West False River Drought Salinity Barrier
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022020528
Lead Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
West False River Drought Salinity Barrier
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
12/2/2024
Document Description
The primary objectives of the West False River Drought Salinity Barrier are to:
• Install a drought salinity barrier to protect water quality in the Central Delta, based on need demonstrated by drought conditions and low upstream reservoir storage.
• Install a drought salinity barrier in the Central Delta up to two times over 10 years, with each installation remaining in place up to 20 months, should a drought occur during the period from 2026 to 2035.
• Minimize the impacts of salinity intrusion on the beneficial uses of Central Delta water during persistent drought conditions through the installation of a drought salinity barrier in the Central Delta.
During severe drought conditions, there are increased needs and challenges with preserving impounded water for health, safety, and regulatory uses, and protecting water quality in the central Delta. Based on data from previous installations, installing a drought salinity barrier in West False River has proven to be an effective tool for reducing saltwater intrusion into the Central Delta. Given the current scientific understanding of the cyclical nature of drought in California, DWR anticipates needing to install a drought salinity barrier in West False River two times over the next ten years (2026-2035) with each installation in place up to 20 months.
The West False River is a main channel to the west that connects to Franks Tract, the central hub of the Delta. By hydraulically blocking the West False River corridor, the barrier protects against the intrusion of saltwater from San Francisco Bay into Franks Tract. This prevents the fresh water from other channels (including the Mokelumne River and Old River flowing into Franks Tract from other directions) from mixing with the more saline water that otherwise would flow through West False River during flood tides. Without the barrier in place at this critical location, the saltier water carried through West False River would gradually contaminate the water in Franks Tract and the interior Delta with salts, a condition that cannot be reversed during drought conditions, and thus would affect the beneficial uses of Central Delta water.
Contact Information
Name
Robert Trang
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Supervising Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Solano
Regions
Unincorporated
Total Acres
3.12
Waterways
False River, San Joaquin River, Fisherman's Cut, Dutch Slough, Woodward Cut, Railroad Cut
Township
2N
Range
3E
Base
MDBM
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
California Department of Water Resources
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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