As a member of the Delta Rice Project, Hydrofocus, Inc. aims to assess rice production potential in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including rice sustainability, economic value, and environmentally viability. After planting rice on around 300 acres of Twitchell Island in the Delta, HydroFocus, Inc. will analyze rice production effects on water supply and subsidence.

Rice cultivation in the Delta may slow subsidence, but increased rice production may also cause a contamination increase to the drinking water supply of California. Part of this investigation will determine how dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loads, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), mercury, and pesticides change through time.

Farmers first planted rice on Twitchell Island in April 2009. After the 2009 planting and harvesting season, the Delta Rice Project members summarized results. Overall, results indicate higher DOC and MeHg concentrations and loads in rice drain water compared with other crops, such as corn and oats. Herbicide concentrations in drainwater were below levels of concern for aquatic life and decreased through the sampling events. Extensometer data shows rice will stop subsidence, and possibly reverse subsidence. Rice consumes around 22% more water than corn, but rice also significantly sequesters carbon dioxide. Rice variety trials yielded typical amounts compared with other Delta and Sacramento Valley yields, but overall Twitchell rice production was low. Low yields could be due to high moisture, blanking, non-uniform water distribution, or bird consumption.

Collecting extensometer data from rice field 1

If interested, please refer to Delta Rice Project documents below:
Proposal for Evaluation of Rice Cultivation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Progress Report for Twitchell Rice Project, 2008-2009