Home Delta Emergency Drought Barrier Removed from Delta, West False River Boating Restrictions Lifted

Emergency Drought Barrier Removed from Delta, West False River Boating Restrictions Lifted

by ECT

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has completed dismantling an emergency drought barrier that spanned West False River between Jersey and Bradford islands. The barrier was erected in May and June to prevent saltwater from pushing with the tides into the central Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from San Francisco Bay.

The barrier was an essential part of DWR’s strategy to maintain good water quality in the Delta, which provides water to 25 million Californians, including residents of the Delta and Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties. DWR’s State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project convey Delta water through their aqueducts to distant parts of the state.

A fourth year of drought made installation of the barrier necessary to preserve Delta water quality and conserve water in upstream reservoirs that otherwise would have been released to help block incoming tides of saltwater from San Francisco Bay.

Dismantling of the approximately 750-foot rock barrier began on September 8 and was completed on schedule. About 150,000 tons of large rocks (riprap) were used to build the barrier. The removed riprap will be stored near Rio Vista for possible use if drought conditions continue and installation of an emergency drought barrier is once again deemed necessary to preserve water quality. The material also will be available to reinforce and protect Delta levees in case of flooding this winter.

Paul Marshall, Chief of DWR’s Bay-Delta Office, said the barrier achieved DWR’s goals during this persistent drought. “The barrier worked by preventing salinity to reach the central Delta,” he said. “We were able to save about 90,000 acre-feet in upstream reservoirs for the last quarter of 2015 and for fish releases.”

More information on emergency drought barriers is available here. To learn more about the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit Drought.CA.Gov. Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at SaveOurWater.com. The State’s turf and toilet rebate program is explained at SaveOurWaterRebates.com.

Conservation – the wise, sparing use of water – remains California’s most reliable drought management tool. Each individual act of conservation, such as letting the lawn go brown or replacing a washer in a faucet to stop a leak, makes a difference over time.

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