Thursday April 2, 2026
Maven’s Notebook —
At the March Delta Stewardship Council meeting, the Delta Lead Scientist’s Report showcased a complete, high-quality elevation map of the entire Bay-Delta estuary—from the Golden Gate to the upper estuary. This marks the first time such a seamless dataset has been created, addressing long-standing challenges in regional mapping.
The Bay-Delta is a dynamic landscape, constantly reshaped by natural forces and human interventions. Recent events, such as levee breaches during 2023 storms on the Cosumnes River and intentional restoration projects like Lookout Slough, along with rising sea levels and flooding, such as the Highway 101 inundation in Marin County, further underscore the importance of precise mapping for flood risk assessment, restoration planning, and infrastructure protection.