KDistribution of Adult and Young Smelt in April 2007In areas with Toxicity Events 2007 Early Adult Delta Smelt abundance a little higher than 2006 2007 Juvenile abundance about 1/10 of 2006 -- Toxicity ?

  14. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  15. Phytoplankton Primary Production … CRASHED in Suisun Bay right after the 1987 Corbula invasion Corbula amurensis Primary Production in Suisun Bay Source: J. Cloern (USGS): Oral presentation at the 2007 Annual IEP Workshop, Asilomar, CA

  16. Threats to Delta Uses • Seismic issues • Climate change • Change in hydrologic conditions and runoff patterns • Less snowmelt – higher floods – deeper droughts • Sea Level rise • Temperatures • Subsidence • Random levee failure • Drinking water quality concerns • Toxics • Invasive Species – clams, zooplankton, fish, microcystis • Fishery concerns and water supply reliability

  17. 1970 1970 2000 2000 1980 1980 1990 1990 Exhibit DThe Pelagic Organism Decline Delta Smelt Longfin Smelt Abundance Index Threadfin Shad Striped bass Source: Kimmerer and Nobriga (2005); Sommer et al. (In Press, Fisheries 32(6))

  18. POD Has Further Shifted Abundance-Outflow Relationships 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 longfin smelt Log abundance striped bass Pre-Corbula Post-Corbula POD 2.0 2.5 3.0 Log Delta outflow Source: Kimmerer (2002); Sommer et al. (In Press, Fisheries 32(6))

  19. TOP-DOWN Water Diversions Predation PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL FISH HABITAT Prior Fish Abundance FISH ABUNDANCE Temperature Turbidity Salinity Contaminants Disease Food availability Food quality Toxic algae BOTTOM-UP

  20. Related Delta Initiatives • NEW PROCESSES • - Delta Vision Committee • Blue Ribbon Task Force • Stakeholder/Coordination Group • Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) • - Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) • - Assembly Bill 1200 CALFED PROCESSES - Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration -Implementation Plan (DRERIP) - CALFED ERP Conservation Strategy - CALFED End of Stage 1 Report/Stage 2 Planning - CALFED Integrated Storage Investigation - CALFED State of Science Report FEDERAL AGENCY - USACE Delta Dredged Sediment LTMS - USACE CALFED Levee Stability Program - USFWS Native Fish Species Recovery Plan - USNMFS Salmonids Recovery Plan INTERAGENCY - Operations, Criteria and – Plan (OCAP) New BiOPs - IEP Pelagic Organism Decline Synthesis Report - Suisun Marsh Charter - Implementation Plan

  21. The Bay/Delta System • Biologically Complex • Changing • Invasive species - Prevent, adapt and create new habitat opportunities • Toxics - Address aggressively at source • Water Project - Location of operations -------------------- • Need a Holistic Approach • Bay/Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)

  22. What’s the Purpose of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)? • Develops and implements a plan to conserve and manage “at- risk” fish species in the Delta. • Within the processes of HCP and NCCP • Protects and restores Aquatic , Riparian and associated Terrestrial Natural Communities • Allows projects that protect and restore water supply to proceed within a stable regulatory framework • FESA/CESA Compliance • Long-term Incidental Take Permits for water project operations

  23. Early Question • What is the one conservation measure that can improve Delta fisheries in the future? ----------- • “Change in Delta Water Conveyance Systems” • Current System Concept Developed in 1920’s • Designed with 1940-60’s Technology and Science • Location of facilities - not so much the operation • Flow alteration in the Delta • Fish Salvage facilities • Separate the fish from the water early • Open up more areas for native fish habitat and food productivity development

  24. How Water Gets to the California Economy Sac River– Delta Cross Channel– Mokelumne River– Old & Middle Rivers 1 3 Sac River /West Delta San Joaquin River 2 SWP Pumps CVP Pumps

  25. Sacramento River Typical Modern Fish Screen Configuration Water and fish Water and fish Fish screen Water only GCID Canal

  26. Environmental Studies 28

  27. Environmental Studies 29

  28. Options Evaluation Report - September 2007

  29. BDCP Points of AgreementNovember 2007 • Conveyance • Most Promising Approach – new points of diversion from the Sacramento River and Isolated conveyance around the Delta • Modifications of existing south Delta facilities • Operational and Institutional aspects key

  30. BDCP Points of AgreementNovember 2007 • Habitat Restoration and Enhancement • Start with areas in Suisun Marsh and North and West Delta • Expand to other areas of the Delta as improved conveyance is implemented • Types of Projects • Intertidal Habitat • Increased Residence time • Flood plain Habitat • Adequate flows

  31. Late 2007 Common findings from Delta Vision and BDCP • Focus – Delta Environmental Protection and California’s Water Supply • Importance of modifying Delta Water Conveyance • DV – “Recommends an assessment of Dual Conveyance as a preferred direction” • BDCP – “Most promising approach” for achieving joint goals is new conveyance system including diversions on the Sacramento River and an isolated facility • DV – several other actions also needed

  32. Governor’s February 2008 letter • 20% reduction in per capita Urban water use • Statewide value, within 2005 Water Plan estimates, aggressive • Delta Flood Plain Protection • Policy guidance on Land use • Levee Protection Standards • Multi-agency Delta Disaster Planning • Pre-Placement emergency response supplies • Expedite Interim Actions • Mien's Landing, Dutch Slough, Delta Smelt Refugia, Frank’s Track (3 mile slough), etc. • Water Quality • Storage • Improvements in Delta Conveyance – as part of BDCP

  33. BDCP – Next Steps Begin EIR/S Scoping Process (April 2008) Conservation Strategy for BDCP Plan (End of 2008) Public Outreach & Public Scoping BDCP Independent Science Input Draft EIR/S (End of 2009) Final EIR/S (Mid of 2010) 44

  34. Questions?

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