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Kan's aspirations are shared by thousands of Bay Area families, some of whom could also make their way to the Delta looking for their dream homes, if developers continue to get their way. A growing torrent of protest from scientists, environmentalists, bureaucrats, and some politicians is starting to counteract the fierce lobbying of major developers. Demographer Hans Johnson of the Public Policy Institute, a San Francisco-based nonprofit economic, political, and social research organization, projects that the population of the five counties that share wedges of the Delta will more than double, to 7.5 million, by 2050 if restraints on growth are not put in place. Already, tens of thousands of new homes are proposed for the Delta region.

Governor Schwarzenegger hopes to curb this growth until the State can be sure the levees are secure. His office is circulating a proposal to require new housing projects in high-risk areas to meet tougher flood-risk criteria. Adam Mendelsohn, the Governor's communications director, told the Sacramento Bee in June that the Governor does not want to shut down construction in the state, and "everything is being debated." Any bill is likely to face fierce opposition from major developers, who also happen to be big donors to legislators' coffers.

Meanwhile, Kan says he's planning to give up some of his fishing time to check out the flood risks. He also aims to finally get around to looking for flood insurance.

"But right now, we'll just take it as it is," he said, picking up his rod. "Hopefully it doesn't happen. Hopefully they fix the levees."

Shirley Skeel, a frequent contributer to Coast & Ocean, is a radio and print reporter who recently moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Seattle area.

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