Healthy Rivers and Landscapes is building on years of restoration work, bringing together water managers, conservation organizations and scientists to improve conditions for salmon and other native species.
By Todd Manley, Director of Government Relations, Northern California Water
Every year, Chinook salmon return to the Sacramento Valley’s rivers, navigating upstream to the places where a new generation will begin. Along the way, they depend on adequate flows, connected waterways, and suitable spawning gravels to prepare nests for their eggs. Their young require cold water and places where they can find food and shelter while making their journey to the ocean.
These are the building blocks of a healthy river system, and across the Sacramento Valley, people are working to restore them. On the American, Sacramento, Feather, Yuba and other waterways throughout the region, water managers, conservation organizations, scientists and state and federal agencies are putting years of planning into action. Spawning gravels are being replenished. Side channels are being reconnected. Floodplains are being restored to create productive habitat for young salmon.
58 Salmon Habitat Projects Already Being Created by HRL Supporters
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes isn’t just a vision for what could happen. It’s a plan already being put into action, with tangible progress to show for it. That work offers an important perspective as California considers the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program as part of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan update. Rather than waiting for final approval, HRL participants continued advancing habitat restoration through an early implementation provision that allowed the State Water Resources Control Board and participating organizations to move projects forward for the benefit of Chinook salmon and other native fish while the agreement was still being developed.
By the end of 2026, an impressive 58 early implementation projects are expected to have been completed, be under construction or have reached final design. That progress reflects years of planning, engineering, permitting, construction and coordination among experienced organizations committed to improving conditions for fish and wildlife. The California Natural Resources Agency’s new interactive Healthy Rivers and Landscapes restoration map provides a closer look at the early implementation work and other salmon habitat projects across the region that are included in the program.
It is reasonable to ask whether the ambitious habitat commitments included in HRL can be completed within the program’s eight-year term. But, the progress already underway offers a compelling response. Habitat restoration requires considerable expertise and coordination, particularly when construction takes place directly within rivers and streams, where seasonal environmental restrictions, weather and changing river conditions can limit when work can occur.
Collaboration Amongst Conservationists, Scientists, Water Mangers, Farmers, and Government Agencies Demonstrating Success
Despite these challenges, HRL participants are already demonstrating what can be accomplished when experienced organizations work together. Behind that progress are people who know these rivers and landscapes, including biologists, engineers, conservation specialists, water managers, construction crews, farmers and landowners whose expertise and commitment make restoration possible. Their record of advancing habitat projects speaks louder than speculation about what can or cannot be accomplished.
Salmon depend on different habitats throughout their freshwater life cycle. Adults need suitable spawning grounds where they can deposit their eggs in clean gravel. Young salmon need productive rearing habitat where they can feed and grow before migrating downstream. Connected floodplains and side channels provide food, refuge and opportunities for improved survival. That is why HRL includes a range of habitat improvements informed by state and federal salmon recovery plans, rather than relying on any single type of project.
Marrying Habitat, Flows and Collaboration
HRL does not treat habitat restoration and river flows as competing solutions. The program combines habitat improvements with strategically timed functional flows intended to support the ecological value of those investments. A restored floodplain, for example, depends on water reaching it at the right time to provide productive rearing habitat. The goal is not simply to move more water through a river or count acres of restored habitat. It is to restore the conditions that allow life in and around our rivers to thrive.
The Sacramento Valley is a place where rivers, farms, wetlands, wildlife and communities exist alongside one another. Restoring ecological functions requires working across the boundaries of individual properties, agencies and interests. It requires a shared commitment to the landscapes we all depend on.
There is substantial work ahead, and the effectiveness of these investments must be measured through ecological outcomes, not simply construction milestones. But across the Sacramento Valley, that work is already taking shape.
Restoring the ecological health of California’s rivers and recovering native species populations will take more than theorizing and debating. It will take people doing the work, project by project, river by river.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Maven’s Notebook.
