How freeing rivers can help California ease flood risks and revive ecosystems

Throughout the Central Valley, California’s rivers have long been held within their banks by levees and berms, artificially disrupting the natural cycles of flooding and preventing streams from meandering across the landscape. “Floodplains are this really important feature of rivers,” said Julie Rentner, president of the nonprofit group River Partners, which has led the restoration effort along with the Tuolumne River Trust. Once the fields are planted, the vegetation will be watered for three years to get established, Rentner said, “and then we’re going to just let it do its thing.” Restoring this area will also involve securing federal permission to breach a levee, allowing water to spread when the river swells. Gavin Newsom’s newly released strategy for protecting struggling salmon populations cites the Dos Rios project as a “model for multi-use re-envisioning of land and water systems,” saying that “river corridors can be expanded to accommodate increased flood control buffers, while making habitat for fish and birds.” The restored floodplains also offer other benefits for people who live nearby. ” Rentner said River Partners supported the change as a way to tap into funds earmarked for water storage investments to support floodplain restoration projects.