Franks Tract State Recreation Area: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Franks Tract in Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta with Mount Diablo in background.JPG|right|thumb|Franks Tract with [[Mount Diablo]] in the background]] |
[[File:Franks Tract in Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta with Mount Diablo in background.JPG|right|thumb|Franks Tract with [[Mount Diablo]] in the background]] |
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'''Franks Tract State Recreation Area''' (SRA), is a [[state park]] unit of [[California]], |
'''Franks Tract State Recreation Area''' (SRA), is a [[state park]] unit of [[California]], United States, featuring a flooded area in the [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]]. It is accessible only by water. Franks Tract, and a smaller adjoining submerged property called "Little Franks Tract",<!--no apostrophe--> are situated between the [[False River (California)|False River]] and [[Bethel Island (California)|Bethel Island]]. The [[recreation area]] is used primarily for fishing and waterfowl hunting, because of its exposure to to frequent strong winds and fluctuating water levels. In times of high water, the entire site can be submerged except for portions of the old [[levee]]s.<ref name="Website">{{cite web |title=Franks Tract SRA |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=490 |publisher=California State Parks |accessdate=2012-01-14}}</ref> The {{convert|3523|acre|ha|adj=on}} park was established in 1959.<ref>{{cite journal |title=California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10 |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/795/files/09-10%20statistical%20report%20final%20online.pdf |publisher=California State Parks |page=20 |accessdate=2011-12-30}}</ref> It is managed from nearby [[Brannan Island State Recreation Area]], {{convert|6|mi|km}} to the northwest.<ref name="Brochure">{{cite web |title=Brannen Island/Franks Tract State Recreation Areas |url=http://parks.ca.gov/pages/490/files/BrannanIsl_FranksTractFinalWebLayout2011.pdf |publisher=California State Parks |year=2011 |accessdate=2012-01-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221012939/http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/490/files/BrannanIsl_FranksTractFinalWebLayout2011.pdf |archivedate=2015-12-21 |df= }}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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==Franks Tract restoration project== |
==Franks Tract restoration project== |
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=== |
===CDFWD plan and assessment=== |
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The |
The CDFWD has been studying ways to modify the Franks Tract to accomplish several objectives, namely:"...improve habitat for the Delta smelt, reduce saltwater intrusion into the central and south Delta, reduce submerged aquatic weeds and reduce invasive nonnative fish species that feed on native fish like the salmon and the Delta smelt."<ref name="FTRP">[https://www.thepress.net/news/franks-tract-restoration-moves-forward/article_3de54af8-7f12-11e8-81a6-175637c98e5a.html Kukulich, Tony. "Franks Tract restoration moves forward." ''The Press''. July 3, 2018. Updated July 6, 2018.] Accessed July 7, 2018.</ref> |
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CDFWD presented its final draft of its project feasibility study at a meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council in Sacramento on June 29, 2018. The study concluded that, "... the project is both feasible and expensive."<ref name="FTRP"/> The plan is premised on splitting the Franks Tract with a berm that runs north and south, then filling the property west of the berm (including the Little Franks Tract) to create about {{convert|1000|acre|m2}} of wetlands. The east side of the berm would face {{convert|2000|acre|m2}} of open channel. This would permanently block access to False River and the Sacramento River from the Franks Tract and Bethel Island. The project's cost was estimated at $300 to $600 million.<ref name="FTRP"/><ref name="Report"/> |
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===Local objections and concerns=== |
===Local objections and concerns=== |
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CDFWD had released a draft of its report in March, 2018. Everyone who attended these meeting who returned comments objected to the plan.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} Some of these were: |
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* The objective of removing all non-native species from the Delta included driving out black bass, which had moved in since the 1938 flooding. The species has thrived in Franks Tract and has become a favorite attraction for fishermen. According to Jan McCleery, the president of the Save the California Delta Alliance, Bethel Island hosts bass fishing tournaments nearly every weekend during the summer, with each event reportedly generating $200,000 income for the community.<ref name="Kukulich_03/22/18">[https://www.thepress.net/news/franks-tract-restoration-project-under-fire/article_b43d0d68-2def-11e8-a0ee-f7159d7da83d.html Kukulich, Tony. "Franks Tract restoration project under fire." ''The Press''. March 18, 2018.] Accessed July 7, 2018.</ref> |
* The objective of removing all non-native species from the Delta included driving out black bass, which had moved in since the 1938 flooding. The species has thrived in Franks Tract and has become a favorite attraction for fishermen. According to Jan McCleery, the president of the Save the California Delta Alliance, Bethel Island hosts bass fishing tournaments nearly every weekend during the summer, with each event reportedly generating $200,000 income for the community.<ref name="Kukulich_03/22/18">[https://www.thepress.net/news/franks-tract-restoration-project-under-fire/article_b43d0d68-2def-11e8-a0ee-f7159d7da83d.html Kukulich, Tony. "Franks Tract restoration project under fire." ''The Press''. March 18, 2018.] Accessed July 7, 2018.</ref> |
