The project would not significantly impact the magnitude of reverse flows that would already occur in the river/Delta system.

The project would divert water until the tidal flow in the river approaches a preset minimum outward flow rate (i.e., towards the ocean). The diversion rate would be reduced proportional to the reduction in the outward river flow rate as the tide comes in. At some preset minimum outward river flow rate, diversions would be stopped by closure of the intakes. In summary, the project would only divert at the maximum capacity when the river flow rate exceeds a specific high preset outward flow rate. The diversion rate would be reduced in steps as the outgoing river flow rate declines and would stop completely if the outward river flow rate reaches the preset minimum rate prior to a dominant incoming tidal flow rate.

Flow histograms illustrating the river and diversion flow rates across tidal cycles will be generated from an extensive modeling process as part of the preparation of the EIR.