What is the Delta? The Delta Dilemma...Hit the road, Jack...we don't need your kind here! Eeek!!.......
1
California's California's Delta Word Search G R AQU E DU C TI SANJOAQU I NS C SA LMONG F SA AMD E DTAD L TC L OR E S E R VO I R F L OOD P L F TDA L LMI G R AT E AM E SORQU IWA L E V R UNOF FONEN EOSA L I N I T YT E COS Y ST EMCO Find these words: ANADROMOUS AQUEDUCT DAM DELTA ECOSYSTEM FLOOD LEVEE MIGRATE SAN JOAQUIN RESERVOIR RUNOFF SACRAMENTO SALINITY SALMON SPAWN TIDAL Sacramento-San J Sacramento-San Joaquin oaquin Delta Delta SUBJECT: It's where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet. So where did Fred say the Delta was? So has anyone noticed that we're all living in a desert down here? Stop Mabel! I think we made a wrong turn — this water seems saltier than I remember. Good grief Wendell, just ask for directions — I'm already exhausted! Dude, use water wisely—it's a way of life! This, class, is the water cycle. We're thirsty too! Righteous snow pack! Mice get thirsty too! Yeah man, water is cool! Yeah...and it looks like most of the precipitation is falling in Northern California. So how is all this water getting here? Hey...we're making computer chips over here —we need lots of clean water! Ooof....so where's the water recycling bin? But where are the wheels? Pay attention class — this is “Anadromous 101” Well yeah, I was thirsty, but never mind. I'm....gonna soak up the sun.... (and it's making me thirsty!) All this flying is making me thirsty! All this photo- synthesizing is making me thirsty! Huh? Who said that? Pardon me... which way to the Feather River? You see, I'm an Anadromous fish and... Say-what? Hello there....I'm an invasive species. I've come to eat your food and mess up your ecosystem and the pumps! Hit the road, Jack...we don't need your kind here! Eeek!!.... It's saltwater intrusion! My Buttercup ...talk to me! Why sure! ...dorsal fin OK? I'd like one of those pretty fish tags, please — I just love costume jewelry! All these new houses are driving me out of house and home! Look—there's Fred!...we made it you guys! Cool digs! Drove my Chevy to the levee and the levee was dry .....(and that's a good thing!) Who's Thirsty? California needs water, not only for us humans to drink, but also to sustain wildlife, crops, and industry. Try to find some of these thirsty characters: • A high-flying fowl cruising the Pacific Flyway • A leafy legume • A famous mouse • A bony bovine • A sun-loving musician Can you also find these important water features? • The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta • The route water takes from Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville to Southern California • A watershed (hint: this is not a watershed) Which Way Did They Go? Salmon are a species of fish that are born in fresh water, but migrate to the salt water oceans where they spend most of their adult life. These fish are called anadromous. When salmon are ready to lay their eggs, or spawn, the Delta provides a route for them as they travel back to the exact Central Valley stream where they were hatched, whether north or south of the Delta. As water mixes in the Delta, finding their “home” can be very confusing. The water in the Delta changes with storm runoff, dam releases, and the tide. It is amazing how thousands and thousands of salmon can navigate through this area successfully. Understanding Salmon Migration How long do salmon stay in the Delta before traveling to their spawning grounds? When are they moving? What are their obstacles? These are just some of the questions that scientists try to answer. When we know what salmon need, we can help them better. For example, one recent study tagged 332 adult salmon and released them in two locations in the Delta. The salmon are tagged on their fin and also by placing a monitoring device inside their belly. The data collected determine the direction and times that the salmon travel. The results tell us that the fish are taking unexpected turns, sometimes in the wrong direction! Helping the Salmon Because the salmon store up their fuel and use it while migrating, if anything delays the salmon, they may use up their fuel too soon—and not have enough to make it home. These studies are important to better understand how fish get safely past obstacles and see how they interpret the change in water flows that we have created so they can make their journey home, spawn, and allow a new generation of salmon to flourish. What is the Delta? The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is where the Sacramento River water flowing south meets the San Joaquin River flowing north. The two rivers mingle with rivers of smaller watersheds to form a 700-mile-long maze of rivers and sloughs surrounding over 50 islands, most of them agricultural. No other single area is quite as crucial to the state’s overall water picture as the Delta—it is a hub of California’s two largest water projects. Its existing channels are used to provide the water needs of the Delta and surrounding areas as well as to transport water to federal and state pumps in the southern Delta. Why is the Delta Important to us? The Delta delivers fresh water crucial to California’s water supply. It provides drinking water for over 22 million people. It supports California’s trillion-dollar economy, including its $27 billion agricultural industry. The Delta’s channels transport water south to California’s two largest water delivery systems: the Delta-Mendota Canal and the California Aqueduct. Delta levees protect farms, homes, and infrastructure. The Delta also supports important habitat for many species that rely on this unique area where fresh water meets salty ocean water, called an