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The Federal Government is looking to find a balance for the needs for the fresh water in the Delta and the salmon that are migrating through the cross channel, according to David Jones of the Bureau of Reclamation. They are doing this by conducting a study to determine how best to operate the Cross Channel Gates to protect both fish and water quality in the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta. This cross channel connects the Sacramento River with the Delta, and once the gate is opened, the fresh water is able to flow from the Sacramento River into the Delta. This helps with the water quality of the Delta in decreasing the salinity. During the times that the gates are open, the salmon that are migrating can get sucked in or diverted into the back sloughs of the Delta, where many of them die. Many are also lost in the pumps of the state and federal water projects in the South Delta. According to Jones, there are three phases to this process. During the first phase, the gates stayed closed to protect the fall run salmon. The second phase involves the gates operating on a tidal cycle around the clock, opening on the beginning of the flood tide and closing at the beginning of the ebb tide. |
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The third and final phase will leave the gates open. During the second phase, the DFG will use a fish catching device that will allow them to see how many salmon get diverted into the Delta. The study is expected to be completed by the end of January 2001. "By using this new science we will be able to determine which combination will be best in helping to benefit both the water quality and the fish," said Jones. |
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