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RESTORATION PROJECTS
The Delta region has undergone many changes since the late 1800s. At one time, Webb Tract was part of a much larger island that included Bradford Island and Frank’s Tract. Almost a century of changes in the Delta, including intensive farming on peat soils, has contributed to deep subsidence, as is typical for islands in the Central Delta. Metropolitan purchased Webb Tract and three other Delta islands in 2016 and began a structured decision-making process with the community to determine the future of the islands through a process called the Delta Islands Adaptations. While that process, primarily funded through a California Department of Fish and Wildlife-funded grant, focused on Bouldin Island, it provided a framework for the grant application to the Delta Conservancy for the projects on Webb Tract. In May 2023, the Delta Conservancy Board approved Metropolitan’s grant application for two multi-benefit projects on Webb Tract.
Malinda Stalvey, project manager for Metropolitan, leads both the Rice Development and the Wetland Restoration Projects to ensure that both efforts work together to achieve the project goals. The Delta Conservancy grant agreement for the two projects was completed in March 2024.
The Rice Development Project will move forward first. Metropolitan’s Land Management office prepared a Request for Proposals from farmers interested in converting up to 1,500 acres of land formerly in corn production to rice fields. The first year will prepare the fields for growing rice; 500 acres will be planted in the second year; and up to 1,500 acres will be planted by the fourth year. Metropolitan is looking for a long-term partnership with a farmer to ensure mutual success. The rice crop will contribute revenue toward the island’s upkeep and greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ongoing monitoring will help determine its role in stopping subsidence.
The second project – the Wetland Restoration Project – will restore approximately 3,000 acres of wetland habitat to an ecosystem that supports wildlife, reverses subsidence, and sequesters carbon. The Wetland Restoration Project seeks to demonstrate that carbon sequestration can also provide a revenue-generating opportunity from the creation of carbon credits. A working group of eco-cultural specialists with indigenous knowledge are working with the design team to incorporate land management practices into the design that will inform the establishment and development of a healthy, sustainable habitat project. We hope the resulting plan will be ready for sharing publicly late this fall.
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