DWR Drought Salinity Barrier Projects
2021 Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier
Rock Barrier on West False River(image provided by DWR)
Applicant: Department of Water Resources
County: Contra Costa County
Water Quality Certification Status: Issued May 28, 2021
Waterbody: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Project Description:
The 2021 Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier Project consists of constructing a temporary rock barrier across West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has determined that a salinity barrier is needed in response to the current drought conditions in the State of California. The West False River barrier is a temporary rock barrier to reduce the intrusion of high salinity water into the central and south Delta. On May 10, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency in 41 counties due to severe drought conditions. Under the proclamation, it states that: “the Department of Water Resources shall take actions, if necessary, to implement plans that address potential Delta salinity issues. Such actions may include, among other things, the installation and removal of, Emergency Drought Salinity Barriers at locations within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.” DWR is requesting emergency authorization under the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Regional General Permit 8 for the 2021 Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier Project. See Related Documents below for a complete project description.
Related Documents
- 401 Water Quality Certification – Issued May 28, 2021
- Public Notice - May 17, 2021
Visit the Department of Water Resources website for additional information about the Project.
2016 West False River Salinity Barrier Project - Application Withdrawn 3/14/16
- Public Notice - December 10, 2015
- 401 Water Quality Certification Application - November 13, 2015
2015 Emergency Drought Barrier Project (West False River)
- Summary of Construction Schedule
- Notice of Applicability for Department of Water Resources’ West False River Salinity Barrier Geologic Exploration Project - November 2, 2015
- 401 Water Quality Certification - Issued May 4, 2015
- Updated Project Description - April 29, 2015
- Public Notice - April 20, 2015
- 401 Water Quality Certification Application - April 17, 2015
2015-2024 Emergency Drought Barriers Project - Application Withdrawn 4/17/15
- Public Notice
- February 10, 2015 - Public Notice
- Related Documents
- January 23, 2015 - California Department of Water Resources' Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
- Additional Information
2014 Emergency Drought Barriers Project
- Public Notice
- March 28, 2014 - Public Notice
- March 21, 2014 - Advance Public Notice
- Public Comments
- April 30, 2014 - Bradford Reclamation District 2059 letter regarding Temporary Salinity Barriers
- April 15, 2014 - City of Antioch Comments Regarding DWR Proposed Emergency Drought Barriers Project.
- April 15, 2014 - DCC Engineering Company, Inc. letter regarding DWR Drought Barriers - 401 Water Quality Certification Comments.
- April 15, 2014 - California Analytica letter regarding Emergency Drought Barriers Project
- April 15, 2014 - Snug Harbor Resorts, LLC letter and attachments regarding proposed Emergency Drought Barriers Project on Steamboat and Sutter Sloughs
- Attachment 1 - Flow Data Gap Summary
- Attachment 2 - Comments Submitted to DWR and USACE
- April 14, 2014 - Daniel and Donis Whaley letter regarding Emergency Drought Barriers
- April 14, 2014 - Robert Moser email regarding Public Notice SPK-2014-00187 Emergency Drought Barriers Project
- April 13, 2014 - David Gloski letter regarding Comments and Safety Concern Resulting from False River Barrier
- April 11, 2014 - Topper Van Loben Sels letter regarding Steamboat Slough and Sutter Slough Rock Barriers
- April 2, 2014 - Delta Watershed Landowners Coalition - Preliminary Comments on Proposed 401 Water Quality Certification
- Related Documents
- April 1, 2014 - Notice of Intent to Sue Regarding California State Water Resources Control Board and California Department of Water Resources’ Bay-Delta Barrier Construction
