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Geographic Information System (GIS)

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region often presents challenges to individuals with it's combination of sheer size and diverse issue complexities.  To better assist policymakers, engineers, stakeholders, and the many other parties interested in Delta water resources in understanding the region, the Specialized Areas Branch utilizes a Geographic Information System to leverage a wide variety of geographic data specific to the Delta.  The data are used to support all components of Delta-Suisun Marsh Office activities, to assist other Department-sponsored activities (for example, Delta Vision), and to serve Delta-specific geographic data to other agencies, parties working in the Delta, and to the public at large.

In addition, the Specialized Areas Branch has sponsored large, very high-accuracy LiDAR surveys for the region.  These are fixed-wing-based LiDAR surveys that provide continuous elevation data at approximately 1 horizontal meter intervals and to a vertical accuracy specified as being better than 1 foot.  Recent surveys have occurred in late 2005 and in early 2007, and a small supplemental survey is planned for winter 2007-08.  Total coverages include the Suisun Marsh, Yolo Bypass, Los Vaqueros Reservoir, the Cosumnes River Preserve area, and almost the entire legal Delta (with a very small exception in rural Solano county, west of the Yolo Bypass).  These LiDAR surveys are available as public domain data.  On request, the Specialized Areas Branch provides guidance and support for data interpretation and analysis techniques using these data as well.

If you have any questions about the data or applications please contact Joel Dudas at (916) 651-7002 or by email at jdudas@water.ca.gov.