The management of the quantity and timing of freshwater flow into and through the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) is a perennial source of controversy in California. It is well known that freshwater outflow is a major environmental driver in estuarine ecosystems, including the SFE. However, the estuary is also the hub of California’s water distribution system, which supplies water to over 25 million Californians and a multibillion-dollar agricultural industry. This tension between water supply and maintaining flows to maintain environmental quality is at the core of the controversy.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | Introduction to the Delta Smelt flow alteration white papers |
| Authors | Larry R. Brown |
| Publication Type | Book Chapter |
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Index ID | 70243174 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | California Water Science Center |