More coverage of the Voluntary Agreements on Maven’s Notebook …
Posted: November 3, 2026
By Dan Walters, Cal Matters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gray Davis became governor in 1999 and one of his first acts was to decree that there would be no major changes in water policy for eight years, which he assumed would be his two terms in office. Davis, a veteran politician who had climbed the political ladder one rung at a time, was well aware of the decades-long stalemate on the fundamental […]
Posted: October 30, 2026
Framework combines new flows, habitat restoration, science and enforceable rules to protect the Sacramento River and Delta From the State Water Board: In a landmark development driving large-scale ecosystem restoration and creating greater security for the heart of California’s water system, the State Water Resources Control Board today adopted modernized water quality protections for the Sacramento River and San Francisco Bay-Delta. The updated Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan) strengthens protections for […]
Posted: October 30, 2026
California approved Newsom’s Delta water rules, but Trump threatens to pull out and $740M with it. Water agencies that once backed the deal call it too strict; environmentalists say it’s too weak. By Rachel Becker, Cal Matters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. California water regulators have approved a new plan overhauling how farms and cities take water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and rivers that feed it, setting up the next fight over Gov. […]
Posted: October 30, 2026
Under the changes, water agencies can commit to voluntary agreements governing water usage that some environmentalists and tribes argue undermine the health of the Bay-Delta system. By Alan Riquelmy, Courthouse News Service California’s water board late Thursday approved major changes to a massive water plan that drew strong emotions, and at times sharp rebukes, from hundreds of stakeholders including water agencies, conservationists and tribes. The plan sets water quality goals for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a massive watershed […]
Posted: October 30, 2026
Groups condemn the Newsom administration’s voluntary agreement framework, pledging to fight for water rights, environmental protections, and due process From Restore the Delta: In anticipation of the State Water Resources Control Board’s vote to adopt the updated Bay-Delta Plan, tribal leaders, environmental advocates, and Delta residents gathered at a press conference to condemn the decision and pledge further action to defend California’s water rights, protect critical ecosystems, and ensure meaningful public participation in decisions affecting the state’s water future. Representatives […]
Posted: October 29, 2026
The Bay-Delta is a watershed that provides drinking and municipal water to some 30 million people, along with irrigation water for 4 million acres. From the Courthouse News Service People and agencies facing the effects of proposed changes to a major California water plan spoke in waves Wednesday, making their cases to the state’s water board. The State Water Resources Control Board is proposing amendments to the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water quality control plan. The plan sets water […]
Posted: October 28, 2026
By Alex Rabidoux, Assistant General Manager, Solano County Water Agency For decades, California has debated how much water should flow through its rivers to help recover struggling salmon populations. But an equally important question deserves attention: What happens to that water once it enters the river and how much ecological benefit does it actually provide? Salmon evolved in rivers connected to expansive floodplains, wetlands and side channels. Seasonal flows created shallow, food-rich habitats where juvenile fish could feed, grow and […]
Posted: October 28, 2026
By the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition, consisting of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, and Restore the Delta. California has formally apologized to tribes for state-sanctioned atrocities and committed to improving relationships between the state and tribal governments. Our elected leaders have also passed numerous laws intended to advance environmental justice outcomes. Yet, when it comes to decisions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, the Newsom administration has thrown tribes and environmental justice communities […]
Posted: October 28, 2026
From the Golden Gate Salmon Association Later this week, the State Water Resources Control Board is likely to adopt a final update to the Bay-Delta Plan. This plan is the state’s key document to protect the natural resources in the vast Bay-Delta estuary, as well as its Central Valley tributary rivers. This is the largest freshwater ecosystem in California and the largest estuary on the West Coast. Sacramento Valley salmon runs are the backbone of salmon fishing in California and […]
Posted: October 27, 2026
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes provides critical habitat for salmon while also ensuring our farms, cities and rural communities remain vibrant By Nicole Montna Van Vleck, President and CEO, Montna Farms Think about the last time you enjoyed a piece of sushi or took a bite of pizza. The rice wrapped around your favorite sushi roll, the tomato sauce, the cheese, perhaps a few peppers or olives sprinkled on top of that perfect slice. Chances are, you weren’t thinking about the […]
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GUEST COMMENTARY: Restoring habitat, delivering results: The work already underway in the Sacramento Valley
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes is building on years of restoration work, bringing together water managers, conservation organizations and scientists to improve conditions for salmon and other native species.
