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Impact of peripheral canal is not really known

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 30, 2007 at 8:02 am

From Stockton’s RecordNet.com, this morning a story about how the effect of a peripheral canal on the sensitive Delta region is simply not known. From the article:

A canal may allow natural flows to return to the Delta, aiding declining fish, such as striped bass. On the other hand, taking half of the Sacramento River’s flows during drought years could cause that river to run backward – the same phenomenon that has imperiled Delta smelt in the southern estuary, said Bennett, the fisheries biologist. “It’s quite likely that if we’re not really careful about how we operate this thing, then the impacts on Delta smelt, particularly in a drought year, could be larger than they are now,” Bennett said.

Dennis Majors, an engineer with the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California, said parts of the canal may be below sea level and thus subject to floods. Pockets of peat would have to be removed to keep the canal safe from earthquakes.

There are water quality concerns, too. Taking Sacramento River water around the Delta means the more contaminated San Joaquin River would contribute much of the flow into the estuary. That could harm Delta farms that draw their irrigation water from the Delta’s many rivers and sloughs.

To read the full text of the story from Stockton’s RecordNet.com, click here.

August 30, 2007 · Filed Under Delta Issues, Peripheral Canal

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