The barrier was put in (June 2021) to help prevent saltwater contamination of water supplies used by millions of Californians (drinking and agriculture) who rely on Delta-based federal and state water projects for at least some of their supplies. The emergency barrier will also helped conserve critical water supplies in upstream reservoirs for later use by avoiding the need to send large volumes of water into the Delta to repel salinity.

It was installed under a temporary (1 year) urgency change petition to modify State Water Project and Central Valley Project water rights conditions from the State Water Resources Control Board. Under the initial approval the dam was scheduled to be removed November of the 2021. However due to the lack of rainfall the scheduled date was extended until this year with only a small portion of it opened for water flow and boat passage during the winter months.

It's being removed now due:
1. The temporary permit being expired.
2. The damage done to existing barriers (e.g. Little Frank's Tract has new and wider openings in the old levees) due (allegedly) to the changed current flow.
3. Concern that additional levees will fail. Of highest concern is Bradford Island. Bradford has one of the weakest levee and plays a critical role in the salt water barrier system.
Flooding from seepage is obvious--especially on the SW corner of the island. On the north side arguably the weakest section, the bow waves from the large vessels coming/going to Stockton hammer the levee constantly.

They are working on a permanent plan but it is several years out (requires an Environmental Impact Study, etc).
With the sea level predicted to rise 8 feet by 2025, I hope they're working on a long term plan. (City of SF already is.)

Maybe the Swanson Plan (1959 proposal to put a dam across the Carquinez Strait) wasn't so crazy afterall.

Pray that we get some rain this year!!!
(and get out and get some)
PapaD