The Project’s purpose is to enhance and restore tidal wetlands on Chipps Island for the benefit of native fish and wildlife. Like most of the original historic wetlands of the California Delta region, the wetlands of Chipps island were isolated by levees, drained and dried out for commercial use. This project aims to restore approximately 300 acres of Chipps Island back to a natural wetland by restoring tidal hydrology along the northern portion of the island, as well as preserve and enhance existing tidal marsh habitat located on the western and eastern portions of the island.

Project Objectives:

• Temporarily reestablish water level elevation control on Chipps Island.
• Restore tidal hydrology to the Northern Parcel of the island.
• Preserve and enhance the Western and Eastern Parcels by breaching levees in specified locations.
• Create 8,600 linear feet of tidal channels to promote the exchange of water, nutrients, and sediment, to sustain the marsh. Excavate 8 breaches to the bay.
• Manage invasive plant species and revegetate native plant species.
• Remove legacy infrastructure i.e. pilings, water control structures and abandoned dwellings. One of the abandoned buildings required asbestos abatement, but was not structurally safe to enter.
• Complete in water work no later than November 30, 2025 to allow the Department to obtain federal and state mitigation credits for the Project. In water work was completed more than 2 weeks early and project was completed 30 days early.

DMS is working with DWR under a CMGC delivery method for this project. Weekly meetings were held to facilitate an open iterative process for informing the design and construction of each Phase of the project. DMS reviewed the design developed by DWR and provide feedback on timelines, crew sizes, methods for construction and associated risk assessments. Facilitated Partnering was used throughout the 3 phases of the project. The team won an IPI partnering award for Phase 2B.