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The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta serves as the vital link between most of the state's available water supply and most of its demand. Freshwater flows into the Estuary are a major factor in the health of the Estuary ecosystem. The volume and timing of freshwater inflow affect the Estuary's circulation and water quality; conditions for wildlife; and the production and survival of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Freshwater inflows also affect the survival of fish and shellfish, such as salmon, striped bass, long fin smelt, California bay shrimp, and starry flounder.
Much of the freshwater that would normally flow into the Estuary from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers is diverted to urban areas, to agriculture, and into reservoirs. In dry years, this means that the Estuary receives less than half the water that would normally flow into it through the Delta. California's population is projected to reach 48 million by 2030, and demand for drinking water and other uses will likely increase along with population growth unless there is a much greater effort to conserve by individuals, businesses, water agencies, cities, and agriculture. Instead of continuing to build new dams and reservoirs (taking the "hard path") and causing even greater declines of fish and wildlife, we need to focus on solutions that take the "soft path" (emphasizing conservation), and that educate the public and manage demand.
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