[ECO]Historic Delta Wetlands Return as Sacramento Wetlands Conservation Project Launches

[Eco 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A 580-acre Sacramento wetlands conservation project will help reverse historic habitat loss while providing climate resilience benefits.

A landmark wetland restoration project in Sacramento County will reclaim 580 acres of former tidal marsh, marking a significant step toward reversing more than a century of habitat loss in California’s Delta region. The

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, situated along Snodgrass Slough in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, has secured approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Services after a comprehensive three-year review process.

Since the 1850s, over 95% of the Delta’s original 350,000 acres of tidal wetlands have been lost to agriculture and development. This dramatic decline has devastated native species populations and disrupted essential ecosystem functions. The Zacharias Ranch project, developed by Westervelt Ecological Services (WES), aims to restore natural connectivity between Snodgrass Slough and surrounding wetlands, contributing to the state’s goal of restoring 30,000 acres of Delta habitat by 2040.

The Sacramento wetlands conservation project design includes a complex network of channels and marsh plains supporting multiple habitat types. Project engineers will breach existing levees strategically to reintroduce natural tidal flows. The site’s agricultural infrastructure, including drainage ditches and water control structures, will be modified or removed to restore natural hydrology. Native vegetation, including tule, cattails, and riparian species, will be planted to accelerate habitat development.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Tidal marshes act as natural buffers, absorbing storm surges, protecting inland areas, and providing carbon sequestration. Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Climate resilience is prominently featured in the project’s design. As sea levels continue to rise, these tidal marshes will act as natural buffers, absorbing storm surges and protecting inland areas. Research indicates that restored wetlands can sequester up to 5 metric tons of carbon per acre annually, making them valuable assets in California’s climate resilience strategy. The project’s elevation gradients and channel networks are designed to accommodate projected sea-level rise through 2100.

Endangered species will benefit significantly from the Sacramento wetlands conservation project. The site will provide critical habitat for Chinook salmon, Delta smelt, and several endangered bird species. Fish-friendly design elements include deep channels for juvenile salmon rearing, shallow water areas for native minnows, and complex edge habitats that provide refuge from predators.

The bank will generate compensatory mitigation credits that developers and infrastructure projects can purchase to offset environmental impacts elsewhere in the region. These credits will help satisfy requirements set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board for

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

affecting protected wetlands and waterways. Credit prices are expected to range from $175,000 to $250,000 per acre, reflecting the high cost of Delta restoration and long-term management.

Sacramento Valley Conservancy will oversee a permanent conservation easement on the property, ensuring its long-term protection. An endowment fund, estimated at $2.5 million, will support ongoing management and maintenance activities. Annual monitoring will track vegetation development, wildlife use, and hydrologic function. Adaptive management protocols will allow for adjustments based on monitoring results.

See also:

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Construction of the Sacramento wetlands conservation project is scheduled to begin in spring 2024, with initial work occurring during the dry season to minimize environmental impacts. The first mitigation credits will become available in winter 2024 once the conservation easement is finalized and initial success criteria are met.

The project connects to existing conservation lands along Snodgrass Slough, creating a continuous protected habitat corridor. This connectivity is crucial for wildlife movement and ecosystem resilience. Future phases may include public access features such as viewing platforms and educational signage, though these elements will be carefully designed to minimize wildlife disturbance.

Local agricultural interests have generally supported the project, recognizing that the selected site faces increasing subsidence and salinity intrusion challenges. The restoration will also provide flood protection benefits to neighboring properties by increasing the floodplain capacity of Snodgrass Slough.

This restoration project advances regional conservation objectives while providing a market-based mechanism for offsetting unavoidable environmental impacts from essential development projects. The Zacharias Ranch site will join a network of protected areas working to rebuild the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s historic wetland ecosystem, serving as a model for future restoration efforts in the region.

The post

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

appeared first on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up