estuary. The brackish marshes and the San Francisco Bay allow the Delta to form the largest estuary on the west coast—home to 750 plant and animal species. Water Quality and the Delta The Delta has historically been at the mercy of the river flood flows and tidal influences. Although upstream dams help control floods today and help regulate Delta salinity, the salty ocean water can creep up Delta channels when mountain runoff and releases from reservoirs slow down. But when water is flowing strong, like during the winter or spring when there is a heavy runoff from the mountains, this outward flow keeps the sea water out of the Delta. These waters flow west through the Delta and San Francisco Bay to the ocean, holding back the salt waters of the Bay and protecting water quality for consumption, recreation, and farming. The Delta Dilemma Straining under dual roles as critical habitat and serving water project needs, the Delta is in decline from decades of competing demands and struggles to function as a healthy ecosystem and as a reliable source of water. Finding Solutions Because so many people—and other living things—depend upon the Delta, we need input and cooperation from many different groups to help find solutions to restore the Delta. Government agencies dedicated to improving the Delta rely on information from biologists, engineers, water companies, farmers, Delta residents, and other government agencies to come up with plans that will restore the Delta’s ecological health and improve its ability to reliably supply clean water for drinking, agriculture, and other needs. Water Crossword ACROSS 1. A man-made waterway, like the Delta- Mendota _______. 2. The scientific compound for water: ________. 3. An estuary is a unique and rich habitat containing many different plants and _________. 4. A _______ prevents floodwaters from spilling over the banks of rivers or channels. 5. The sun is the __________ source that drives the water cycle. DOWN 1. Water recycling is one way to ___________ water. 6. An area defined by a system of rivers and their tributaries is called a _____shed. 7. Brackish marshes, like the Suisun, form where fresh water mixes with _____ water from the ocean. 1. 2. 3. 4. 7. 6. 5. It's no secret...water is wonderful! Use this code to fill in the message ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a ___ __ _ ___ ___ ___ __ _ ___ ___ of all the people of California and must be ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ __ ___ for the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all the people of California and must be ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ for the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all. Answers: It's no secret: Water is a resource for all the people of California and must be managed for the benefit of all. / Crossword: 1A–CANAL, 2A–H2O, 3A–ANIMALS, 4A–LEVEE, 5A–ENERGY, 1D–CONSERVE, 6D–WATERshed, 7D–SALT Printing provided by California State Water Resources and State Water Contractors To order more Amazing Delta Book Covers go to http://www.water.ca.gov/education and click on the Water Facts and Fun link www.resources.ca.gov CALIFORNIA AGENCY Sept. 3, 2010
Transcript of What is the Delta? The Delta Dilemma...Hit the road, Jack...we don't need your kind here! Eeek!!.......
California's
California's
Delta Word Search
G R A Q U E D U C T IS A N J O A Q U I N SC S A L M O N G F S AA M D E D T A D L T CL O R E S E R V O I RF L O O D P L F T D AL L M I G R A T E A ME S O R Q U I W A L EV R U N O F F O N E NE O S A L I N I T Y TE C O S Y S T E M C O
Find these words: ANADROMOUSAQUEDUCTDAMDELTAECOSYSTEMFLOODLEVEEMIGRATE
SAN JOAQUINRESERVOIRRUNOFFSACRAMENTOSALINITYSALMONSPAWNTIDAL
Sacramento-San J
Sacramento-San Joaquinoaquin
DeltaDelta
SU
BJEC
T:
It's where the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Rivers meet.
So wheredid Fred say the
Delta was?
So has anyonenoticed that we're all
living in a desertdown here?
Stop Mabel! I thinkwe made a wrong turn —this water seems saltier
than I remember.
Good grief Wendell, just ask for
directions — I'm already exhausted!
Dude, use water wisely—it's a way
of life!
This, class,is the water
cycle.
We'rethirsty too!
Righteoussnow pack!
Mice getthirsty too!
Yeah man,water is cool!
Yeah...and it looks likemost of the precipitation is
falling in Northern California. So how is all this water getting here?
Hey...we'remaking computerchips over here
—we need lots ofclean water!
Ooof....sowhere's the
water recycling bin?
Butwhere
are the wheels?
Pay attention class — this is
“Anadromous 101”
Well yeah, I was thirsty, but
never mind.
I'm....gonnasoak up the sun....(and it's making
me thirsty!)
All thisflying is making
me thirsty!
All this photo-synthesizing is
making me thirsty!
Huh? Who said that?
Pardon me...which way to the
Feather River? You see,I'm an Anadromous
fish and...
Say-what?
Hello there....I'man invasive species. I've
come to eat your food and mess up your ecosystem
and the pumps!
Hit the road, Jack...we don't need
your kind here!
Eeek!!....It's saltwater
intrusion!
My Buttercup...talk to me!
Why sure!...dorsal fin
OK?
I'd like one of those pretty fish tags,
please — I just love costume jewelry!
All these newhouses are drivingme out of house
and home!
Look—there's Fred!...we made
it you guys!
Cool digs!
Drove my Chevyto the levee and the
levee was dry .....(and that's a good thing!)
Who's Thirsty?California needs water, not only for us humans to drink, but also to sustain wildlife, crops, and industry. Try to find some of these thirsty characters:
• A high-flying fowl cruising the Pacific Flyway
• A leafy legume• A famous mouse• A bony bovine• A sun-loving musician
Can you also find these important water features?
