California DWR celebrates completion of wetland restoration project

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP) held a levee breaching ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project (Lookout Slough).

This multi-benefit project restores tidal wetland habitat and produces food for Delta smelt and other fish species, while reducing overall flood risk in the Sacramento area.

This marks the first time in 100 years that tidal waters are flowing to 3,400 acres of restored habitat that will support fish and wildlife species and provide new flood capacity in Solano County.

Lookout Slough is the largest single tidal wetland restoration project to date in the Delta.

After breaking ground in June 2022, construction included building over 3-miles of a 25-foot-tall setback levee, which provides 100-year flood protection with allowances for future sea level rise, excavating 26 miles of open tidal channels and restoring native habitat through grading, fill replacement, and natural revegetation.

The breached site also provides over 40,000-acre feet of additional flood storage within the Yolo Bypass, which will help protect surrounding communities and infrastructure during future flood events.

The levee breaching ceremony featured speakers from the Solano County Board of Supervisors, EIP, DWR and the California Natural Resources Agency.

Following remarks, attendees watched as an excavator breached the levee on the southeastern end of the site, allowing tidal waters to flow in. The breach removed 600-feet of dirt from the old levee.

This is one of nine total breaches that will occur on the eastern edge of the project.