The Delta Wetlands project takes a unique approach in helping to solve California’s water issues. Rather than building a new dam on a river, this environmentally sensitive project seeks to flood low-lying islands in the Sacramento River Delta during the winter run-off from the Sierra and pump the water back into the water system during the summer. This was made possible because farmers in the early part of the 20th century built levees around the islands to prevent the frequent flooding. Over the last 100 years soil subsidence has lowered the island interiors to a level that is now 20 feet below the  adjacent river level, and therefore becoming a perfect place to store water.

Roughly 20,000 acres of land covering four islands has been accumulated since 1988 and the project has gone through the Federal and State permitting process. The plan calls for nearly 220,000 acre feet of water to be stored for California each winter, water that would otherwise be lost to the ocean. For more detailed information on this significant project, please visit www.deltawetlands.com

PROPERTY DATA

Ownership   Delta Wetlands Properties

Developer   Zurich Life, Kemper Insurance, ZKS, Delta Wetlands

Equity Partner   Zurich Life and Kemper Insurance

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Location   Sacramento River Delta, CA

Type   Water Storage Project

Land Description    Four low-lying islands in the river delta

Date Purchased   Commenced in 1988

Acres   20,000 acres

MapQuest Map 

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