• The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta• The route water takes from
Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville to Southern
California• A watershed (hint:
this is not a watershed)
Which Way Did They Go?Salmon are a species of fish that are born in fresh water, but migrate to the salt water oceans where they spend most of their adult life. These fish are called anadromous.
When salmon are ready to lay their eggs, or spawn, the Delta provides a route for them as they travel back to the exact Central Valley stream where they were hatched, whether north or south of the Delta.
As water mixes in the Delta, finding their “home” can be very confusing. The water in the Delta changes with storm runoff, dam releases, and the tide. It is amazing how thousands and thousands of salmon can navigate through this area successfully.
Understanding Salmon Migration How long do salmon stay in the Delta before traveling to their spawning grounds? When are they moving? What are their obstacles? These are just some of the questions that scientists try to answer. When we know what salmon need, we can help them better.
For example, one recent study tagged 332 adult salmon and released them in two locations in the Delta. The salmon are tagged on their fin and also by placing a monitoring device inside their belly. The data collected determine the direction and times that the salmon travel. The results tell us that the fish are taking unexpected turns, sometimes in the wrong direction!
Helping the Salmon Because the salmon store up their fuel and use it while migrating, if anything delays the salmon, they may use up their fuel too soon—and not have enough to make it home.
These studies are important to better understand how fish get safely past obstacles and see how they interpret the change in water flows that we have created so they can make their journey home, spawn, and allow a new generation of salmon to flourish.
What is the Delta?The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is where the Sacramento River water flowing south meets the San Joaquin River flowing north. The two rivers mingle with rivers of smaller watersheds to form a 700-mile-long maze of rivers and sloughs surrounding over 50 islands, most of them agricultural.
No other single area is quite as crucial to the state’s overall water picture as the Delta—it is a hub of California’s two largest water projects. Its existing channels are used to provide the water needs of the Delta and surrounding areas as well
as to transport water to federal and state pumps in the southern Delta.
Why is the Delta Important to us?The Delta delivers fresh water crucial to California’s water supply. It provides drinking water for over 22 million people. It supports California’s trillion-dollar economy, including its $27 billion agricultural industry. The Delta’s channels transport water south to California’s two largest water delivery systems: the Delta-Mendota Canal and the
California Aqueduct. Delta levees protect farms, homes, and infrastructure. The Delta also supports important habitat for many species that rely on this unique area where fresh water meets salty ocean water, called an estuary. The brackish marshes and the San Francisco Bay allow the Delta to form the largest estuary on the west coast—home to 750 plant and animal species.
Water Quality and the DeltaThe Delta has historically been at the mercy of the river flood flows and tidal influences. Although
upstream dams help control floods today and help regulate Delta salinity, the salty ocean water can creep up Delta channels when mountain runoff and releases from reservoirs slow down. But when water is flowing strong, like during the winter or spring when there is a heavy runoff from the mountains, this outward flow keeps the sea water out of the Delta.These waters flow west through the Delta and San Francisco Bay to the ocean, holding back the salt waters of the Bay and protecting water quality for consumption, recreation, and farming.
The Delta DilemmaStraining under dual roles as critical habitat and serving water project needs, the Delta is in decline from decades of competing demands and struggles to function as a healthy ecosystem and as a reliable source of water.
Finding SolutionsBecause so many people—and other living things—depend upon the Delta, we need input and cooperation from many different groups to help find solutions to restore the Delta. Government agencies dedicated to improving the Delta rely on information from biologists, engineers, water companies, farmers, Delta residents, and other government agencies to come up with plans that will restore the Delta’s ecological health and improve its ability to reliably supply clean water for drinking, agriculture, and other needs.
Water CrosswordACROSS
1. A man-made waterway, like the Delta-Mendota _______.
2. The scientific compound for water: ________.
3. An estuary is a unique and rich habitat containing many different plants and _________.
4. A _______ prevents floodwaters from spilling over the banks of rivers or channels.
5. The sun is the __________ source that drives the water cycle.
DOWN
1. Water recycling is one way to ___________ water.
6. An area defined by a system of rivers and their tributaries is called a _____shed.
7. Brackish marshes, like the Suisun, form where fresh water mixes with _____ water from the ocean.
1.
2.
3.
4.
7.
6.
5.
It's no secret...water is wonderful!Use this code to fill in the message
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all the people of California
and must be ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ for the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all the people of California
and must be ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ for the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of all.
Answers: It's no secret: Water is a resource for all the people of California and must be managed for the benefit of all. / Crossword: 1A–CANAL, 2A–H2O, 3A–ANIMALS, 4A–LEVEE, 5A–ENERGY, 1D–CONSERVE, 6D–WATERshed, 7D–SALT
Printing provided byCalifornia State Water Resources and State Water Contractors
To order more Amazing Delta Book Covers go to http://www.water.ca.gov/education and click on the Water Facts and Fun link
www.resources.ca.gov
C A L I F O R N I A
A G E N C Y
Sept. 3, 2010
