The $ 4.7 billion allotted to the program so far has been treated like a grab bag by the agencies that have access to the money , with the vast majority of it spent on hundreds of projects outside the six- county delta region . --More than $ 40 million to tear down five dams along Battle Creek , about 160 miles from the northern point of the delta , to restore 42 miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead trout . -- $ 118 million on studies to build or expand dams in Northern and Central California , three of which are outside the delta .