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The Delta is a key point of the Pacific Flyway for migratory waterfowl. An estimated 10 million per year visit the area 's marshland and corn and silo fields to rest and feed. Besides numerous waterfowl, the Delta supports about 200 species of non-game birds and several species of upland game birds (of which pheasant and mourning dove are most abundant) . Some of the birds commonly seen in the Delta are grebes, herons, swans, sandhill crane, geese, ducks, hawks, white-tailed kite, owls, bingfisher, wood- peckers, wrans, thrushes, warblers, flycatchers, swallows, blackbirds, sparrows, and quail. Rare species of birds inhabiting the Delta include the blackrail and yellow-billed cuckoo. Mammal reptile and amphibian species also exist in the area. The Delta' s leveed channel islands and the banks of its drainage canals have replaced many natural riparian areas. Several land species listed in Table 1 (Mammals and Reptiles) now use levees for habitats. The Delta is one of the largest and most important fisheries in California, vital to a large population of resident fish but even more important as a saline gradient and access for spawning runs of anadromous fish to the upper Sacramento, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Calveras and San Joaquin River systems. Species included in Table 1. The fishery resource in the Delta is extremely important for the recreation industry. Estimates of the economic value of the sports fishery range from $10 million to $15 million annually. B. Socio-Economic Factors : Within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta approximately 550,000 acres of land is in agriculture. These lands produce an average gross farm income of about $135 million per year. It is also the primary employer accounting for nearly 50% of the labor force. An increasingly important part of the Delta economy is the water- related recreation industry. Although the area is extremely attractive for recreational consumers, the uses of the waterways are essentially unplanned and unregulated. Conflicts among speed boat operators, waterskiers, and fisherman not only dampen any favorable recreational experience but also provide threats to public safety and private property. In addition the great demand for more recreation facilities has spurred an increase in these developments often without proper permits. - 11 -