Who We Are
History
The San Joaquin River Restoration Program is the direct result of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement reached in September 2006 by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Friant Water Users Authority (FWUA).
The Settlement, which followed an 18-year lawsuit, received Federal court approval in October 2006. Federal legislation, the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, was passed in March 2009 authorizing Federal agencies to implement the Settlement.
San Joaquin River Restoration Program Map
The Program Restoration Area is 150 miles of the San Joaquin River from the base of Friant Dam to the river’s confluence with the Merced River downstream. In 2018, the SJRRP underwent a planning process which produced the Funding Constrained Framework.
Restoration & Water Management Goals
The Settlement is based on two goals.
Restoration Goal
To restore and maintain fish populations in “good condition” in the main stem of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, including naturally reproducing and self-sustaining populations of salmon and other fish.
Water Management Goal
To reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Interim Flows and Restoration Flows provided for in the Settlement.
Legislation & Funding
San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
March 30 – Signed by the President and became Public Law 111-11.
Settlement Documents
Authorization and Funding
Planning and environmental studies are currently being completed under the authority and funding of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA). Signed in 1992, the CVPIA included provisions for developing a restoration plan for the San Joaquin River and instituted a fee structure for Friant Division contractors for such activities.
With the passage of Public Law 111-11 in March 2009, the Settlement establishes the San Joaquin River Restoration Fund (Fund). Approximately $17 million per year of payments from the Central Valley Project Friant Division would be deposited into the Fund to be available without further appropriations to implement the provisions of the Settlement.
Funding by the State of California will also support the Settlement. In November 2006, State propositions 84 and 13 were passed by the California voters and should provide about $200 million of State bond funds for projects that will directly contribute to the restoration efforts.
Funding Sources
Friant contractors’ environmental fee expected to average about $5.6 million per year
Friant division water users’ capital component of their water rates redirected into the SJRR Fund
Up to $2 million annually of other Friant Divison water users CVPIA Restoration Fund payments
Up to $300 million of additional Federal appropriations requiring a non-federal cost-share of an equivalent amount
About $200 million in bond funds from Propositions 84 and 1E passed by California voters in 2006
Management Structure
Program Management Team for the Implementing Agencies
Restoration Administrator (RA)
The Settlement identifies the roles and responsibilities of the Restoration Administrator (RA) which is supported by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
The RA is jointly selected by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Friant Water Users Authority and provides recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of California regarding specific elements of the Settlement related to the SJRRP’s Restoration Goal.
RA Recommendations
The RA issues recommendations for the flow release schedule on the San Joaquin River, which can be found here: RA Recommendations. See Settlement sections 17 and 18 for additional information on the RA’s role.
As of August 1, 2013, Tom Johnson began as the Restoration Administrator, replacing Rod Meade who served in that capacity since January 2009. Ane Deister served as the RA in 2008.
SJRRP Organizational Chart
Technical Advisory Committee
The Technical Work Groups of the SJRRP are responsible for four distinct aspects of the Program.
The four technical work groups are:
Responsible for addressing the water operations necessary for accomplishing the Restoration and Water Management Goals.
Responsible for the preliminary engineering and design of structure and flow channels needed to meet the Restoration and Water Management Goals.
Responsible for analyzing alternatives, determining their effectiveness, developing alternative descriptions and preparing the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/ Report.
Responsible for planning and coordinating the efforts to implement the Settlement sections related to meeting the Restoration Goal.
For more information visit the Public Technical Feedback Meetings page