[Youtube video of Delta fireworks removed for faster blog loading.]
Should Delta levees be upgraded and then repaired if they fail? Should significant areas of open-water caused by permanently flooded islands be part of the Delta’s future? It is a reasonable question and as one who believes in the value of cost/benefit analysis, I like the set-up of the
levee decision analysis paper from Suddeth, Mount and Lund of UC-Davis. Unfortunately, their conclusion that the majority of Delta levees aren’t worth the investment or recovery is way too strong given the relatively low assumed values of land, infrastructure and the variety of things that they have not measured, including recreation impacts. Luckily, the editor of the SF Estuary journal appears to have forced them to include more sensitivity analysis results before publishing their paper, a result I consider better than outright rejection in this case since we can see more scenario results from a paper that was already influential.
This picture from their paper emerged from a scenario with better land and infrastructure values, and is enough to move the conversation forward. The key result is the 6 central Delta islands that would be converted to open water over time.
Jeff Mount, a member of the Stewardship Council’s independent science board, apparently agrees, since he put the same map forward
in a letter to the Stewardship Council. In my view, their earlier analysis did establish something useful: the discussion of do not resuscitate lists can be narrowed down to these six islands, plus maybe 2 or 3 very small islands scattered around the Delta like Deadhorse or Fay. (Note: If they considered the new Stockton Water Supply project, Empire Tract (#16) would be removed and it would be a five island open water area.)
In the Economic Sustainability Plan, I directed our team to take a serious look at this future open water configuration. Given the absence of key infrastructure in this area, few residents, and low-value agriculture, these islands certainly rank the highest on the candidate list of places we might allow to be converted to open water. On the downside, there are concerns about the impacts on levees on surrounding islands, water quality concerns related to increasing organic material for municipal and industrial water intakes.
I thought recreation would be the wild card, and have been a little surprised at the almost universally negative response from recreationists, owners of recreation related businesses in the Delta, and recreation experts who have been studying the area for years.
One of the first things I heard was, “It will ruin the 4th of July.” I am usually out of town on the 4th, and didn't know
Barron Hilton has been hosting a large fireworks show off Mandeville Tip since 1958 near his duck club on Venice Island. This location is directly in the middle of this open water scenario. It is the biggest weekend of the year for Delta recreation.
The next thing I learned is that this area is the most popular area for boating, and that about half of Delta marinas surround the immediate area and in most cases would be potentially negatively impacted by the loss of wind/wave protection and the necessary levee improvements on adjacent islands. I didn’t go to all the recreation focus groups, but my understanding is that it got a very negative reaction from boaters and marina owners who anticipated high waves and winds would drive them elsewhere, possibly out of the Delta all together. Since this is the most popular area for boating and boating is by far the most important recreational activity to the Delta economy, it seems this plan could have harmful negative economic effects that aren’t considered in the Suddeth et. al. models. Few people seemed to think that sailing or other recreational opportunities would fill the void.
The last thing I learned is that it could be bad for hunting. I spoke with one farmer who grew low-value crops in this area, and I asked why he didn’t grow different crops. He explained that corn prices have in fact made growing corn high value, but the real answer was that in the Delta there are farmers, farmers who also hunt, and avid hunters who do some farming when it isn’t duck season. He considered himself in the latter category, and insisted he would grow corn if it were 10 cents a bushel, always has, because it leads to good duck hunting and that is the top priority. It seems there is more underlying the value of land than just the value of crops.
So, how much is all that worth? I don’t know for sure, but it is a potentially big deal, especially if it really is as negative for boating as our initial feedback suggests. We have learned that levees that protect low value agriculture may be supporting high-value recreation.
Personally, I would like there to be less talk about Delta recreation/tourism as a driver of income and jobs, and more talk about it just being unique and fun. That’s worth something, but it isn’t anywhere in the computer models about Delta levee decisions. Perhaps it should be.
Have a safe and happy 4th everyone!
[Youtube video of crazy Delta jet skier removed for faster blog loading.]
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