Clifton Court Forebay

Clifton Court Forebay
Name	Clifton Court Forebay
Location	Contra Costa County, California
Coordinates	37.8736°N 121.5024°W
Type	Reservoir / Forebay
Inflow	Old River, South Delta waterways
Outflow	Delta Cross Channel, Mokelumne Aqueduct connections
Operator	California Department of Water Resources, State Water Project
Catchment	San Joaquin River Delta
Surface area	~600 acres
Volume	variable (operational)

Contents

Clifton Court Forebay Clifton Court Forebay is a man-made forebay in Contra Costa County, California that functions as the primary intake for the California State Water Project, the Central Valley Project, and several regional water district systems. The site links Delta channels with infrastructure such as the Banks Pumping Plant, Delta-Mendota Canal, and the South Bay Aqueduct, serving major urban and agricultural users including entities in Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Joaquin Valley. It is adjacent to key Delta features like Old River, San Joaquin River, and the Old River Cutoff.

Overview

Clifton Court Forebay sits within the complex network of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, near Bethel Island and south of Antioch, and operates in conjunction with Banks Pumping Plant, Bethany Reservoir, and the Contra Costa Canal. The forebay is integral to transfers between projects including the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, supporting deliveries to agencies such as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and local entities like East Bay Municipal Utility District. Its proximity to facilities managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources makes it a focal point for interagency coordination involving the California Natural Resources Agency and state-level water policy.

Initial planning for the forebay occurred during mid-20th-century development of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, influenced by debates involving the California Water Commission and federal actors such as the Bureau of Reclamation. Construction and modifications were driven by engineering firms, contractors, and agencies working on projects tied to the Friant Division, Delta–Mendota Canal, and expansions related to the San Luis Reservoir and Oroville Dam. Political and legal contexts included interactions with stakeholders like the California Farm Bureau Federation, Department of the Interior, and the California State Legislature. Major upgrades and seismic retrofits have involved consultants and regulators including the United States Geological Survey and the California Office of Emergency Services.

Hydrologic operation of the forebay is coordinated among the State Water Project, Central Valley Project, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and regional water agencies to balance exports with protections for species governed under the Endangered Species Act. Water moves via channels associated with the San Joaquin River, Old River, Mokelumne River, and the Delta Cross Channel, with pumping at Banks Pumping Plant feeding the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal. Operational constraints are influenced by decisions from the State Water Resources Control Board, biological opinions prepared by the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and flow schedules tied to Central Valley Project Improvement Act mandates. Hydrologic models from institutions like the University of California, Davis and the California Department of Water Resources inform water allocation, export curtailments, and emergency operations during events overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The forebay and its associated pumping have been central to controversies involving declines of species such as Delta smelt, Chinook salmon, and other native fishes protected under the Endangered Species Act. Scientific assessments and litigation have involved stakeholders including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (for regional infrastructure issues), and state agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Habitat impacts in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta intersect with restoration efforts like those led by the California Bay-Delta Authority, Delta Stewardship Council, and restoration programs funded through the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Research by entities including the U.S. Geological Survey, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Stanford University has examined entrainment, predation, and invasive species dynamics involving striped bass, Asian clam, and other organisms. Legal and policy responses have involved the California Environmental Quality Act, federal court rulings, and interagency planning under the California WaterFix and successor proposals debated by the Brown administration and later state leadership.

Water quality at the forebay is monitored by agencies such as the California Water Boards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and regional entities like the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Concerns include salinity intrusion from San Francisco Bay, selenium and mercury mobilization linked to upstream land use in the San Joaquin Valley, and algal blooms addressed by researchers at the California Department of Public Health and academic partners such as University of California, Berkeley. Management tools include operational rules set by the State Water Resources Control Board, salinity control measures coordinated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and adaptive strategies informed by studies from the Delta Science Program and the Point Blue Conservation Science research network. Emergency responses involve coordination with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and regional water suppliers during contamination or drought incidents.

Public access around the forebay is limited due to operational security overseen by the California Department of Water Resources and federal partners such as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, with nearby recreational opportunities on Bethel Island, the Mokelumne River, and boat ramps managed by Contra Costa County and regional recreation agencies. Anglers and birdwatchers frequent adjacent habitats connected to the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, with species lists maintained by groups like the Audubon Society and observations reported to platforms operated by the Sierra Club community and regional chapters of the California Native Plant Society. Public engagement, tours, and educational programs sometimes involve partnerships with local institutions such as California State University, Sacramento and community organizations in Antioch and Oakley.

Category:Reservoirs in Contra Costa County, California Category:State Water Project