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basins had not acted as retarding basins. By cutting down the peak discharge of the 

 rivers these basins also prolonged the rivers' high stages. They thereby became a 

 material factor in keeping down the salinity of Suisun Bay and, therefore, too, in 

 keeping ocean water out of the delta channels. It is obvious that natural conditions, 

 antecedent to the abandonment of these basins (now mostly reclaimed to inundation) 

 will never be restored, even though the lower delta land owners would benefit thereby. 

 It is perhaps not so obvious, but nevertheless true, that a finding by the courts in favor 

 of either group of parties to the controversy would be an unsatisfactory outcome. It 

 should be settled in some other fashion. 



The desire to find a remedy for the condition complained of by the delta landown- 

 ers, as well as by the owners of water front property along the shores of the upper bays 

 and the strait of Carquinez, to find means of reducing the height of the flood water 

 plane of the delta streams and to secure an abundant supply of fresh water in the whole 

 upper bay region, has prompted the suggestion that an artificial salt water barrier be 

 provided at the most suitable locality. 



The idea that benefit could be obtained from a structure which would freely pass 

 the freshet flow of the rivers, yet at their low stages completely check the flood tide, is 

 not new. Studies were made as early as 1880 in the State Engineering Department of 

 California, by the writer, to ascertain whether or not the flood water plane of Suisun 

 Bay and at the mouths of the rivers could be lowered by means of such a structure in 

 the Strait of Carquinez. It was found that because of the limited storage capacity in 

 Suisun Bay this could not be done, that any barrier erected there would raise the flood 

 plane instead of lowering it. This circumstance should be considered as absolutely 

 condemning the strait as a site for a barrier. It may be of interest to note that the 

 inquiry made in 1880 elicited the information from a number of the older pilots on 

 the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers that, during the great flood of January and 

 February, 1862, there were three weeks during which there was no reversal of tidal 

 flow in the strait. At that time there had been no reclamation of overflowed lands; 

 there was a great sea of water covering the entire delta area and adjacent lands. 



The recent renewal of the suggestion that relief from the evils of salt water in the 

 upper bays and in the river delta region could best be had through the aid of a barrier 

 has prompted the authorization of a study of this problem by the Department of the 

 Interior under financial assistance by the State of California and by private parties. 

 It is understood that structures have been designed, with considerable attention to 

 detail, for sites both on the Strait of Carquinez and at the narrowest point below San 

 Pablo Bay. These are to be followed it is hoped with adequate study of the economic 

 aspects of the problem. 



In general, the desirable location of such a barrier is as far down-stream as possible, 

 in order to bring the resulting benefits to the greatest possible area and to the greatest 

 number of people. Several sites are being studied as to their relative advantages and 

 disadvantages. Of these the one farthest down-stream is at the Narrows, below San 

 Pablo Bay. The discussion of benefits will be restricted in this paper to a barrier at 

 this point only. It will sufifice to say with reference to any location farther up-stream 

 that such alternative location would confer only a restricted benefit and would have 

 the disadvantage of raising the flood plane in the delta region of the two rivers. This, 

 as already stated, is a matter of such vital concern that, if it had been given its deserved 

 serious consideration, this would undoubtedly have definitely eliminated any such 

 project. 



It will be seen that such a barrier will automatically eliminate teredo and teredo 

 troubles from the area, which will become a fresh water one, above it. This, in view of 