By Todd Manley, Director of Government Relations, Northern California Water
Every year, Chinook salmon return to the Sacramento Valley’s rivers, navigating upstream to the places where a new generation will begin. Along the way, they depend on adequate flows, connected waterways, and suitable spawning gravels to prepare nests for their eggs. Their young require cold water and places where they can find food and shelter while making their journey to the ocean.
These are the building blocks of a healthy river system, and across the Sacramento Valley, people are working to restore them. On the American, Sacramento, Feather, Yuba and other waterways throughout the region, water managers, conservation organizations, scientists and state and federal agencies are putting years of planning into action. Spawning gravels are being replenished. Side channels are being reconnected. Floodplains are being restored to create productive habitat for young salmon.
58 Salmon Habitat Projects Already Being Created by HRL Supporters
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes isn’t just a vision for what could happen. It’s a plan already being put into action, with tangible progress to show for it. That work offers an important perspective as California considers the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program as part of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan update. Rather than waiting for final approval, HRL participants continued advancing habitat restoration through an early implementation provision that allowed the State Water Resources Control Board and participating organizations to move projects forward for the benefit of Chinook salmon and other native fish while the agreement was still being developed.
By the end of 2026, an impressive 58 early implementation projects are expected to have been completed, be under construction or have reached final design. That progress reflects years of planning, engineering, permitting, construction and coordination among experienced organizations committed to improving conditions for fish and wildlife. The California Natural Resources Agency’s new interactive Healthy Rivers and Landscapes restoration map provides a closer look at the early implementation work and other salmon habitat projects across the region that are included in the program.
It is reasonable to ask whether the ambitious habitat commitments included in HRL can be completed within the program’s eight-year term. But, the progress already underway offers a compelling response. Habitat restoration requires considerable expertise and coordination, particularly when construction takes place directly within rivers and streams, where seasonal environmental restrictions, weather and changing river conditions can limit when work can occur.
Collaboration Amongst Conservationists, Scientists, Water Mangers, Farmers, and Government Agencies Demonstrating Success
Despite these challenges, HRL participants are already demonstrating what can be accomplished when experienced organizations work together. Behind that progress are people who know these rivers and landscapes, including biologists, engineers, conservation specialists, water managers, construction crews, farmers and landowners whose expertise and commitment make restoration possible. Their record of advancing habitat projects speaks louder than speculation about what can or cannot be accomplished.
Salmon depend on different habitats throughout their freshwater life cycle. Adults need suitable spawning grounds where they can deposit their eggs in clean gravel. Young salmon need productive rearing habitat where they can feed and grow before migrating downstream. Connected floodplains and side channels provide food, refuge and opportunities for improved survival. That is why HRL includes a range of habitat improvements informed by state and federal salmon recovery plans, rather than relying on any single type of project.
Marrying Habitat, Flows and Collaboration
HRL does not treat habitat restoration and river flows as competing solutions. The program combines habitat improvements with strategically timed functional flows intended to support the ecological value of those investments. A restored floodplain, for example, depends on water reaching it at the right time to provide productive rearing habitat. The goal is not simply to move more water through a river or count acres of restored habitat. It is to restore the conditions that allow life in and around our rivers to thrive.
The Sacramento Valley is a place where rivers, farms, wetlands, wildlife and communities exist alongside one another. Restoring ecological functions requires working across the boundaries of individual properties, agencies and interests. It requires a shared commitment to the landscapes we all depend on.
There is substantial work ahead, and the effectiveness of these investments must be measured through ecological outcomes, not simply construction milestones. But across the Sacramento Valley, that work is already taking shape.
Restoring the ecological health of California’s rivers and recovering native species populations will take more than theorizing and debating. It will take people doing the work, project by project, river by river.
More coverage of the Voluntary Agreements on Maven’s Notebook …
DAN WALTERS: California adopted a new water plan. It’s unlikely to end the state’s water wars
By Dan Walters, Cal Matters This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gray Davis became governor in 1999 and one of his first acts was to decree that there would be no major changes in water policy for eight years, which he assumed would be his two terms in office. Davis, a veteran politician who had climbed the political ladder one rung at a time, was well aware of the decades-long stalemate on the fundamental […]
PRESS RELEASE: State Water Board adopts innovative new model to protect California’s Bay-Delta, water and wildlife
Framework combines new flows, habitat restoration, science and enforceable rules to protect the Sacramento River and Delta From the State Water Board: In a landmark development driving large-scale ecosystem restoration and creating greater security for the heart of California’s water system, the State Water Resources Control Board today adopted modernized water quality protections for the Sacramento River and San Francisco Bay-Delta. The updated Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan) strengthens protections for […]
CAL MATTERS: Has the Trump administration doomed Newsom’s water plan?
