The draft core actions listed below are actions common to all CALFED alternatives
described opposite (and thus are not listed within each alternative). CALFED
defines a core action as one that:
Enjoys broad acceptance among stakeholders at core-level implementation;
Provides a benefit to the entire Bay-Delta system;
Is cost effective;
Meets one or more program objectives; and
Provides some progress toward a solution but is not a satisfactory
solution by itself.
Bay-Delta Habitat Restoration
Protect and enhance existing shallow-water habitat at the most feasible
sites with highest value for aquatic habitat.
Protect and enhance existing riverine habitat at the highest priority
most cost-effective sites on channel islands.
Include riverine elements at channel edges by modifying levee protection
practices at highest priority and most feasible sites.
Protect and enhance existing riparian habitat at highest priority
and most feasible sites.
Improve riparian habitat by modifying levee maintenance practices
at sites along most important aquatic habitats.
Improve degraded riparian habitats at highest priority and most feasible
sites.
Protect and enhance existing wetlands at highest priority sites.
Expand wetland acquisition programs to procure highest priority sites
in unprotected ownership.
Protect and enhance existing upland habitat at most feasible sites
with highest value, size and connectivity to important wetlands.
Encourage wildlife-friendly agricultural practices by providing funding
for dissemination of literature and staffing of outreach programs.
Provide coordination and funding to preserve agricultural land uses
providing habitat at highest priority sites.
Improve regulations regarding ballast-water releases through promotion
and coordination of California's interest in applying federal law.
Improve border inspection practices through staff increases at borders
to more intensively apply current regulations.
Provide funding to establish a rapid response program for introduced
species.
Upstream Habitat Restoration
Improve flows and temperatures in upstream habitats by funding state
share of Shasta temperature control device, evaluation of Whiskeytown
device and temperature control plans for Colusa drain and Sutter Slough.
Maintain adequate spawning substrates by providing state share of
funding for CVPIA provisions.
Encourage gravel-mining practices that protect fish habitat by funding
partnerships to protect high priority spawning and migratory areas.
Modify fish passage at upstream dams and other barriers by providing
state share of funding for CVPIA provisions.
Modify natural barriers to improve fish passage such as Eagle Canyon
on Battle Creek.
Encourage appropriate livestock management in riparian habitats by
seeking to extend and expand existing efforts by resource management
agencies.
Revegetate degraded riparian habitats at highest priority sites in
state and federal plans.
Reduction in the Effects of Diversions
Use real-time monitoring and adaptive management by expanding existing
program to monitor more species and habitat conditions.
Install screens on unscreened in-Delta diversions with highest potential
for fish loss.
Install or upgrade screens on upstream diversions with highest potential
for loss of young salmon and steelhead.
Evaluate experimental technology and implement appropriate barriers
to anadromous fish movement by funding evaluation of Georgiana Slough
acoustic barrier and, if warranted, continued operation.
Provide funding for ongoing installation and operation of fish barrier
on San Joaquin River at Merced River in fall.
Management of Anadromous Fish
Modify hatchery operations to reduce effects on wild populations
by promoting and funding activities such as annual tagging of a portion
of hatchery fish.
Support a reasonable effort to provide information needed to improve
regulation of commercial harvest of wild and hatchery stocks.
Reduction in Export Reliance
Encourage use of agricultural water conservation practices through
incentives, loans or cost-sharing for voluntary implementation of efficient
water management practices.
Increase incentives for municipal and industrial conservation practices
through low-interest loans to urban suppliers unable to afford best
management practices.
Educate small agencies about conservation and reclamation feasibility
by providing technical and planning support to small water suppliers
in Delta and export areas.
Establish incentives for conjunctive use by providing funding to
reduce supply deficiencies during droughts.
Ease institutional barriers to encourage conjunctive use where most
feasible and in most need of modification.
Increasing H2o Supply Predictability
Ease institutional obstacles to facilitate water transfers where
most feasible and highest priority.
Promote and coordinate the most cost-effective procedural improvements
for water transfer permitting.
Coordinate diversion and conveyance of water transfers in the highest
priority and most cost-effective ways.
Promote and coordinate most feasible mechanisms for brokering water
transfers.
Manage water resources data and information for the Bay-Delta system
by funding the state share of CVPIA activities.
Fund long-term drought planning with districts where supply reliability
would substantially benefit.
Management of Water Quality
Establish incentives for retiring lands with the most severe drainage
problems and where most cost-effective.
Expand and extend existing programs to provide incentives for pollution
source control on agricultural lands.
Encourage management of riparian zones to protect water quality by
finding a cooperative program in watersheds of reservoirs operated by
participating water districts.
Encourage management of land uses to protect water quality by improving
land use practices in watersheds of reservoirs operated by participating
water districts.
Improvements to System Reliability
Monitor, evaluate, maintain and stabilize existing levees on highest
priority sites.
Modify agricultural practices to reduce subsidence through a program
to cease agricultural production adjacent to levee interiors for islands
dominated by peat soils.
Investigate techniques for beneficial reuse of dredged materials
by funding a pilot program to evaluate techniques for beneficial reuse
of dredged materials.
Establish an emergency levee management plan for highest priority
Delta islands.
Provide funding for levee maintenance and stabilization to maintain
current level of flood protection for highest priority sites.