{"id":3267,"date":"2025-06-16T15:54:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T23:54:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/?page_id=3267"},"modified":"2025-07-16T10:19:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T18:19:39","slug":"delta-conveyance-project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/?page_id=3267","title":{"rendered":"Delta Conveyance Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Engineering Geologic and Seismic Hazard Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Delta Conveyance Project<\/strong> is a major infrastructure initiative to modernize the State Water Project\u2019s (SWP)<\/strong> water conveyance system through the Sacramento\u2013San Joaquin Delta<\/strong>, the hub of California\u2019s vital water distribution network. This region is critical to delivering clean, reliable water to over 27 million people<\/strong> and 750,000 acres of farmland<\/strong>, but is highly vulnerable to seismic activity<\/strong>, subsidence<\/strong>, and climate-driven weather extremes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area<\/strong>, the Delta is part of one of the most seismically active regions in the U.S.<\/strong> The U.S. Geological Survey<\/strong> estimates a 72% probability<\/strong> of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake<\/strong> in the Bay Area by 2043<\/strong>. The Delta itself contains multiple active fault systems<\/strong>, posing serious risks to aging water infrastructure. In response, the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (DCA)<\/strong>\u2014under direction from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR)<\/strong>\u2014is developing a tunnel-based conveyance system to increase the seismic resiliency of the SWP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image credit: California Department of Water Resources (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LCI is supporting this effort as part of the DCA\u2019s geotechnical and geologic team. We are characterizing subsurface conditions and geologic hazards across the entire 45-mile tunnel alignment<\/strong>, including intakes<\/strong>, vertical shafts<\/strong>, and a pumping plant<\/strong>. Our geologists and modelers analyzed and interpreted data from over 1,700 borings<\/strong> and 800 cone penetration tests (CPTs)<\/strong>, combining legacy datasets from prior investigations with new field data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To visualize and assess these conditions, LCI built a high-resolution 3D geologic model<\/strong> using Leapfrog Works<\/strong> software. This model delineates sedimentary packages and structural features throughout the project corridor and serves as a foundation for design and risk assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An aerial view of the Harvey O. Banks Delta Pumping Plant. Image credit: California Department of Water Resources (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LCI conducted a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA)<\/strong> that revealed variation in ground-shaking potential along the tunnel, with higher hazard in the southern Delta. We further evaluated buried and potentially active faults<\/strong>, including the West Tracy<\/strong>, Midland<\/strong>, and unnamed bedrock faults, through detailed tectonic geomorphic mapping<\/strong>, structural analysis<\/strong>, and fault displacement hazard assessments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key LCI Services:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Analysis and Interpretation of Geotechnical Boring Data<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Development of 3-D geologic model (Leapfrog)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Structural Geologic Analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Tectonic Geomorphic Analysis and Mapping<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Seismic Source Characterization<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    With deep expertise in California geology and seismic risk, LCI continues to provide the technical insight<\/strong>, modeling capabilities<\/strong>, and geologic interpretation<\/strong> needed to support the successful planning and design of this transformative infrastructure project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Image
    Image credit: California Department of Water Resources (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Engineering Geologic and Seismic Hazard Support The Delta Conveyance Project is a major infrastructure initiative to modernize the State Water Project\u2019s (SWP) water conveyance system through the Sacramento\u2013San Joaquin Delta, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3268,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3267","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3267"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3316,"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3267\/revisions\/3316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lettisci.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}