Wednesday December 4, 2024
Dixon Independent Voice —
In November, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Bureau of Reclamation broke ground 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 operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.
Led by the Department of Water Resources, 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 requirement for constructing 8,000 acres of new tidal habitat, with the additional acres supporting the Healthy Rivers and Landscape program.