http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

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The Department of Water Resources finished removing the drought salinity barrier from the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta several days prior to Nov. 30. The barrier was installed in June 2021 to prevent saltwater intrusion with less fresh water from upstream reservoirs and streams flowing into the Delta during California’s continuing drought. DWR was required to remove the structure by November 30 to comply with environmental permits. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento, Calif.), Nov 30, 2022 The temporary Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier that was constructed on the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in June 2021 is being notched to allow fish and boats to pass through it from January through March 2022. The barrier was originally meant to be removed by the end of November 2021, but may be removed by Nov. 30, 2022 if conditions permit. The barrier is designed to help slow the movement of saltwater into the central and south Delta and prevent contamination of water supplies for Delta agriculture and municipal supplies for millions of Californians who rely on Delta-based federal and state water projects for at least some of their water. California Department of Water Resources (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 5, 2022 The tide slowly pushes salt water further into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, nearer to pumps that send water to interior Delta cities and towns. If salt water were to reach the pumps, they would be shut down. Capital Public Radio (Sacramento, Calif.), July 30, 2021 Construction crews were finishing the $10 million rock barrier through a part of the Delta in Contra Costa County to protect the water supply from salt water. The salty water was moving deeper into the Delta toward state and federal pumps that carry water south to 27 million residents from San Jose to Los Angeles and to millions of acres of farmland in the Central Valley and elsewhere. The barrier will remain in place until the latter part of November when the rainy season brings water to push the salty water out of the Delta. East Bay Times (San Jose, Calif.), June 22, 2021 A giant rock wall will be constructed across a river in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect a vital freshwater estuary from saltwater as rivers become too low to push the brackish waters from the bay. The $30 million barrier will be built in the same place as it was in 2015 on the West False River in eastern Contra Costa County to keep saltwater away from pumping stations. Hopefully construction can begin by June 1 and be complete by July 1. The barrier will be removed before Nov. 30 as fall rains increase river flows. San Francisco Chronicle (Calif.), May 19, 2021