Comment Log Display

One of the major vulnerabilities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta, and therefore the California Water system and by extension
the very economy of California, is the deeply subsided elevations
of the Delta land surface, over 25 feet below sea level in some
locations, spread over an area of approximately 300,000 acres.
Ongoing subsidence of the highly organic peat soils, up to an inch
per year that results from current agricultural practices causes
carbon emissions of approximately 7 MT/Ac/Yr, which has been
estimated to be between 1% and 3% of California's total carbon
emissions.  Developing managed wetlands through inundation and
planting of native reeds can immediately eliminate this emission
source.  Further, research shows that between 13 and 17 MT/Ac/Yr of
carbon can be sequestered in the below ground biomass of the
wetlands. Over fifteen years of research indicates that farm scale
pilot projects are appropriate at this time. A one time investment
of approximately $3,000 per acre would result in a 7 MT reduction
in carbon emissions, a minimum of 13 MT carbon sequestered, the
prevention of loss of one inch of elevation, the accretion of up to
2 inches of elevation and potential improvements in water quality
and biodiversity.  These benefits could continue to accrue for over
100 years as land elevations are slowly restored.  Managed wetlands
in the Delta represent one of the few places where mitigation and
critical adaptation can be accomplished simultaneously. The
Department of Water Resources is currently looking to develop 1,600
acres of wetlands.  In partnership with DWR, USGS, EPA, NGO's and
Delta landowners we are working toward a target of an additional
1,000 acres.  Willing landowners have been indentified and projects
could be designed, permitted and implemented in the near term,
resulting in a 7,000 MT/yr emission reduction.