DWR’s Environmental Planning and Information Branch is responsible for representing the Department of Water Resources in meeting the objectives under the Suisun Marsh Preservation Agreement. The Branch continues developing scientific data and solutions to specific Suisun Marsh issues related to operation of the State Water Project. Branch staff coordinates with State and federal agencies as well as local stakeholders in developing the long-term plan, under the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program, that integrates science to achieve the goals from the CALFED Record of Decision.

The Branch is also responsible for making data readily available to other agencies and the public. Branch staff provides support to Bay-Delta Science Consortium, Interagency Ecological Program, and various State and federal agencies in data management.

The following three sections comprise the Environmental Planning and Information Branch:

The Suisun Marsh Planning section uses numerical models of the Bay-Delta system to assess impacts on Bay-Delta hydrodynamics and salinity. This information is developed in coordination with other State and federal agencies to address potential impacts of water project operations, managed wetland operations, extreme hydrological conditions, and proposed hydraulic and/or geometry modifications. The section has recently expanded into the use of multi-dimensional modeling capabilities.

Current studies include:

• Salinity / Hydrological Relationship analysis
• Tidal influence for restoration plans
• Calibration and verification of numerical models
• Hydrodynamics and transport process analysis
• DWR, and interagency modeling support for process analysis

The Compliance and Monitoring section is comprised of engineers, technicians, and biologists that are responsible for implementing the water quality monitoring under the SWRCB D-1641 and for monitoring operations and making recommendations to ensure the projects are in compliance with the SWRCB objectives for the Suisun Marsh. The Section is also responsible for implementing DWR and USBR obligations under the SMPA. Section staff accomplishes this through coordination with other agencies and organizations and active participation in the Environmental Coordination Advisory Team. ECAT meets bi-monthly with participation from, DFG, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), United States Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service, USACE, and NOAA Fisheries.

Ongoing Studies:
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Bay-Delta Vertical Datum Realignment

The Interagency Information Systems Services section was established to support data management for the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP). The initial emphasis was to make numerical data readily available to other agencies and the public. The Section has recently expanded to develop and implement distributed databases that provides numerical and GIS data via the internet. Section staff collaborates with various State and federal agencies as well as stakeholders to implement such opportunities.

Projects and studies include:

• Interagency Ecological Program (IEP)
• Bay-Delta Science Consortium
• Oroville Facilities Relicensing