Thursday January 15, 2026
California Department of Water Resources —
In the last five years, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and its partners have restored thousands of acres of tidal wetlands and floodplains along the Sacramento River and in the Delta, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers tangle on their way to San Francisco Bay. These newly-restored habitats already pay dividends for threatened and endangered fish species. Recent studies show native fish species using these restored habitats – in some cases, within months of project completion. The newly-created habitats provide additional spawning areas for native fish and good feeding and resting spots for salmon migrating to the ocean.
Using new advances in science and monitoring, DWR designed restored habitats using a “corridor concept.” The work aims to give Delta smelt, longfin smelt, and Chinook salmon what they need along their direct migratory routes, helping to keep the fish away from the main pumping plant of the State Water Project, operated by DWR along a south Delta channel near Tracy. When monitoring shows endangered or threatened fish species near the pumps, DWR modifies its operations. Recent improvements in fish populations reflect the combined effects of habitat restoration, operational measures, and hatchery and harvest practices, underscoring the need for continued collaboration across government agencies.