Initial Alternatives Information Report for the North/Central Delta Improvement Study (Delta Cross Channel, Franks Tract, and Through- Delta Facility Evaluation) U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation February 2009 (Revised February 2010) Mission Statements The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian Tribes and our commitments to island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Initial Alternatives Information Report for the North/Central Delta Improvement Study (Delta Cross Channel, Franks Tract, and Through- Delta Facility Evaluation) U.S. Department of the Interior February 2009 Bureau of Reclamation (Revised February 2010) Executive Summary The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) are evaluating the feasibility of using conveyance and operations actions in the north and central region of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) to improve water quality and fish conditions. Specifically, Reclamation is evaluating the feasibility of these actions in the North/Central Delta Improvement Study (NoCDIS or Study). The Initial Alternatives Information Report (IAIR) identifies, discusses, and screens measures to address the problems and opportunities. These measures are used to develop initial alternatives. Initial alternatives from the IAIR will be incorporated into and refined in the subsequent Plan Formulation Report (PFR). Subject to continued appropriations and a determination of federal interest, the Study should culminate in an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and a Feasibility Report. Reclamation is the federal lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, and DWR is the state lead agency for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance. Purpose and Scope of Report The purpose of this IAIR is to identify the initial alternatives that will be carried forward for additional analysis in the plan formulation and feasibility phases of the Study. Reclamation has completed technical studies that provide the information required for the analyses performed in this IAIR. More detailed alternatives will be developed from these initial alternatives during the next phases of the Study. The IAIR will accomplish the following: • Describe present and future baseline conditions • Identify problems and opportunities • Set forth purpose and need and planning objectives • Formulate a range of measures for the project • Combine those measures into alternative plans Complete alternatives that address the planning objectives are discussed in the IAIR, as well as the related potential environmental impacts and results of initial screening. A comparison of alternatives is provided to refine the alternatives that will be considered further in subsequent steps of the planning process. Based on this evaluation, the IAIR identifies a potential federal interest in the NoCDIS project. ES-1 Executive Summary Study Authorization The CALFED Bay-Delta Authorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-361, Section 103) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out feasibility studies (via Reclamation), as follows: • Section 103(d)(2) Conveyance (B) North Delta Actions: “(i) evaluation and implementation of improved operational procedures for the Delta Cross Channel to address fishery and water quality concerns. (ii) evaluation of a screened through-Delta facility on the Sacramento River.” • Section 103(f)(1) Conveyance (C) Franks Tract “Funds may be expended for feasibility studies and actions at Franks Tract to improve water quality in the Delta.” Reclamation chose to study these actions to determine if the actions could, alone or in combination, meet the study objectives. Study Area The Study area, shown in Figure ES-1, involves sections of the north, central, and south Delta, including the waterways around Franks Tract, the Sacramento River, the South Fork of the Mokelumne River, the Delta Cross Channel, and the lower San Joaquin River. Much of the land within the Study area is subject to agricultural activities, while the waterways provide recreational opportunities; valuable wildlife habitat; and serve as major residential, municipal, and agricultural water supplies to much of the state. Water Resources Problems, Needs, and Opportunities This IAIR has been developed to address two specific problems in the Study area. The first problem to be addressed is quality of water in the south Delta being pumped at the Jones Pumping Plant and the Banks Pumping Plant. The second problem is fisheries conditions throughout the Delta. Water quality in the