Delta Ecosystem | Delta Stewardship Council

Output and Outcome Performance Measures

Yolo Bypass Inundation

Restoring to a healthier estuary using more natural functional flows - including in-Delta flows and tributary input flows - to support ecological floodplain processes: Yolo Bypass floodplain inundation.
Peak Flow

Restoring to a healthier estuary using more natural functional flows - including in-Delta flows and tributary input flows - to support ecological floodplain processes: peak flows in the Sacramento River.
Recession Flow

Restoring to a healthier estuary using more natural functional flows - including in-Delta flows and tributary input flows - to support ecological floodplain processes: spring gradual recession flows in the Sacramento River.
In-Delta Flow

Restoring to a healthier estuary using more natural functional flows - including in-Delta flows and tributary input flows - to support ecological floodplain processes: in-Delta flow.
Salmon Doubling Goal

Increase in Central Valley Chinook salmon population recovery with natural production to reach the state and federal doubling goal.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species

Prevention and reduction of key invasive non-native terrestrial and aquatic species in the Delta and Suisun Marsh.
Subsidence Reversal for Tidal Reconnection

Subsidence reversal activities located at shallow subtidal elevations provide future opportunities to restore intertidal wetlands through tidal reconnection in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh.
Fish Passage

Remediating fish passage at priority barriers and select large rim dams in the Delta watershed, and screen priority diversions along native, anadromous fish migration corridors in the Delta and Suisun Marsh.
Increased Funding for Restoring Ecosystem Function

This measure supports a resilient and functioning Delta ecosystem by calling for increased funding for projects that possess attributes to restore ecosystem functions.
Seasonal Inundation

Restoring land-water connections to increase hydrologic connectivity and seasonal floodplain inundation.
Acres of Natural Communities Restored

Restore large areas of natural communities for habitat connectivity and crucial ecological processes, along with supporting viable populations of native species.

Administrative Performance Measures

ER RF-01 - Develop Strategies for Acquisition and Long-Term Ownership and Land Management

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: Delta Stewardship Council
Supporting Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
,
Department of Water Resources
,
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Status: Ongoing

ER RF-02 - Develop Funding Strategy for Ecosystem Restoration Tier 1 and 2 Actions

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: Delta Stewardship Council
Supporting Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
,
Department of Water Resources
,
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Status: Ongoing

ER RF-03 - Establish Program-Level Endangered Species Permitting Mechanisms

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: Delta Stewardship Council
Supporting Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
,
Department of Water Resources
,
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Status: Ongoing

ER RF-04 - Coordinate Resources for Scientific Support and Restoration Adaptive Management

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: Delta Stewardship Council
Supporting Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
,
Department of Water Resources
,
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Status: Ongoing

ER R09-01 - Coordinate and Synthesize Studies on Anadromous Fish Migration and Survival Upstream and within the Delta

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Supporting Agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
,
United States Fish and Wildlife Services

Status: Ongoing

ER RI-01 - Fund and Implement Habitat Projects and Reduce Predation to Juvenile Salmon

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: Delta Stewardship Council
Supporting Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
,
Delta Protection Commission
,
Department of Water Resources

Status: Ongoing

ER R07-02 - Develop and Implement Strategies to Manage Existing Invasive Species

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Status: Ongoing

ER R08-01 - Hatcheries Develop, Update and Implement Scientifically Sound Hatchery and Genetic Plans

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Supporting Agencies: United States Fish and Wildlife Services

Status: Ongoing

ER R01-01 - Adopt Updated Flow Objectives for Delta Tributaries and Delta Outflow

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: State Water Resources Control Board

Status: Ongoing

ER RH-01 - Prioritize Unscreened Diversions in the Delta for Remediation

Chapter 4: Delta Ecosystem
Primary Agencies: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Status: Ongoing

Birds over wetlands

About Delta Ecosystem
The Delta Stewardship Council (Council) works to achieve the goal of protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem (California Water Code section 85054). Inherent in that goal is the objective to “restore the Delta ecosystem, including its fisheries and wildlife, as the heart of a healthy estuary and wetland ecosystem” (California Water Code section 85020[c]).

Five core ecosystem strategies must be implemented throughout the state to achieve the coequal goal of restoring the Delta ecosystem:
- Create More Natural Functional Flows Core Strategy
- Restore Ecosystem Function Core Strategy
- Protect Land for Restoration and Safeguard Against Land Loss Core Strategy
- Protect Native Species and Reduce the Impact of Nonnative Invasive Species Core Strategy
- Improve Institutional Coordination to Support Implementation of Ecosystem Protection, Restoration, and Enhancement
These core strategies are interconnected and support one another; they should be implemented in combination with each other to make progress in achieving the objectives for the Delta ecosystem set forth in the Delta Reform Act. These five core strategies form the basis of policies and recommendations for protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem, based on current scientific understanding of opportunities and constraints, to achieve that coequal goal, and to benefit both the Delta ecosystem and native resident and migratory species. Success will require continued collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies, and strong partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.