Delta Region Integrated Flood Management: Key Considerations and Statewide Implications

This Background / Reference Memorandum (BRM) presents highlights from flood-related technical, legislative and funding information regarding the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), with emphasis on activities by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

The BRM is intended to provide historical and existing conditions (year 2011) context for DWR’s use in conveying strategies for future investments in integrated flood management in the Delta under a separate document.

The State of California has entrusted DWR as the agency with the responsibility for managing water flow through the Delta and for representing State interests in Delta levees.

DWR invests in the Delta levee system to protect clear and identifiable State interests, including but not limited to:
• Human life, public health, and property within the Delta;
• Water quality and water supply for agriculture, ecosystem, and municipal and industrial water users within the Delta and water users outside of the Delta;
• Ecosystem protection and enhancement, including protection and recovery of threatened and endangered species;
• Critical infrastructure such as highways, railroads, aqueducts, and pumping plants;
• Other infrastructure such as transmission lines (electric & petroleum), shipping channels, and public infrastructure (water and wastewater treatment plants);
• Agriculture and recreation; and
• Cultural, historical, aesthetic, and other values included in “Delta as a place.”

State legislation and modifications to the California Water and Public Resources codes have repeatedly demonstrated the State’s interest in preserving the Delta and the importance of Delta levees. The legislation and modifications to the codes have made strong statements about the importance of the Delta, provided direction for the DWR’s levee programs, and provided funding for flood management activities and environmental stewardship in the Delta.

This BRM should be considered a reference document. Due to the large number of existing documents on the Delta and its levees, this BRM provides highlights of important material with references to other documents for more detailed information.

This base information should be useful when considering modifications to investment strategies for integrated flood management in the Delta.