UntitledThe Delta Levees System Integrity Program is a continuation of the original `Way Bill` Delta Levee Subventions program enacted in 1973 that was revised in 1988 to become the Delta Flood Protection Program. This local assistance program appropriates funding to help local reclamation districts in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta maintain and improve levees. Through updated legislation in 1996 and implementation as a CALFED program in 2000, the program has evolved to implement the goals of the CALFED Levee System Integrity program.
The program consists of two major sub-components, The The Delta Levees Subventions Program is administered by DWR for The Reclamation Board; it offers an annual grant of funds to Delta districts for levee maintenance and improvements. The Special Projects Program, managed by DWR, implements local assistance to districts that protect water conveyance and water quality in the western Delta and designated areas of the Suisun Marsh and funds habitat improvement projects to help the meet mitigation and enhancement requirements associated with the enabling legislation.
The bond expenditure criteria for the Delta Levees Subventions Program were established through long-standing procedures developed and updated by DWR under the approval of the Reclamation Board. Bond expenditures in the near term will continue to be made in a manner consistent with Water Codes Sections 12300-318 and 12980-995 and the CALFED LSIP goals and objectives. Most Special Projects’ resources will be spent on the eight western Delta Islands, and protecting Walnut Grove and Thornton to meet directives of the Water Commission. It is anticipated that a new direction may be developed after the Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) is completed in 2008. Program guidelines can be found on the California Department of Water Resources website.
