Reclamation, DWR celebrate launch of key Delta habitat restoration project

WALNUT GROVE, Calif. - The California Department of Water Resources and Bureau of Reclamation today broke ground on a habitat restoration project in the Delta that, when completed, will help endangered species such as Delta smelt and Chinook salmon while supporting the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

Led by DWR, the $69.4 million Prospect Island Tidal Habitat Restoration Project is located on 1,600 acres in Solano County. Reclamation is contributing $46 million of the project's total cost. The work happening at the site will enhance aquatic food web productivity, create and enhance habitats for many Delta-dependent fish and wildlife species, provide long-term resiliency with climate change, and provide other ecosystem benefits such as water quality and carbon sequestration. A portion of the project acreage closes out the requirement for constructing 8,000 acres of new tidal habitat, with the additional acres being supporting the Healthy Rivers and Landscape program.

"This project is an important steppingstone in the overall process of Delta ecosystem improvement and Reclamation is gratified to see it move to the groundbreaking stage," said California Great-Basin Regional Director Karl Stock. "It is emblematic of our strong working relationship with DWR and represents the type of habitat work we continue to work on with the state and our local partners."

"Prospect Island is a great project for the people and the environment of California. The newly restored tidal marsh will clean the water we drink and will help native fish like salmon and Delta smelt grow strong," said California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth. "The Department of Water Resources is grateful to the Bureau of Reclamation for its partnership on Prospect Island and we look forward to future opportunities to work together for the benefit of all Californians."

Prospect Island will breach levees at two locations to return tidal-influenced flows to the project site. This project supplements the recent completion of the largest tidal wetland restoration project to date in the Delta. The Prospect Island Tidal Habitat Restoration Project is expected to be complete in 2026.

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