California approved Newsom’s Delta water rules, but Trump threatens to pull out and $740M with it. Water agencies that once backed the deal call it too strict; environmentalists say it’s too weak. By Rachel Becker, Cal Matters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. California water regulators have approved a new plan overhauling how farms and cities take water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and rivers that feed it, setting up the next fight over Gov. […]
COURTHOUSE NEWS: California water board passes major water plan after marathon session
Under the changes, water agencies can commit to voluntary agreements governing water usage that some environmentalists and tribes argue undermine the health of the Bay-Delta system. By Alan Riquelmy, Courthouse News Service California’s water board late Thursday approved major changes to a massive water plan that drew strong emotions, and at times sharp rebukes, from hundreds of stakeholders including water agencies, conservationists and tribes. The plan sets water quality goals for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a massive watershed […]
RESTORE THE DELTA: Tribes and environmental groups slam State Water Board’s anticipated adoption of updated Bay-Delta Plan, vow further action
Groups condemn the Newsom administration’s voluntary agreement framework, pledging to fight for water rights, environmental protections, and due process From Restore the Delta: In anticipation of the State Water Resources Control Board’s vote to adopt the updated Bay-Delta Plan, tribal leaders, environmental advocates, and Delta residents gathered at a press conference to condemn the decision and pledge further action to defend California’s water rights, protect critical ecosystems, and ensure meaningful public participation in decisions affecting the state’s water future. Representatives […]
COURTHOUSE NEWS: California water board hears competing views on major water plan update
The Bay-Delta is a watershed that provides drinking and municipal water to some 30 million people, along with irrigation water for 4 million acres. From the Courthouse News Service People and agencies facing the effects of proposed changes to a major California water plan spoke in waves Wednesday, making their cases to the state’s water board. The State Water Resources Control Board is proposing amendments to the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water quality control plan. The plan sets water […]
COMMENTARY: The science is clear: Restoring California’s salmon populations requires more than just water
By Alex Rabidoux, Assistant General Manager, Solano County Water Agency For decades, California has debated how much water should flow through its rivers to help recover struggling salmon populations. But an equally important question deserves attention: What happens to that water once it enters the river and how much ecological benefit does it actually provide? Salmon evolved in rivers connected to expansive floodplains, wetlands and side channels. Seasonal flows created shallow, food-rich habitats where juvenile fish could feed, grow and […]
COMMENTARY: Reject the discriminatory, illegitimate, and harmful Voluntary Agreements
By the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition, consisting of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, and Restore the Delta. California has formally apologized to tribes for state-sanctioned atrocities and committed to improving relationships between the state and tribal governments. Our elected leaders have also passed numerous laws intended to advance environmental justice outcomes. Yet, when it comes to decisions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, the Newsom administration has thrown tribes and environmental justice communities […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Fatal flaws in the State Water Board’s Draft Bay-Delta Plan Update
From the Golden Gate Salmon Association Later this week, the State Water Resources Control Board is likely to adopt a final update to the Bay-Delta Plan. This plan is the state’s key document to protect the natural resources in the vast Bay-Delta estuary, as well as its Central Valley tributary rivers. This is the largest freshwater ecosystem in California and the largest estuary on the West Coast. Sacramento Valley salmon runs are the backbone of salmon fishing in California and […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Healthy Rivers and Landscapes: A healthier future for all of California
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes provides critical habitat for salmon while also ensuring our farms, cities and rural communities remain vibrant By Nicole Montna Van Vleck, President and CEO, Montna Farms Think about the last time you enjoyed a piece of sushi or took a bite of pizza. The rice wrapped around your favorite sushi roll, the tomato sauce, the cheese, perhaps a few peppers or olives sprinkled on top of that perfect slice. Chances are, you weren’t thinking about the […]
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