Inverted river delta – one of only a few worldwide

Freshwater Ocean Estuary Salmon life cycle 2 adults return to spawn 4,000 eggs are laid 800 fry hatch 200 smolts go to sea 10 reach adulthood Freshwater Ocean Estuary

Central Valley Runoff MAF

1594 Dams in California National Inventory of Dams, Army Corps

Now Then Consider the fade to black scene Modified from Lindley et al. 2006

1873 Delta: Long residence time Marsh connections Two rivers connect to bay Waterways dendritic

Modern delta Short residence times Rip-rapped Cross Delta flows Rare San Joaquin connection to bay Waterways web-like

Estuarine habitat conceptual model (Peterson 2003) Stationary Habitat Production Area Tidal and River Flow Fish Recruitment Dynamic Habitat

QoutWet and Dry.OPJ

Most fishes follow salinities Marine species Kimmerer 2004

What Changes As Flow Increases? Salinities move downstream Suisun Marsh Location of Any Salinity Range L S Z stratification 1

Suisun Marsh Sacramento River at Decker Island

With deep appreciation to Allison Whipple, Robin Grossinger, and many others at SFEI

Open water:Marsh 1: 14 historically 6: 1 now Open water:Marsh 1.4: 1 historically 6.3: 1 now

Thanks to Wim Kimmerer

Salmon – refresh portfolio diversity: cold water assurance manage different streams differently manage hatcheries differently make habitat for fry and for smolts make habitat widely spread, including juvenile rearing in non-natal streams Smelts – ensure steady return every year: protect spawners on way up protect young on way down aim for smooth arcs of habitat through range of likely salinities plan for drought actions before droughts hit, plan a year ahead Other native freshwater fish – Occasional jackpots are fine improve wet year connectivity and duration of flooded conditions