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File:Franks Tract in Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta 3.JPG |
File:Franks Tract in Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta 3.JPG |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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==Notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 02:57, 9 July 2018
Franks Tract State Recreation Area (SRA), is a state park unit of California, United States, featuring a flooded area in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. It is accessible only by water. Franks Tract, and a smaller adjoining submerged property called "Little Franks Tract", are situated between the False River and Bethel Island. The recreation area is used primarily for fishing and waterfowl hunting, because of its exposure to to frequent strong winds and fluctuating water levels. In times of high water, the entire site can be submerged except for portions of the old levees.[1] The 3,523-acre (1,426 ha) park was established in 1959.[2] It is managed from nearby Brannan Island State Recreation Area, 6 miles (9.7 km) to the northwest.[3]
History
Franks Tract was once the United States' second-largest source of peat, after the Everglades.[3] The site was originally reclaimed between 1902 and 1906 and given over to farming of potatoes, beans, asparagus, sugar beets, onions, seed crops, small grains, and corn.[4] In February 1937 Franks Tract was inundated and reclaimed by October, but in February 1938 the False River levee broke and Franks Tract was flooded and never reclaimed.[5][6] The Little Franks Tract was last flooded in 1982, and no attempt was ever made to restore it as farmland.[7] The United States Navy used a 500-acre (200 ha) portion of the area as a bombing target known as Antioch Bombing Target from 1943 to 1952.[8]
Wildlife
Because of the tract's location in the Pacific Flyway, a large variety of waterfowl inhabit it, especially during the fall and winter. Year round species include gulls, great blue herons, terns, swallows, crows, blackbirds, cormorants and kingfishers. Hunting on the open water is allowed, subject to California Fish & Wildlife Department (CDFWD) regulations. Permits and other arrangements must be made in advance through the Brannan Island State Recreation Area.[9]
Franks Tract restoration project
CDFWD plan and assessment
The CDFWD has been studying ways to modify the Franks Tract to accomplish several objectives, namely:"...improve habitat for the Delta smelt, reduce saltwater intrusion into the central and south Delta, reduce submerged aquatic weeds and reduce invasive nonnative fish species that feed on native fish like the salmon and the Delta smelt."[10]
CDFWD presented its final draft of its project feasibility study at a meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council in Sacramento on June 29, 2018. The study concluded that, "... the project is both feasible and expensive."[10] The plan is premised on splitting the Franks Tract with a berm that runs north and south, then filling the property west of the berm (including the Little Franks Tract) to create about 1,000 acres (4,000,000 m2) of wetlands. The east side of the berm would face 2,000 acres (8,100,000 m2) of open channel. This would permanently block access to False River and the Sacramento River from the Franks Tract and Bethel Island. The project's cost was estimated at $300 to $600 million.[10][11]
Local objections and concerns
CDFWD had released a draft of its report in March, 2018. Everyone who attended these meeting who returned comments objected to the plan.[citation needed] Some of these were:
- The objective of removing all non-native species from the Delta included driving out black bass, which had moved in since the 1938 flooding. The species has thrived in Franks Tract and has become a favorite attraction for fishermen. According to Jan McCleery, the president of the Save the California Delta Alliance, Bethel Island hosts bass fishing tournaments nearly every weekend during the summer, with each event reportedly generating $200,000 income for the community.[7]
- Access to "fast water" is a major factor affecting property values along the Delta. The proposal would eliminate this access for existing boat docks and marinas at Bethel Island, likely forcing them to rebuild elsewhere. It would also have a major impact on Discovery Bay, reducing values of existing homes there.
Franks Tract gallery
See also
References
- ^ "Franks Tract SRA". California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks: 20. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b "Brannen Island/Franks Tract State Recreation Areas" (PDF). California State Parks. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-21. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Thompson, John (1957). The Settlement Geography of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California. Stanford University: Unpublished Dissertation. p. Map Plates.
- ^ Thompson, John (1957). The Settlement Geography of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California. Stanford University: Unpublished Dissertation. p. 464.
- ^ Schell, Hal (1995). Hal Schell's Guide to Cruising California's Delta: The Delta Dawdler's Dream Tour of This Fabulous 1,000-mile Waterway. Stockton, Calif.: Schell Books. p. 254.
- ^ a b Kukulich, Tony. "Franks Tract restoration project under fire." The Press. March 18, 2018. Accessed July 7, 2018.
- ^ "Antioch Bombing Target". Historic Posts, Camps, Stations, and Airfields. California State Military Museum. 2008-12-13. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ "Franks Tract State Recreation Area." California Department of Parks and Recreation. 2018. Accessed July 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c Kukulich, Tony. "Franks Tract restoration moves forward." The Press. July 3, 2018. Updated July 6, 2018. Accessed July 7, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Reportwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).