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.