High Ground levee

This so-called “high ground” levee is proposed to be built around Stewart Tract. Construction would take place inside of the existing levee, which would remain. This diagram gives a sense of how the levee and adjacent landscape might work, and describes some of the benefits of the new inner levee.

Jones Tract flood

View of Jones Tract flood, taken several months after flood occurred. They were still pumping.

Herman and Helen’s marina

Building and patio boat at Herman and Helen’s a great and central place to rent a boat for a Delta water excursion. In the window the Venice Island ferry ramp is visible. The ferry is private, and serves the island owned by the Hilton family.

Empire Tract drainage pumps

The size of this pumping station is fairly typical. Pumps like this allow Delta farmers to precisely control the groundwater level in their fields. Without constant pumping, Delta fields would fill with water from the surrounding, higher rivers and sloughs. Like levee maintence, much of which is done by Delta landowners, the expense of pumping affects Delta farmers’ competitiveness in the global agricultural products market.

Borrow pit, eastern edge of Delta

This is one of several “borrow pits” that were created during the construction of Interstate 5. Many have developed substantial riparian habitats.

Possible peripheral canal route?

Purely a speculative diagram, this route would take economic advantage of a number of “borrow pits,” so-called because they were created to provide fill for the construction of I-5. The pits are similar in dimension to the proposed “isolated conveyance facility.” Most are now riparian habitats, and some are protected wildlife preserves. The diagram also shows how the siphon infrastructure at intersecting rivers and sloughs could be designed to “freshen” the Delta’s waterways, improving Delta water quality and ecosystem health.

Large Owner Axis Trail

The Large Owner Axis Trail is correlated to the 2009 Peripheral Canal proposal’s “through-Delta component. The trail extends from the proposed Sacramento River diversion facility in the North Delta to the State and Federal Water Project pumps in the southwest Delta. From north to south, the elements of the trail system include: Stone Lakes NWR Trail, Snodgrass Slough Lodgecamp, Pear and Vine Trail, Delta Cross Channel Lodgecamp, Historic Settlements Trail, Staten Island Lodgecamp, Birdwatchers’ and Sportsmens’ Trail, Bouldin Island Lodgecamp, Habitat Mitigation Trail, Connection Slough Anglers’ Dam, Bacon Island Lodgecamp, Railroad Cut Anglers’ Dam, Channel Islands Trail, Double Canal Anglers’ Dam, Victoria and North Canals Estate Trail, and Clifton Court Forebay Lodgecamp

Jones Tract levee breach

2004 Jones Tract levee breach that led to the flooding of thousands of acres of farmland.

Zebra mussel cart

Water Project Aqueduct

State and federal aqueducts supply northern California water to the southern half of the state. This supply will increase as a percentage of total supply due to decrease export from the Colorado River.

Temporary barrier locations

South delta temporary barriers resolve conflicts between water quality and environmental advocates. Barriers similar to this one are a key component of the Peripheral Canal proposal, and are the sites of future speculative work by the DNP design team.

Shimasaki Memorial, levee section

Photomontage diagramming relationship between farm camp buildings and Delta Wetlands Project infrastructure.

Schwarzenegger Letter

October 2003 letter from Governor Schwarzenegger to Sen. Feinstein encouraging the reauthorization of Cal-Fed, the bureacracy charged with overseeing the future of the Delta.

Delta Cross Channel sluice gate

The Delta Cross Channel sluice gate in its lowered position. The Cross Channel allows water to be redirected toward the water project pumps.

Lodgecamp Locations (abandoned idea)

Diagram describing scenarios for the month-to-month occupation of the Staten Island lodgecamps. This was an early idea about the Lodgecamps, since abandoned in favor of distributing them along the length of the Large Owner Axis.

Levee Urbanism Guarded Dam

Temporary dam, head of Middle River. These important elements of infrastructure are typically un-public, and are opportunities for future work by the DNP design team.

Levee Urbanism field view

View toward the Oxbow Marina-style properties of the Levee Urbanism idea.

Levee Urbanism constituents

Groups whose interests converge in Levee Urbanism.

Jones Tract flood

Photograph showing the extent of the 2004 Jones Tract flood, which covered 10,000 acres.

Delta water structure

Diagram showing water systems in a part of the Delta.

CALFED “Through-Delta” Proposal

One of CALFED’s scenarios calls for levee improvements through the center of the Delta linking the Delta Cross Channel to the Pumps. This territory coincides with the Large Owner Axis and the Delta Wetlands Project.