"Stressors" are those factors that can harm native species, and the Delta has a long list of them, including agricultural and urban discharges, invasive species, altered flows, loss of habitat, and of course, water diversions. The PPIC report, Aquatic Ecosystem Stressors in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, focuses on organizing these multiple stressors in a useful way for setting and discussing Delta environmental policy.

1. ECOSYSTEM STRESSORS IN THE DELTA:
MORE THAN JUST FLOW
A slideshow
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Photo by Chris Austin

2. This slideshow accompanies the article,
“Ecosystem stressors in the Delta: It’s more than just flow”
from Maven’s Notebook.
The slideshow and article are based on the PPIC report,
Aquatic Ecosystem Stressors in the Sacramento San-Joaquin Delta.
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3. The PPIC report, Aquatic Ecosystem Stressors in the Delta,
categorizes the Delta’s multiple stressors into 5 categories:
1. Discharges
2. Fisheries Management
3. Flow Management
4. Invasive Species
5. Physical Habitat Loss or Alteration
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4. 1. DISCHARGES (1 of 3)
Agricultural discharges from both
within and upstream of the Delta
can add salts, fertilizers, herbicides,
pesticides, nitrates, and other
dissolved solids to the Delta's
waterways.
Drainage ditch in the Delta Free Powerpoint Templates
Photo by Chris Austin Page 4

5. 1. DISCHARGES (2 of 3)
Municipal discharges can include
salts, metals, pharmaceuticals, and
personal care products. Outfall from municipal wastewater treatment plant
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6. 3. DISCHARGES (3 of 3)
Stormwater can contain
fertilizers, herbicides,
pesticides, petroleum products
and heavy metals. Free Powerpoint TemplatesMunicipal stormwater outfall in the Delta
Photo by Page 6
Chris Austin

7. 2. FISHERIES
MANAGEMENT
Hatchery operations have
sustained fisheries for decades,
but at the expense of wild
populations.
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8. 3. FLOW MANAGEMENT
(1 of 2)
Upstream dams impound water for
water supplies and flood
management, changing the flows into
the Delta and eliminating much of the
historical variability to which native
species were well-adapted.
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9. Harvey Banks Pumping Plant
(State Water Project)
Photo by Chris Austin
3. FLOW MANAGEMENT
(2 of 2)
The pumps in the south Delta pull
the water from the north, altering
flows by introducing cross-Delta
and even net reverse flows in some
Delta channels.
Jones Pumping Plant
(Central Valley Project)
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Photo by Chris Austin Page 9

10. 4. INVASIVE SPECIES
(1 of 2)
More than 200 non-native species have been
introduced, both intentionally and accidentally.
Once established in an environment free from
natural predators and competitors, non-native
species can become aggressive invaders and
cost millions of dollars.
Geukensia demissa
A group of Diadumene
lineata on a rock Asian Clam
Ficopomatus enigmaticus
Chinese mitten crab
Spartina
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Water Hyacinth Page 10

11. 4. INVASIVE SPECIES
(2 of 2)
Invasive plants can clog the Delta's
waterways, making it difficult for
water operations, boaters and
native species.
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12. 5. PHYSICAL HABITAT LOSS OR
ALTERATION (1 of 2)
New equipment, such
as Holt Steamer No.
77, helped early
settlers reclaim the
Delta for agriculture.
Land reclamation
began in the 1850s and
was largely complete
by the 1930s.
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13. 5. PHYSICAL HABITAT LOSS OR ALTERATION (2 of 2)
With 95% of the Delta’s original tidal marsh and floodplain habitat converted to
agricultural and other land uses after reclamation, loss or alteration of physical
habitat is an underappreciated stressor in current debates over the Delta ecosystem,
the report says.
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14. For more information:
Ecosystem Stressors in the Delta: More than just flow
from Maven’s Notebook
This slideshow is based on the PPIC Report,
Aquatic Ecosystem Stressors in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta
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15. Slideshow by Chris Austin
www.MavensManor.com
Thank you for looking!
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