Portable Drainage Pumps. The use of twenty diesel-powered portable pumps would improve drainage capabilities of managed wetlands to reduce soil salinities by pumping drainage water that currently cannot be effectively removed by tidal drainage. This program would provide managers with the ability to perform essential xxxxx cycles and appropriate water management schedules during critical growth periods in the Xxxxx. In July of 1995, the SRCD evaluated the Suisun Xxxxx managed wetlands and identified 73 properties in need of pumps to achieve effective drainage. On those properties with low pond bottom elevations, pumps would be used to effectively remove or accelerate the drainage time of high salinity water. The ability to drain managed wetlands within a 20-day period is a requirement of each of the properties Management Plans. These pumps may be used year around to achieve the goal of effective habitat management, but the primary use would begin in the winter and spring when leaching of soil salts from the wetland plants root zone is most critical. A maximum of $400,000 will be expended to purchase 20 portable pumps. The portable pump pool would be managed by the SRCD in conjunction with the Water Manager Program. SRCD shall oversee the portable pump operation and maintenance while assisting the landowners in proper use. These same pumps will be used to assist landowners to fill managed wetlands with lower salinity water as described in Action # 9 above. This action would provide equivalent or better protection because: Effective leaching is critical to lowering soil water salinity. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, leaching lowers soil water salinity within the managed wetlands. The pumps would improve the effectiveness of leaching. Wetland managers with low pond bottom elevations who rely on gravity systems would be able to remove soil water to one foot below the soil surface, as recommended in the Management Plans. The use of pumps would reduce the time required for draining and leaching utilizing gravity systems. Reducing the time required to drain the ponds is important in light of the ACOE operational constraints for the protection of fishery resources in Suisun Xxxxx. During the spring, these restrictions severely limit the time that wetland managers can fill their ponds to conduct xxxxx cycles. If wetland managers can drain more rapidly, they would be in a position to fill their ponds and conduct a xxxxx cycle if USACE restrictions allow for taking in water.
