News Release Archive

Central Valley Project Operations Criteria and Plan and Biological Assessment Available

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, JMCCRACKEN@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: July 01, 2004

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available the Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP) and the related Biological Assessment (BA). The OCAP has been prepared to serve as a baseline description of the facilities and operating environment of the divisions of the Central Valley Project (CVP). The OCAP identifies many factors influencing the decision-making process and physical and institutional conditions under which the CVP currently operates. Regulatory and legal requirements are explained, and alternative operating models and strategies are described in the OCAP.

In addition, Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have entered into formal Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation on coordinated CVP and State Water Project operations. The present version of the BA was transmitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and NOAA Fisheries. Reclamation and DWR have been working closely with FWS and NOAA Fisheries over several months developing and refining the BA. It is anticipated that FWS and NOAA Fisheries will complete Biological Opinions pursuant to ESA by the end of July 2004. DWR will work with the California Department of Fish and Game to complete necessary compliance pursuant to the California ESA.

The OCAP and BA are available online at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/ocapba.html for informational purposes. For additional information, please contact Ms. Ann Lubas-Williams at 916-979-2068, TDD 916-979-2183, or e-mail alubaswilliams@mp.usbr.gov. To request a compact disk, please contact Ms. Sammie Cervantes at 916-978-5104, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail scervantes@mp.usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP)