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CALFED Brief
20 Options on the Water Table
California's search for a long-term solution to statewide conflicts over how to manage the Bay-Delta system to best benefit farmers, city dwellers, wetlands and endangered fish and wildlife drew closer to an end late this February. That's when the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, a cooperative state and federal program charged with coming up with that solution, released 20 different draft alternative solutions it developed via a process including both technical analysis and extensive interaction with the public and stakeholders. Each draft alternative is a combination of actions - such as operation and policy changes, habitat restoration and water flow adjustments - that together form a comprehensive solution to problems with ecosystem health, water quality, water supply and vulnerability to disaster in the Bay-Delta Estuary.
"We've tried to capture the full range of reasonable solutions," says CALFED's Lester Snow. Snow says these alternatives are far from being final products and are still subject to significant change based on further public input and technical analysis, including the possibility of combining portions of several alternatives to develop new ones.
"Given the diversity of the list, everyone will probably find some alternatives to like and some to dislike. One can dislike one or more alternatives but still believe that the list accurately represents the range of reasonable solutions," says Snow.
Snow's program will now winnow the 20 alternatives down to a more manageable 8-12 which in turn will be cut down to three by May 1996. These will undergo first a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Report evaluation and then a project level evaluation.
Alternatives at a Glance
Here is a crude summary, reflecting only this ESTUARY writer's quick sense of what to emphasize, of CALFED's 20 draft alternatives. All 20 include "funded levee improvements" and "land side (of levee) buffer zones to reduce system vulnerability," so ESTUARY hasn't repeated this feature in the following summary. All 20also include the core actions common to all of them. Much more comprehensive detail can be found in CALFED's 300-page alternatives overview which includes maps and descriptions of the features and benefits of each draft alternative. At the end of the each of the following alternatives, readers will find a "low," "moderate" or "high." These refer to the "level of resource improvement and conflict resolution" achieved by the alternative according to CALFED.
1. Reduce Delta diversions with demand management.
This alternative focuses on reducing water use upstream, in the Delta, and in export areas. It would modify the timing of diversions and provide basic improvements in habitat, water quality and levee vulnerability. Some of its distinguishing features are: a shift in diversions away from the spring period; modification of Clifton Court Forebay operations to reduce fish entrainment; basic habitat restoration in the Delta and upstream; aggressive urban and agricultural water conservation; extensive water marketing and investment in water reclamation; and pollutant source control. (low)
2. Drought water management program.
This alternative would develop the institutional mechanisms necessary to establish a long-term drought water bank to provide increased security for environmental uses and water users. Physical modifications to the Delta are limited to habitat improvements and levee and channel improvements for flood control. In addition to a long-term drought water bank program, distinguishing features include: water reclamation and conservation to reduce demand for Delta water; in-lieu groundwater banking facilities in the southern San Joaquin Valley to reduce demand for surface water during dry years; and increased conjunctive use in the Sacramento Valley. (low)
3. Ship channel conveyance.
This alternative focuses on relocating export diversions to a point above critical Delta smelt habitat by developing isolated conveyance facilities. It would relocate the diversion point to the west side of the Sacramento River above Sacramento near the Sacramento Weir, use existing infrastructure, such as the Sacramento Ship Channel or the Yolo Bypass, to create an isolated transfer facility to move 10,000 cfs of water, and create new storage facilities in the north and south Delta. Some of its other distinguishing features include: managing new storage to reduce fish entrainment and increase Delta outflow during critical periods; and purchasing approximately 100,000 acre-feet of water from the San Joaquin River or tributaries for environmental purposes. (moderate)
4. Habitat restoration.
This alternative emphasizes increasing fish populations through natural production and reducing entrainment to the extent that fish take at diversions no longer has a significant effect on fish populations. It would also improve water supply reliability by reducing the frequency and duration of Endangered Species Act constraints on diversions. Some of its other distinguishing features include: restoration of 750-1,250 acres of tidal wetlands in Suisun Bay to improve fish production; screens at high priority diversions and a salmon bypass at Old River; fish habitat restoration and creation; pollutant source controls; and real-time monitoring and modified diversion operations to reduce fish loss. (low)
5. Habitat restoration with dedicated environmental water.
This alternative has the same emphasis and ESA constraint changes, as well as similar basic features, as number four. However it would also purchase about 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water to improve fish transport through the Delta. It would restore more Suisun Bay fish habitat (1,500-2,500 acres of tidal wetlands) and also includes a new screened water intake at Italian Slough. (moderate)
6. Extensive habitat restoration with new storage.
This alternative has the same emphasis and ESA constraint changes, as well as similar basic features including the 100,000 acre-feet water purchase, as number five, but would undertake much more extensive habitat restoration (4,000-6,000 acres of tidal wetlands in Suisun Bay). To further reduce fish entrainment losses, it would also convert south Delta island(s) to water storage facilities for 300,000-400,000 acre feet. (moderate to high)
7. Water management with environmental storage.
This alternative focuses on increasing fish populations while attempting to maintain Delta diversions. Some of its distinguishing features include: conversion of one or more south Delta islands into storage facilities for environmental water and release of that water as needed to transport fish through the Delta; improved Delta conveyance channels to allow higher pumping rates during non-sensitive periods; improved fish hatchery operations; and demand management implemented through conservation, reclamation and land retirement. (low to moderate)
8. Chain of lakes isolated facility.
This alternative revolves around construction of an isolated in-Delta facility comprising a series of Delta islands linked by siphons into a "chain of lakes." The new facility would hold 300,000-600,000 acre-feet of water collected at times and locations that cause the least environmental harm and used to reduce direct Delta diversions during times of high environmental sensitivity. Other distinguishing features include: operation of upstream reservoirs in conjunction with the new chain of lakes facility to increase water supply available for environmental and other uses; and procurement of 100,000 acre-feet of water from the San Joaquin River from willing sellers for environmental use. (moderate)
9. Expand export capacity and south of Delta storage.
This alternative focuses on shifting the timing of a large portion of Delta diversions to a period of reduced impacts on the Delta environment. Export facilities would pump at capacity during winter months. This modified diversion timing, plus construction of an off-stream storage facility (1-1.5 maf) on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, would increase supply for all uses. Some of this alternative's other distinguishing features include: in-lieu groundwater banking in the San Joaquin basin; the procurement of about 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River basin water for environmental purposes; and increased hatchery production on the San Joaquin River or its tributaries to help re-establish natural fall-run salmon populations. (moderate)
10. Small east-side conveyance.
This alternative combines habitat restoration, system reliability improvements and water supply augmentation actions and would reduce diversion effects on fish by constructing a small, isolated conveyance facility (5,000-7,000 cfs) around the eastern and southeastern edges of the Delta between the Sacramento River and the export pumps. Some of its other distinguishing features include: a new screened diversion on the Sacramento River; a bypass facility at Old River; new storage (1-2 maf) to augment water supply for all uses; the procurement of 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water for environmental uses; expanded water conservation and reclamation; and moderate habitat restoration. (moderate)
11. Through Delta conveyance improvement.
This alternative would increase through-Delta water conveyance, and thus reduce cross-Delta diversion of Sacramento River fish by improving north Delta channels (by dredging, levee reinforcement and gradient control facilities). Some of its other distinguishing features include: construction of a screened intake on the Sacramento River near Hood; modification of Clifton Court Forebay operations and real-time monitoring to reduce fish entrainment; pollutant source control for urban, industrial, agricultural and mine discharges; procurement of 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water for environmental uses; and permit approval allowing pumping flexibility. (moderate)
12. Dual conveyance.
This alternative combines the through-Delta conveyance improvements of number eleven with construction of both a new, water diversion facility on the Sacramento River upstream of the Delta (to screen water diversion from both Delta and isolated transport) and a small, isolated conveyance facility. It would also close the Delta cross channel. It shares the following distinguishing features with the prior alternative: the 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water, the pollutant source control, the real-time monitoring and the permit approval for pumping flexibility. (moderate)
