. Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement Simultaneously. Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement Simultaneously Stacy K. Li, PhD Aquatic Systems Research Ca 1956 in the San Joaquin Delta Broader perspective was needed Thank you - The Late Don W. Kelley and John R. Gildersleeve My experience working in the Delta

It’s Time to Decide  The Delta water export system is broken:  Do we continue to refurbish and update the present system?  Or do we design a new system?  In either case - There will only be one chance because of the immense expense and time pressures (avoid levee failure, permitting and construction).  The Delta water export system is broken:  Do we continue to refurbish and update the present system?  Or do we design a new system?  In either case - There will only be one chance because of the immense expense and time pressures (avoid levee failure, permitting and construction).

REMINDER: Delta Restoration Goals  Secure Water Supply  Restore the Delta Ecology  Secure Water Supply  Restore the Delta Ecology

What is at Stake?  California is the fifth largest economy in the world with $1.5 trillion annual gross state product (as of 2008).  The world economy is affected by the economy of California.  The economy of California depends upon water.  Therefore, you are affected even if your water supply is not the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project.  California is the fifth largest economy in the world with $1.5 trillion annual gross state product (as of 2008).  The world economy is affected by the economy of California.  The economy of California depends upon water.  Therefore, you are affected even if your water supply is not the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project.

Some Reasons for Urgency Levee and water diversion failures imminent in the Delta  Inconsistent design, construction, and maintenance of levees  Levees not as reliable or as safe as dams.  Island subsidence  Proximity to major earthquake faults Richter  Levees expensive ($8,000 lineal foot X 5280 feet/mile X 1,100 miles)  Lower Jones Tract failure occurred on a sunny day. Climate Change  Increase range of tidal flux (levee concern)  Increase in storm surge (levee concern)  Loss of Sierra snow pack (4 million acre feet) San Joaquin flow reversals - over 300 days annually Fish population collapses - Several species at all-time lows Declining water quality -Ag return flow, stockyards, dairy operations Salt importation into San Joaquin Valley increasing - 1 million tons/year Human population increasing - about 1 million/year (50 M 2026?) Outflow to SF Bay 1/2 of historical Water supply nearing capacity limits - (>88.7%) Levee and water diversion failures imminent in the Delta  Inconsistent design, construction, and maintenance of levees  Levees not as reliable or as safe as dams.  Island subsidence  Proximity to major earthquake faults Richter  Levees expensive ($8,000 lineal foot X 5280 feet/mile X 1,100 miles)  Lower Jones Tract failure occurred on a sunny day. Climate Change  Increase range of tidal flux (levee concern)  Increase in storm surge (levee concern)  Loss of Sierra snow pack (4 million acre feet) San Joaquin flow reversals - over 300 days annually Fish population collapses - Several species at all-time lows Declining water quality -Ag return flow, stockyards, dairy operations Salt importation into San Joaquin Valley increasing - 1 million tons/year Human population increasing - about 1 million/year (50 M 2026?) Outflow to SF Bay 1/2 of historical Water supply nearing capacity limits - (>88.7%)

SAC SJR Water supply exports exportoutflow MIX

Central Valley Project (USBR website) San Joaquin River used as water supply (Friant Dam, Madera Canal, Friant-Kern Canal) Sacramento River used to resist seawater intrusion into the Delta (Shasta and Folsom dams) and to freshen San Joaquin water (Delta Cross Channel). Send mitigation water to San Joaquin River senior water rights holders (Jones pumping plant, Delta Mendota Canal). Provide freshwater diversion site for Pittsburg and Antioch to mitigate for salt intrusion (Rock Slough Intake, Contra Costa Canal). CVP NEVER implemented use of Sacramento River water as water supply (peripheral canal!). [SWP uses Feather River (Oroville Dam) and relies upon through Delta water conveyance (Banks pumping plant, California Aqueduct).] San Joaquin River used as water supply (Friant Dam, Madera Canal, Friant-Kern Canal) Sacramento River used to resist seawater intrusion into the Delta (Shasta and Folsom dams) and to freshen San Joaquin water (Delta Cross Channel). Send mitigation water to San Joaquin River senior water rights holders (Jones pumping plant, Delta Mendota Canal). Provide freshwater diversion site for Pittsburg and Antioch to mitigate for salt intrusion (Rock Slough Intake, Contra Costa Canal). CVP NEVER implemented use of Sacramento River water as water supply (peripheral canal!). [SWP uses Feather River (Oroville Dam) and relies upon through Delta water conveyance (Banks pumping plant, California Aqueduct).]

