"Greetings,
FYI news article from the Sacramento BEE, Jan 1, 2009 regarding the proposed new gates across certain west-Delta waterways. This is a matter of extreme concern for any recreational boater and those who represent state boating and waterway interests in the Delta. Thus far, RBOC and PICYA representatives have been told there will be boat locks should such gates be installed. However, the boat locks never seem to be referenced in the new reports about the proposed gates. Umm…
Dave
RBOC
***bolding is by Flutterby.
*************************************************************
Giant gates mulled for Delta, to the chagrin of some
mweiserrb2rb2@gr5tgr5tsacbee.com
Published Thursday, Jan. 01, 2009
State and federal water officials are looking to build giant concrete gates across key channels in the west Delta to control water quality.
The project has drawn little attention compared with much bigger proposals in the news – such as construction of a 40-mile canal that would channel water around the Delta. But the Franks Tract Project, as it's called, may be more pressing: Studies are under way, with construction scheduled for summer 2010.
The California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are studying five locations on the west edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: four on Three-Mile Slough near Sherman Island , and one on False River near Bradford Island . A final plan is likely to propose one gate on each waterway.
The gates would be raised and lowered at crucial times to reduce intrusion of salty ocean water within the Delta. When salty water is drawn into water export pumps owned by the two agencies, it reduces crop productivity and increases treatment costs for cities and farms that use Delta water.
A 2007 DWR study shows that gates on the two sloughs can cut salinity at the pumping intakes from 7 percent to 21 percent, depending on conditions.
"We see it as a tool to help us manage conditions for fish and water quality," said Kathy Kelly, chief of DWR's Bay-Delta Office.
Another potential benefit: A gate at Three-Mile Slough could prevent Sacramento River salmon from straying into the interior Delta, where poor habitat and predators await.
The concrete gates would span the width of each channel and probably would be hinged at the bottom, allowing the channel to be opened or closed according to tides and water quality. Each includes a lock system so boats can pass if the gate is closed.
But when the gates would be closed, and for how long, remains uncertain.
Bradford Island residents fear a gate across False River will boost water currents around the island, causing more levee erosion. They also worry about more vessel traffic on Fisherman's Cut if boaters detour around the island to avoid the gate.
DWR studies confirm some of these concerns: A closed gate on False River could boost water velocities fivefold in Fisherman's Cut, from 2,000 cubic feet per second to 10,000.
Cate Kuhne, a Bradford Island property owner, said such flows could scour away tule berms on the east and north sides of the island. The berms are important habitat and create calm water near the island for swimming and boating, she said.
"This project is going to impact our entire way of life out there," Kuhne said.
Three-Mile Slough is a vital boat shortcut between the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. If it's blocked by a gate, the alternatives are a rough and windy haul around Sherman Island to the west, or a long detour east via Georgiana Slough or the Mokelumne River .
False River sees heavy traffic because it is near Bethel Island , the Delta's largest community and home to its largest concentration of marinas.
"I don't like the idea," said Bob Olsen, a Bethel Island boater and resident. "We live here and it's a beautiful place. I picture it getting worse if we start doing all this stuff."
A key question is how the gates fit into larger plans for the Delta. If a canal is built to divert a portion of the Sacramento River 's flow around the Delta, the gates may become irrelevant.
But Kelly said the gates could play a vital role for decades, especially if plumbing options include a through-Delta canal. This involves moving water diversions between strengthened levees on the Mokelumne River and Middle River . The gates could protect this waterway from salinity.
Gates may also help in a disaster, she said, such as if levee failures draw salty water into the Delta from the ocean.
Bill Jennings, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, said the project could have unexpected effects on fish, including salmon, sturgeon, bass and Delta smelt. "It's just another frantic project to create the impression that there are solutions other than reducing (water) exports," he said. "We do not understand the intricacies of this incredibly complex estuary enough to keep proposing massive hydraulic modifications."
DWR estimates costs at $75 million for a False River gate and $55 million for a gate on Three-Mile Slough.
Those costs include gates tall enough to handle 18 inches of sea level rise. Gate foundations, however, would be built to support a structure 57 inches higher than today's water levels, in case the gates need to be raised later. This fits the sea-level forecast for 2100 now used in Delta planning.
Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264."
FYI news article from the Sacramento BEE, Jan 1, 2009 regarding the proposed new gates across certain west-Delta waterways. This is a matter of extreme concern for any recreational boater and those who represent state boating and waterway interests in the Delta. Thus far, RBOC and PICYA representatives have been told there will be boat locks should such gates be installed. However, the boat locks never seem to be referenced in the new reports about the proposed gates. Umm…
Dave
RBOC
***bolding is by Flutterby.
*************************************************************
Giant gates mulled for Delta, to the chagrin of some
mweiserrb2rb2@gr5tgr5tsacbee.com
Published Thursday, Jan. 01, 2009
State and federal water officials are looking to build giant concrete gates across key channels in the west Delta to control water quality.
The project has drawn little attention compared with much bigger proposals in the news – such as construction of a 40-mile canal that would channel water around the Delta. But the Franks Tract Project, as it's called, may be more pressing: Studies are under way, with construction scheduled for summer 2010.
The California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are studying five locations on the west edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: four on Three-Mile Slough near Sherman Island , and one on False River near Bradford Island . A final plan is likely to propose one gate on each waterway.
The gates would be raised and lowered at crucial times to reduce intrusion of salty ocean water within the Delta. When salty water is drawn into water export pumps owned by the two agencies, it reduces crop productivity and increases treatment costs for cities and farms that use Delta water.
A 2007 DWR study shows that gates on the two sloughs can cut salinity at the pumping intakes from 7 percent to 21 percent, depending on conditions.
"We see it as a tool to help us manage conditions for fish and water quality," said Kathy Kelly, chief of DWR's Bay-Delta Office.
Another potential benefit: A gate at Three-Mile Slough could prevent Sacramento River salmon from straying into the interior Delta, where poor habitat and predators await.
The concrete gates would span the width of each channel and probably would be hinged at the bottom, allowing the channel to be opened or closed according to tides and water quality. Each includes a lock system so boats can pass if the gate is closed.
But when the gates would be closed, and for how long, remains uncertain.
Bradford Island residents fear a gate across False River will boost water currents around the island, causing more levee erosion. They also worry about more vessel traffic on Fisherman's Cut if boaters detour around the island to avoid the gate.
DWR studies confirm some of these concerns: A closed gate on False River could boost water velocities fivefold in Fisherman's Cut, from 2,000 cubic feet per second to 10,000.
Cate Kuhne, a Bradford Island property owner, said such flows could scour away tule berms on the east and north sides of the island. The berms are important habitat and create calm water near the island for swimming and boating, she said.
"This project is going to impact our entire way of life out there," Kuhne said.
Three-Mile Slough is a vital boat shortcut between the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. If it's blocked by a gate, the alternatives are a rough and windy haul around Sherman Island to the west, or a long detour east via Georgiana Slough or the Mokelumne River .
False River sees heavy traffic because it is near Bethel Island , the Delta's largest community and home to its largest concentration of marinas.
"I don't like the idea," said Bob Olsen, a Bethel Island boater and resident. "We live here and it's a beautiful place. I picture it getting worse if we start doing all this stuff."
A key question is how the gates fit into larger plans for the Delta. If a canal is built to divert a portion of the Sacramento River 's flow around the Delta, the gates may become irrelevant.
But Kelly said the gates could play a vital role for decades, especially if plumbing options include a through-Delta canal. This involves moving water diversions between strengthened levees on the Mokelumne River and Middle River . The gates could protect this waterway from salinity.
Gates may also help in a disaster, she said, such as if levee failures draw salty water into the Delta from the ocean.
Bill Jennings, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, said the project could have unexpected effects on fish, including salmon, sturgeon, bass and Delta smelt. "It's just another frantic project to create the impression that there are solutions other than reducing (water) exports," he said. "We do not understand the intricacies of this incredibly complex estuary enough to keep proposing massive hydraulic modifications."
DWR estimates costs at $75 million for a False River gate and $55 million for a gate on Three-Mile Slough.
Those costs include gates tall enough to handle 18 inches of sea level rise. Gate foundations, however, would be built to support a structure 57 inches higher than today's water levels, in case the gates need to be raised later. This fits the sea-level forecast for 2100 now used in Delta planning.
Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264."