13. East-side foothills conveyance.
This alternative would construct an isolated conveyance facility on the east side of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys to an ultimate connection with the California Aqueduct in Kern County. It would also relocate a portion of state and federal water project diversions north of the Sacramento/Feather Rivers confluence. The new facility would operate in winter and spring to capture flood flows for groundwater recharge and banking and subsequent use. Some other distinguishing features include: moderate habitat restoration and screens at high and moderate priority diversions. (moderate)
14. Small west-side conveyance facility.
This alternative focuses on reducing export entrainment and increasing water supplies by shifting the location and timing of a portion of water exports. Some of its distinguishing features include: new diversions at Thermalito Afterbay on the Feather River and Red Bluff on the Sacramento River; creation of west-side Sacramento Valley offstream storage (2 maf) with connections to selected agricultural canals; creation of an isolated conveyance facility (5,000-10,000 cfs) connected with the export pumps; water reclamation, groundwater banking and 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water for environmental use. Diversions through the Tehama and Colusa Canal would be at capacity year-round. Diversions from Thermalito Afterbay would take place during surplus conditions. (moderate)
15. Large west-side storage and conveyance.
This alternative consolidates all major diversions on the Sacramento River and in the Delta to Shasta Lake and the Thermalito Afterbay by creating two new diversion facilities. It would also create a new isolated conveyance facility to move the water between these diversions along the west side of the Sacramento Valley to new offstream storage reservoirs, to groundwater storage and to south Delta pumps. Some of its other distinguishing features include: management of reservoirs to provide improved flows and temperatures for fish; retainment of stormwater runoff and construction of wetlands to improve water quality in the rivers and Delta; pollutant source controls and enforcement for agricultural drainage, the establishment of water quality BMPs, and remediation of on-site mine drainage. (high)
16. Large east-side conveyance.
This alternative would construct a large, isolated conveyance facility on the Delta's east side to serve multiple uses, including the state and federal water projects. It would also create new storage downstream in the Delta, a bypass facility on Old River and a new screened diversion on the Sacramento River. Some of its other distinguishing features include: a high level of habitat restoration in the Bay, Delta and rivers; management of reservoirs to provide improved flows and temperatures for fish; maintenance of Delta outflow to protect species of concern; procurement of 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water for environmental use; strong pollution controls as described in number 15 above; and new institutional mechanisms to implement water transfers. (high)
17. Delta protection and water management.
This alternative includes basic improvements to levees and channels, modification of upstream reservoir releases to improve water and habitat quality, installation of flow barriers in the south Delta (also to improve water quality), and basic aquatic and wetland habitat restoration in the Bay, Delta and rivers. Some other distinguishing features include: modification of Clifton Court Forebay operations to reduce entrainment and predation; pollutant controls and enforcement as described in 15 above; groundwater banking; and water conservation, reclamation and land retirement. (low)
18. Delta protection with storage.
This alternative includes almost all of the same features (except the Forebay operations and land retirement) as the number 17 but takes habitat restoration and levee improvement from a basic to a moderate level. Additional distinguishing features include: new in-Delta and San Joaquin Valley storage to increase water supply flexibility; the purchase of 100,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River water for environmental purposes; and water acquisition and desalination to increase stream flows. (moderate)
19. Improve Delta flow through operational changes.
This alternative focuses on operational changes in the water distribution system and limits physical modifications to habitat improvements, levee and channel improvements for flow control, and flow barriers to improve water stages and flow circulation. Some of its distinguishing features, in terms of operational changes, include: management of reservoirs to improve water quality and availability; real-time management to dilute pollutants and repel salinity; acquisition of water from willing sellers to increase the amount available for Delta uses; water conservation, reclamation, acquisition and desalination to increase stream flows; and groundwater banking and conjuctive use. It also includes pollutant source controls and enforcement for ag drainage, remediation of on-site mine drainage and new institutional mechanisms to implement water transfers. (low)
20. Improve Delta flow through added storage.
This alternative includes the same reservoir management, real-time monitoring, pollutant controls, flow barriers, institutional mechanisms, and water conservation measures as number 19 but would create new reservoir storage to further increase the availability, reliability and quality of water supplies. It would also improve downstream channel capacities to reduce reservoir flood control capacity requirements and obtain 100,000 acre-feet of water from the San Joaquin River for environmental purposes. (moderate)
For a copy of the CALFED alternatives document call (916)657-2666
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