Restore the Delta and the Mormon Slough Restoration Association release cost-benefit analysis and detailed restoration plans
For Immediate Release:
October 19, 2026
Contact:
Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org
STOCKTON, CA — Today, Restore the Delta and the Mormon Slough Restoration Association reached a new milestone through the release of the Mormon Slough Restoration Project Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis alongside an Art Installation Guide and Project StoryMap, unveiling clear community benefits and resources for Stockton residents to envision the future of Mormon Slough.
The groups have been working with the community since 2023 to envision the slough as a healthier, safer, and more vibrant greenway after decades of disinvestment and neglect. Pivotal to meeting this important milestone was grant funding from North Valley THRIVE’s Catalyst Fund, pushing forward the group’s hopes of reconnecting Stockton’s communities with their waterways while improving flood protection, environmental health, and creating economic opportunity.
“The economic case for restoring Mormon Slough is clear. The project will result in nearly $430 million in net benefits to communities currently underserved by park space, create hundreds of jobs, and support future community-driven economic development,” said Michelle Mendoza, Flood and Land Restoration Program Manager at Restore the Delta. “Understanding what job opportunities become available for locals by restoring the slough is exciting.”
The cost-benefit analysis reveals that plans around the 6.3 mile waterway would create workforce development opportunities, increase property values, improve critical habitats, and activate recreational activities. The report also points to potential ecological benefits such as improved air quality, cooling, and flood control upgrades.
“Restoration of Mormon Slough is a sound investment that will create good jobs in Stockton,” said Holly Michael, the lead economist on the report. “The value of public benefits such as recreation and flood control are 4 to 5 times higher than the estimated costs. Adding additional greenspace and parks to this underserved area will help Stockton reach the state goal of providing 3 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents.”
Following a year of direct community outreach, the restoration team also released an Art Installation Guide to help Stockton residents envision a transformed Mormon Slough. The guide, created by HATCH Workshop, details design opportunities, creative approaches to restoration, and structural challenges that will need to be addressed as the project continues. It takes a particularly close look at two pilot sites, the Emergency Food Bank and Solari Ranch.
“This report is meant to serve as an introduction to the restoration area, as well as provide food for thought, technical recommendations, historical context, and leads for deeper independent research,” said Elazar Abraham, Co-Founder & Executive Director of HATCH Workshop. “We believe that project complexities should be shared transparently, and effective community engagement requires giving the community time and resources to learn at their own pace.”
The restoration team also released a Project StoryMap produced by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) showcasing the slough’s history, ecology, and future potential. Through maps, photographs, and project information, the StoryMap illustrates how restoring Mormon Slough could contribute to a more resilient and connected Stockton.
“Researching the history of the Mormon Slough revealed how important this forgotten waterway has been for supporting the people and wildlife in the area now known as Stockton. Highlighting some of this rich history through the StoryMap gives community members the knowledge of how Mormon Slough has shaped the environment and how it continues to play a role in the present-day experience of Stockton,” said Kat Palermo, GIS Specialist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). “From being a vital lifeline for indigenous villages, to a major industrial corridor in the 1890s, to the neglected state it is experiencing today, the Mormon Slough continues to be a connecting thread across space and time in this region.”
The project is grounded in collaboration with the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians to ensure the restoration reflects Indigenous knowledge and priorities.
“Restoring our environment is not just a duty for the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; it is a testament to our shared responsibility for peace and healing. Together, we can create a future where every Tribal and non-Tribal community thrives, and the voices of marginalized individuals are heard,” said Jesse Galvan, Tribal Historic Preservation Office Coordinator.
The team behind this project has also developed conceptual designs for the two pilot sites along the lower six-mile length of the Mormon Slough, a site behind the Emergency Food Bank and a second site at Solari Ranch. These two sites are intended to serve as early project demonstrations supporting long-term restoration efforts along the slough.
The conceptual designs were informed by a technical study conducted by River Partners in 2025, along with site context, design requirements, opportunities and constraints, and high-level visioning. Community engagement also played a pivotal role in shaping the designs, with more than 80 residents reviewing the successive drafts of the concept designs and sharing valuable feedback to help inform the project’s Art Installation guide and overall direction. Copies of the conceptual designs are available upon request, and individuals interested in learning more can contact Restore the Delta.
Collectively, the cost-benefit analysis, Art Installation Guide and StoryMap offer Stockton residents a package of resources examining Mormon Slough’s past and exploring the possibilities for its future through community-informed restoration plans.
The Mormon Slough Restoration Project Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis and Conceptual Designs are available upon request.
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