The Delta Protection Commission approved the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which concluded that strengthening Delta levees is critical to economic sustainability for the Delta and regional economy. The study also found that seismic improvements to between 300 and 600 miles of lowland Delta levees and planting appropriate vegetation on the water side of enlarged levees is the most cost-effective strategy to achieve the State’s co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration. The Commission approved the plan
The finding in the ESP is consistent with recently released results from the Department of Water Resources’ Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) Phase 2 in which strategies focused on improving Delta levees had higher economic benefits and lower total costs than strategies that include a peripheral canal.
“Completion of the Economic Sustainability Plan is a significant milestone in the Delta Protection Commission’s efforts to help assure the protection and enhancement of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Chairman of the Delta Protection Commission. “Most importantly, the findings and recommendations in the Economic Sustainability Plan demonstrate that protecting and enhancing the unique values of the Delta and its economy are consistent with the co-equal goals of water supply reliability for California and ecosystem restoration in the Delta.”
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Contact Us
Thomas Pogue
Director
209.946.2913
tpogue@pacific.edu
