On May 17th, 2023, Byron Buck, Conaway Ranch’s Natural Resources Director (now retired with Bruce DiGennaro assuming the new role moving forward), and Chris Campbell of cbec eco engineering hosted an Informational Meeting for the Tule Canal Enhancement Project. Approximately 60 attendees joined the call with representatives from CDFW, DWR, USFW, CVFPB, RD 600, and RD 537, as well as a mix of interested consultants, stakeholders, and neighboring landowners. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed here or at this link.
Following a meeting overview, a recap of the Tule Design Charrette (January 2021) was provided. The Tule Canal Enhancement Project was then introduced covering project proponents, funding, and the overall goal; to promote a more vibrant and diverse wetland and riparian corridor by expanding the functional footprint of the Tule Canal, while maintaining existing water supply, drainage, flood conveyance, and fish passage functions of the canal and adjacent agricultural lands.
The Tule Canal’s current function was explained together with the site location in relation to neighboring property owners, and complimentary initiatives and studies. The proposed feasibility study for the Tule Canal Enhancement Project is a component of a larger vision at Conaway Ranch that includes:
- Wetland and Riparian Restoration (i.e., the Tule Canal Enhancement Project)
- Fish Rearing/Feed Area
- Fish Food Subsidy Area
It was explained that alternative solutions will be considered, and a preferred alternative will be advanced for subsequent design, permitting, funding, and construction. The presentation stressed that enhancement should provide a substantial benefit to aquatic and terrestrial species of concern, with limited impacts to ranch operations and no loss of offsite water supply and drainage functions. The Project will benefit fall-run, spring-run, and winter-run Chinook salmon as well as Steelhead trout, by improving in-channel and floodplain rearing opportunities along the Tule Canal corridor. The Project will also benefit aquatic, terrestrial, and amphibian species, including threatened and endangered species such as Giant Garter Snake, Western Pond Turtle, Yellow Billed Cuckoo, Swainson’s Hawk, and Tricolored Blackbird.
Known issues of concern were addressed, and the current preliminary concept was introduced showing potential grading, and enhancement of floodplain wetland and riparian habitats. An overview of the scope of work and timeline were provided and the meeting concluded with the question and answer session from attendees. A selection of those questions are below.
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Meeting Q&A
Q: What’s the status of the fish food and rearing habitat project concepts, and how will you consider how this project could affect those projects, if at all?
A: The Tule Canal Enhancement Project feasibility study is currently funded as an independently useful project, but it is recognized that it is the backbone for juvenile salmon rearing/feeding enhancement on farmed floodplains as part of the larger vision for the ranch. Opportunities to advance the larger vision for the ranch are still in progress.
Q: What are the hydraulic connectivity, potential impacts, and channel roughness considerations of the project in isolation versus part of a broader strategy such as the Yolo Bypass Comprehensive Study? (paraphrased)
A: One of the goals of this project is to be flood neutral, i.e., to have no negative impact on flood stages. While this project is advancing independently, the same hydraulic baseline will be used to ensure consistency with regional planning.
Q: Is there an Upper Yolo Bypass Planning and Coordination Study?
A: There is a joint study between SAFCA and DWR which is essentially an Upper Yolo Bypass planning and coordination study between Fremont Weir and Interstate 80 to develop a locally preferred plan for the entire Upper Yolo Bypass to include focused actions within the Upper Elkhorn Basin and the Tule Canal. The Upper Elkhorn Basin actions contemplate a levee setback and widening of Fremont Weir. The Tule Canal actions include a shared vision for the canal between Fremont Weir and Interstate 80 that will need to be complementary with adjacent land uses and landowner specific visions for enhancing farmed floodplain ecosystem services. As part of Conaway Ranch’s study, the project team are doing a more focused evaluation and alternatives formulation within the reach adjacent to Conaway Ranch. However, detailed alternatives formulation and evaluation for the reaches north and south are not in progress and have the potential to be advanced as part of expanded scope of services with DWR (in progress). Ultimately the planning and coordination study would feed into the Yolo Bypass Cache Slough Partnership’s Master Plan as well as the Corps’ Upper Yolo Bypass Comprehensive Study.
