We just received the draft proposal from the California Fish & Wildlife on the study being funded by Metropolitan Water District to alter Franks Tract. Stated goals are to decrease salinity influx (so they can pump more water than they should down south) and to improve Delta Smelt habitat (so there’s less pressure to stop the pumps due to the Smelt getting caught in them).
I will post my review as soon as I can, but wanted to let you all take a peak now.
FranksSummarySecondDraft3-13-2018v.
I’ll study it more, but the opening remarks set me off (sorry).
“Franks Tract is located in the heart of the Delta near the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. This 3,300 acre flooded island is a hot spot for invasive plants and native fish predators, not to mention a hydrodynamic conduit for saltwater intrusion into waterways used to convey freshwater supplies to cities and agriculture. Franks Tract is also one of the least subsided, and largest, islands in the Central Delta and a strong candidate for partial restoration.”
So the “predators” are bass (which the economy of Bethel Island and much of Northern California relies on). And the only reason there’s saltwater intrusion through Franks Tract is because they are exporting too much fresh water via the pumps. Grrrr. This is not science, this is all political.
Okay – I’ll take a few deep breaths and then will do a more objective review.
Save the California Delta Alliance (STCDA) 
Couldn’t agree more. I agree, when a review starts with paragraphs like that, it’s political.
It will be interesting to see what reason they give for ruining the Delta.