Delta-Suisun Bay Water Quality and Hydraulic Study

Present water quality throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay in California was determined. Sources and amounts of wastes which could cause water-quality degradation were examined to evaluate present and future effects on receiving waters. Findings showed degradation of water quality to be caused by natural and man-made processes, including the life cycles of aquatic organisms, land-surface runoff, sediment transport by high water flows, biochemical cycles, and highly mineralized surface or ground waters. Fluorescent dye-tracer studies were conducted, using the prototype and a hydraulic model to investigate travel and residence time, flow distribution and circulation patterns, mixing and dispersion characteristics, and to estimate changes in constituent concentrations resulting from future discharge of municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes. A mathematical model was used to simulate the hydraulic characteristics of the Delta, and solution of the model program by digital computer provided the hydraulic parameters for anticipated future flow conditions.