On-going subsidence of organic soils threatens the physical structure of the Delta, its central role in the state’s water system, many diverse species that depend on it, and threatens future agricultural production. Knowledge of baseline emissions and subsidence rates is important for developing alternative land use scenarios for maximizing benefits for sequestering carbon, reducing or reversing subsidence, providing income for landowners via the carbon market, and reducing flood risk. This project will gather, process, and analyze recent data in the Delta for land-surface elevation changes, greenhouse gas fluxes measured by eddy covariance and gas chambers, soil organic matter content, depth-to-groundwater, and soil organic thickness. These data will be used to update and calibrate the SUBCALC model and refine model inputs to improve the model’s ability to simulate subsidence and CO2 emissions. Collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and UC Berkeley will allow use of CO2 flux and InSAR data to calibrate and validate the SUBCALC model. The Delta Conservancy is another partner assisting with assessment of modeling for land-use conversion planning. TNC and Metropolitan Water District are partners to assist with use of SUBCALC for engagement of the carbon market and collaborate with the Suisun RCD to improve estimates of subsidence and CO2 emissions.
Since 2015, the DIISC Team has organized a biennial Delta Invasive Species Symposium. The symposium is a forum for Delta managers, researchers, and decision-makers to meet, share and synthesize information, and communicate best practices and lessons learned. https://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/diisc-team-activities/
This guide is intended to give land managers an introduction to managing invasive aquatic vegetation (IAV) in tidal wetland habitats, whether the site is established, has been recently restored, or tidal reconnection will soon occur. It addresses submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), floating aquatic vegetation (FAV), and emergent aquatic vegetation (EAV). It compiles knowledge from land managers in the Delta and members of the Delta Interagency Invasive Species Coordination Team (DIISCT), whose purpose is to foster communication and collaboration among California state agencies, federal agencies, research and conservation groups, and other interested parties that detect, prevent, and manage invasive species and restore invaded habitats in the Delta. The authors hope this guide functions like asking an experienced colleague for recommendations as you start to consider your site’s IAV management. https://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/iav-quick-start-guide/
