Ecosystem Restoration Program

Sacramento Valley Activities

Rebecca FrisSacramento Valley Regional Coordinator

California Bay Delta Authority

October 27, 2005

Presentation Outline

• Ecosystem Restoration Program team

• Accomplishments/Activities in the Sacramento Valley

• Future ERP activities

Ecosystem Restoration Program Team

• CBDA – Rebecca Fris and Brendan Reed

• DFG – Carl Harral, Region 1 and Jeff Weaver, Region 2

• FWS/DFG Anadromous Fish Restoration Program staff

Sac Valley Accomplishments

• 198 projects funded in the Region for over $220 million dollars

• 115 projects completed with remaining 83 in progress

• Funding by topic area

Funding by Topic

Project Examples

• Battle Creek Restoration Project

• Lower Clear Creek Floodway Rehabilitation Project

• Riparian restoration planning and implementation

Battle CreekRestoration Project Purpose

To restore approximately 42 miles of habitat in Battle Creek and an additional 6 miles of habitat in its tributaries while minimizing the loss of clean and renewable energy produced by the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project.

Restoration Project Features

• Removal of five hydropower diversion dams

• Installation of screens and ladders on three hydropower diversion dams

• Increases in flow releases

• Dedication of water diversion rights for instreampurposes at dam removal sites

• Elimination of mixing between North Fork Battle Creek and South Fork Battle Creek

Battle Creek, Eagle Canyon Dam and Diversion

Lower Clear Creek Floodway Rehabilitation Project – Phase 3B

Floodway restoration to address impaired geomorphic, riparian, and salmonid habitat conditions

Will address a headcut threatening previous phases of restoration

Riparian Restoration

• Over 10,000 acres of riparian habitat protected

• Almost 3,000 acres of riparian habitat restored

• Chico Landing FEIR completed for restoration of 3 additional parcels on Refuge land (836 acres)

TNC Sacramento River Project

Future ERP Activities

• Priorities for next 2 years outlined in Multi-Year Program Plan

• Continue coordination, tracking, work on program performance and strategic planning

Future ERP Activities• Proposal Solicitation Package – assisting

farmers in integrating agricultural activities with ecosystem restoration

• Approximately $9,000,000 available

• Deadline for submission December 15, 2005

• See calwater.ca.gov for more info

CALFED Science ProgramCALFED Science Program

• Relevant• Authoritative• Unbiased• Integrated across Program elements• Communicated to broad audience (scientists, managers,

stakeholders, public)

Establish a body of knowledge relevant to CALFED actions and their implications that is:

And track progress with performance measures and indicators

CALFED Science ProgramCALFED Science ProgramMajor ActivitiesMajor Activities

• Investment in High Priority Information NeedsFocus on cross-program data gaps, system-wide responses, modeling and data analysis– Proposal Solicitation Process (13 proposals for over $10M

selected in 2005)

– Directed Research (over $17M in projects funded in the past 5 years)

– CALFED Science Fellows• Annual program with focus on analysis of existing

datasets• 3rd selection cycle starts Spring 2006

CALFED Science ProgramCALFED Science ProgramMajor ActivitiesMajor Activities

• Application of Science Practices

– Independent Science Board– Independent technical reviews of projects and programs– Issue workshops and technical advisory panels– Peer review

Under the leadership of the Lead Scientist, provides independent science oversight and technical assistance to CALFED Program

CALFED Science ProgramCALFED Science ProgramMajor ActivitiesMajor Activities

• Performance Evaluation

– Web-based informational content for technical audiences with conceptual models, indicators and monitoring data, and GIS

– Publication of indicators for non-technical audience

In collaboration with CALFED agency managers and scientists, refining a simple and flexible framework for easy implementation

CALFED Science ProgramCALFED Science ProgramMajor ActivitiesMajor Activities

• Communication of Scientific Understanding– San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science – Biennial CALFED Science Conference– Science Program website– White papers– Science-In-Action periodicals– Management Cues– Presentations at scientific and resource management

conferences– Program coordination

Science Program Update

• Lead Scientist Recruitment• Open until filled• Initial application review Nov. 14th

• Review Panels Update

Review Panels UpdateOperation Criteria and Plan (OCAP) Biological Opinion

• Public workshop at UC Davis, October 12 and 13, 2005• Final panel report expected December 2005

IEP’s Pelagic Organism Decline (POD) Investigations• Public workshop in Sacramento on November 14-15, 2005

EWA• Panel to participate in public workshop in December 2005 to

review 2005 water acquisitions and allocations

CALSIM II• Panel presented final report during last public workshop on

October 21, 2005

Delta Vision• Panel to produce a synthesis report on current information and

understanding of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta• Report expected late 2005/early 2006