Project benefits
In addition to developing a cost-effective new water supply for California, the Delta Wetlands Project will:
- Provide an additional water supply for urban, agricultural, and environmental uses that will reduce pressure on local farmers whose supply already is threatened
- Be operational in a short timeframe
- Enhance operational flexibility within the state and federal water systems
- Ensure protection of Delta water quality
- Improve Delta water quality by reducing salinity during fall months
- Improve levee stability in the Central Delta along the critical Old and Middle River water conveyance pathway
- Provide significant new employment and income for the region
- Strengthen 56 miles of Delta levees
- Eliminate 92 un-screened agricultural diversions
- Provide an emergency response tool to reduce salinity intrusion during Delta flooding
- Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from exposed peat soils through conversion to reservoirs and wetland and wildlife habitats
- Enhance protection and ability to respond to earthquakes, floods and rising sea levels
- Reduce soil subsidence on 20,000 acres
- Restore 9,000 acres of habitat and provide new recreation opportunities