WATER SUPPLY Typical Delta Hydrological Budget Delta Atlas 1995 ( ) Sacramento System San Joaquin System Other Flow to the Bay Water supply exports Losses INPUT OUTPUT 76% 20% 4% 18% 6% 76% TAF

The Key Concept: WATER BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY: They typically do not mix  Sacramento River:  Higher gradient (0.026).  Higher momentum.  Higher hydraulic energy.  Higher inertia.  Higher current.  Lower suspended solids concentrations.  Sacramento River:  Higher gradient (0.026).  Higher momentum.  Higher hydraulic energy.  Higher inertia.  Higher current.  Lower suspended solids concentrations.  San Joaquin River:  Lower gradient (0.016).  Lower momentum.  Lower hydraulic energy.  Lower inertia.  Higher residence time.  Higher salinity.  THEY DO NOT IMMEDIATELY MIX!

Sacramento River San Joaquin River Sherman Island Three Mile Slough Van Sickle Island Aerial photograph showing lack of mixing at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.

The Key Consequences  Sacramento River water is largely unavailable to either CVP (Jones PP) or SWP (Banks PP).  Through Delta Water Conveyance is infeasible.  Water available is not 27,840 TAF (Delta inflow), but closer to 5,660 TAF (SJR inflow).  Sacramento River water is largely unavailable to either CVP (Jones PP) or SWP (Banks PP).  Through Delta Water Conveyance is infeasible.  Water available is not 27,840 TAF (Delta inflow), but closer to 5,660 TAF (SJR inflow).

f Sherman Island Sacramento River San Joaquin River

No Good Alternate Sacramento River Water Sources  Georgiana Slough? - Inlet controlled  Delta Cross Channel? - Outlet controlled  Three Mile Slough? - to Sacramento R.  Pump harder, longer? - Suisun Bay water is brackish!  Georgiana Slough? - Inlet controlled  Delta Cross Channel? - Outlet controlled  Three Mile Slough? - to Sacramento R.  Pump harder, longer? - Suisun Bay water is brackish!

Ecological Canaries SPECIES  Delta smelt (T)  Longfin smelt (ST)  Striped bass YOY  Threadfin shad  Chinook salmon (SC)  Steelhead (T) SPECIES  Delta smelt (T)  Longfin smelt (ST)  Striped bass YOY  Threadfin shad  Chinook salmon (SC)  Steelhead (T) CRITICAL FACTOR  Backwater habitat  Feeds on plankton  Ocean? Home?

Improve Delta Ecology: Mimic Historical Conditions  Restore backwater habitat  Enhance plankton communities  Provide smolt emigration cues  Provide adult attraction flows  Restore backwater habitat  Enhance plankton communities  Provide smolt emigration cues  Provide adult attraction flows  No SJR export - no current!  No SJR export - higher residence time!  No SJR export - A downstream!  No SJR export - an upstream!

New Delta Design Rules  Use Sacramento River as water supply (21.2 MAF vs 5.66 MAF) MAF remains for water quality and outflow.  No water export of San Joaquin water.  Use San Joaquin water to assist in resisting salt intrusion into Delta.  Keep outflow to SF Bay at current levels or higher. It is presently at 50%!  Use Sacramento River as water supply (21.2 MAF vs 5.66 MAF) MAF remains for water quality and outflow.  No water export of San Joaquin water.  Use San Joaquin water to assist in resisting salt intrusion into Delta.  Keep outflow to SF Bay at current levels or higher. It is presently at 50%!

Peripheral Canal  Water supply secured.  Flow reversal on Sacramento River unlikely.  San Joaquin Delta ecology improved.  Great improvement of POD species and anadromous species in San Joaquin Delta  Water system not as susceptible to levee failure.  Salt importation to San Joaquin Valley much reduced.  Reduced water processing costs.  Education of general public needed.  Water supply secured.  Flow reversal on Sacramento River unlikely.  San Joaquin Delta ecology improved.  Great improvement of POD species and anadromous species in San Joaquin Delta  Water system not as susceptible to levee failure.  Salt importation to San Joaquin Valley much reduced.  Reduced water processing costs.  Education of general public needed.