California celebrates launch of key delta habitat restoration project

The California Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources (DWR) broke ground on November 13, 2024, on a habitat restoration project in the delta that, when completed, will help endangered species such as delta smelt and Chinook salmon while supporting the long-term operations of the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

Led by DWR, the $69.4 million Prospect Island tidal habitat restoration project is located on 1,600-acres in Solano County.

Reclamation is contributing $46 million of the project’s total cost.

The work happening at the site will enhance aquatic food web productivity, create and enhance habitats for many delta-dependent fish and wildlife species, provide long-term resiliency with climate change and provide other ecosystem benefits such as water quality and carbon sequestration.

A portion of the project acreage closes out the requirements for constructing 8,000 acres of new tidal habitat, with additional acres supporting the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program.

“This project is an important steppingstone in the overall process of delta ecosystem improvement and Reclamation is gratified to see it move to the groundbreaking stage,” said California Great-Basin Regional Director Karl Stock in a press release. “It is emblematic of our strong working relationship with DWR and represents the type of work we expect to see through voluntary agreements with the state.”

Prospect Island will breach levees at two locations to return tidal-influenced flows to the project site.

This project supplements the recent completion of the largest tidal wetland restoration project to date in the delta.

The Prospect Island tidal habitat restoration project is expected to be completed in 2026.