News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces 2015 Annual Science Review and Workshop for the Biological Opinions for the Long-term Operation of the CVP and SWP

Media Contact: Shane Hunt, 916-978-5100, shunt@usbr.gov

For Release: October 29, 2015

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, in coordination with the Delta Science Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Water Resources, have scheduled an annual science review and workshop on certain Biological Opinion implementation actions relative to the 2015 operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The 2015 annual science review will be the sixth annual review.

This annual science review and workshop has been scheduled in response to the June 4, 2009, NMFS Biological and Conference Opinion (BiOp) issued on the long-term operations of the CVP and SWP. This BiOp concluded that the long-term operation of the CVP/SWP was likely to jeopardize the continued existence of several federally-listed species under NMFS jurisdiction. Consequently, NMFS provided a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) that met the criteria of 50 CFR 402.02 and included a provision for an annual science review and workshop.

Under direction from the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior, this review has been expanded to include a review of the implementation of the USFWS Long-term Operation BiOp. DWR also participates in the review because of the joint operation of the CVP/SWP.

The goals of the annual science review and workshop are to: (1) Provide an Independent Review Panel (IRP) a forum for presentations and discussion of submitted technical reports; (2) summarize lessons learned; (3) incorporate new science into the implementation of the RPA; and (4) make appropriate scientifically-justified adjustments to the implementation of the RPA to support real-time decision making for the next water year. Additionally, the IRP will advise NMFS and USFWS as to the efficacy of the prior years’ water operations and regulatory actions prescribed by their respective RPAs.

This year’s annual review will focus on the implementation of BiOp RPAs for operations and fisheries for water year 2015 (Oct. 1, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015) and will include:

  • 2015 Sacramento River Temperature Management

  • River Assessment for Forecasting Temperature and Temperature Decision Support Tool

  • Enhanced Particle Tracking Model: Development and Pilot Application

  • Overview of the USFWS Report: “Past, Present and Future Approaches to Incidental Take of Delta Smelt.”

The workshop is scheduled over two days in Sacramento:

Thursday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street, Main Auditorium
Sacramento, CA 95814

The workshop will have a WebEx Conference page and a call-in line for audio. Public comments through this courtesy service will be limited to written comments, and commenters may not receive a response during the meeting.

To call-in for audio: 1-877-402-9753, Participant Pass Code: 1882129.

To participate via the website:

Thursday, November 5, 2015: Meeting number: 923 996 291, Meeting password: lobo2015 https://deltacouncil.webex.com/deltacouncil/j.php?MTID=m8b378475207a43528c72bc4f7f8bce6d

Friday, November 6, 2015: Meeting number: 925 177 116, Meeting password: lobo2015 https://deltacouncil.webex.com/deltacouncil/j.php?MTID=m54b769996de04cd60de4c6192068af37

For additional information, please contact Janice Piñero, Reclamation, at 916-414-2428 (TTY 800-877-8339) or jpinero@usbr.gov, or Nicole Stern, Delta Stewardship Council, at 916-332-6545 or nstern@deltacouncil.ca.gov.

The public is encouraged to visit the Delta Science Program website at http://deltacouncil.ca.gov/event-detail/12645 for the meeting materials. A limited number of copies of these materials will be available at the meeting. Reasonable time limits may be established for public comments (California Government Code Sections 11125).

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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.