south Delta has been affected by salinity from tidal intrusion and farming runoff, pesticides, and selenium primarily from agricultural drainage, and mercury from historic mining operations in the Delta watershed. Currently, the interior Delta water quality standards, established by D-1641, are difficult to achieve due to the complex hydrodynamics of the Delta and present Central Valley Project /State Water Project (CVP/SWP) operations. Current water quality problems in the Delta may be further exacerbated due to future demands on a fixed water supply and other factors. ES-2 84 Slough HOOD Elk S A C 160 99 R A M 5 NORTH BAY AQUEDUCT E Slough N Cache T DELTA CROSS CHANNEL Slough O Slough RIVER Sutter 220 113 MOKELUMNE 12 Steamboat Slough FORK FORK RIO VISTA BRANNAN Georgiana RIVER ISLAND NORTH 12 LODI SOUTH TWITCHELL 12 ISLAND AQUIN A O R N J S COLLINSVILLE EMMATON I BRADFORD V E SHERMAN ISLAND R 160 ISLAND JERSEY ISLAND PITTSBURG ANTIOCH 4 CONTRA COSTA CANAL Connection Rock Slough Slough STOCKTON OLD 4 FRANKS TRACT MIDDLE RIVER Woodward Canal 99 RIVER SAN CLIFTON COURT Victoria Canal JOAQUIN FOREBAY 5 OLD RIVER LOS Grant Line Canal VAQUEROS BANKS PUMPING RESERVOIR PLANT JONES OLD RIVER 120 PUMPING RIVER AQUEDUCT PLANT DELTA-MENDOTA 205 CALIFORNIA SOUTH BAY 580 AQUEDUCT CANAL 580 84 North FIGURE ES-1 STUDY AREA 015 0 INITIAL ALTERNATIVES INFORMATION REPORT, Approximate scale in miles NORTH/CENTRAL DELTA IMPROVEMENT STUDY WBG022310083055SAC Figure_ES-1.ai 03.03.2010 tdaus Executive Summary This page intentionally left blank. ES-4 Executive Summary Additionally, recent, unprecedented declines of pelagic and anadromous fish have led to listings of several species under the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, court-ordered shutdowns of water diversions, and millions of dollars spent on associated legal proceedings. Reclamation, through NoCDIS, is investigating the opportunities to both reduce salinity levels and improve fishery conditions throughout the Delta. Since the Flooded Islands Pre-Feasibility Study in 2005, DWR’s Bay-Delta Office has continued technical studies, conceptual designs, cost estimates, and water quality modeling in support of facilities at Franks Tract for water quality and fisheries benefits. These pre-feasibility-level studies have resulted in five alternatives. In addition to the Franks Tract alternatives, Reclamation’s NoCDIS Plan of Study (August 2007) included other alternatives in the north and central Delta with similar potential to meet the planning objectives. For the IAIR, alternatives have been identified, evaluated, and screened to determine which has the highest potential benefit to both water quality and fisheries. These opportunities include facilities in the north and central Delta initiated by CALFED or DWR, as well as water management opportunities to meet NoCDIS planning objectives. Objectives and Resource Management Measures The objectives of the NoCDIS are to: 1. Improve water quality at the south Delta export facilities while remaining consistent with long-term Delta planning efforts. 2. Improve fisheries conditions throughout the Delta while remaining consistent with long-term Delta planning efforts. Resource Management Measures were identified to meet each of the two objectives of the project. Measures were developed in the IAIR phase by collecting information on past projects and studies based on some studies already completed by DWR. Some measures were eliminated because they were deemed infeasible or did not best meet the Study’s objectives. The measures retained for further consideration were combined into a set of initial alternatives. The challenge faced in developing the alternatives was to balance the need to deliver freshwater with maintaining and improving fish habitat. Improved water quality at the south Delta export facilities could be achieved by reducing or mitigating the salinity intrusion into the central Delta from the west (from the Pacific Ocean). Several measures were identified as having the potential to meet the first objective: 1.1 Increase transfer of Sacramento River flows to the central Delta. 1.2 Increase Mokelumne River flows delivered to the central and south Delta. ES-5 Executive Summary 1.3 Reduce tidal and seasonal mixing from the western Delta into Franks Tract. 1.4 Increase the net outflow in the lower San Joaquin River near Jersey Point. 1.5 Isolate a “fresh water corridor” minimizing mixing with western Delta waters. 1.6 Create a longer path for higher salinity water to reach export facilities by creating physical flow barriers. Several measures were identified