Delta Levees Program Habitat Banking 1

1100 miles of levees in Delta 2

Protecting local land use 3

Protecting regional infrastructure 4

Reducing salinity intrusion Max Intrusion Max Intrusion

6

Many areas now below sea level 7

Most areas have flooded at least once Historical breaches since

Major habitats affected by levee projects Freshwater Marsh Scrub-Shrub Riparian Forest Shaded Riverine Aquatic 9

Legislature requires habitat protection No net loss of habitat (SB34) Net long-term improvement (AB360) 10

Delta Levee Program Collaborative Partnership Delta Levees Program DFG Reclamation Districts DWR 11

Increased concern and visibility 12

Increased levee funding 13

Habitat banking  Pool mitigation from multiple projects  Regional – bigger picture  Advanced – before impacts 14

Similar to other approaches Mitigation and conservation banking – For jurisdictional wetlands, T&E Regional conservation plans (HCP/NCCP) – Regional analysis and mitigation – Mostly private development driven 15

Several key challenges Selecting strategic locations Coordinating with other efforts Funding habitat before impacts Funding perpetual management 16

Coordination with others Bay Delta Conservation Plan 5 NCCP/HCPs Ecosystem Restoration Program 4-Pumps Agreement OCAP – State Water Project env’l permitting others 17

Several key challenges Selecting strategic locations Coordinating with other efforts Funding habitat before impacts Funding perpetual management 18

Banking options Existing commercial habitat banks DWR-sponsored bank or local levee-district bank Customized commercial bank 19