The plan by the Trump administration would would increase water deliveries from our rivers by 23%-39% and put California's drinking water quality and salmon at risk.
Action Alert from Regina Chichizola: Save California Salmon
“The public hearings on the new Trump Water Plan for the Central Valley Project are set. There will be hearings in Chico and in Sacramento. It is very important we turn people out as this will lower flows in many rivers including the Sacramento and Trinity Rivers and Bay Delta. I believe it also does not include the fish reintroduction program for the Shasta Dam. Also of note, the Trump administration pulled, and replaced, the biologists and scientist working on the related Biological Opinion (BO) related to the plan. The rumor is it is because they found there was jeopardy to endangered species from the plan.
A jeopardy opinion was issued last time the operations were updated and actions such as the reintroduction program were added to the BO to aid salmon. Obviously the last plan still killed off much of the Delta watershed's remaining salmon and smelt. The BOR's description of the plan is that "This EIS evaluates alternatives to maximize water supply deliveries and optimize marketable power generation consistent with applicable laws, contractual obligations, and agreements and to augment operational flexibility by addressing the status of listed species."
The BOR press release is below. Three public meetings are scheduled:
July 30, 5:00-7:00 p.m. – San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority (842 6th St, Los Banos, CA 93635)
July 31, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Kimpton Sawyer Hotel/Magnolia Ballroom (500 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814)
August 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m. – Lakeside Pavilion (2565 California Park Dr., Chico, CA 95928)
Bureau of Reclamation released a draft environmental impact statement analyzing potential effects associated with long-term water operations for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. Reclamation’s goal is to incorporate updated science into CVP and SWP operations to optimize water deliveries for communities and farms, while protecting threatened and endangered species. The draft environmental impact statement will be available for public input for a 45-day review period.
“This is a huge undertaking that affects water operations throughout California. It is important we listen to as many voices as we can,” said Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director Ernest Conant. “Seeking public input is an essential part of the process to ensure our actions are improving the quality of life for people and also protecting our valuable natural resources.”
Proposed actions outlined in the document include temperature management at Shasta Dam, habitat and salinity measures in the Delta, and management of fish entrainment related to water exports from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta. Together, these proposed actions aim to give water operators more flexibility to deliver water, optimize power generation and protect threatened and endangered species.
Three public meetings are scheduled:
July 30, 5:00-7:00 p.m. – San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority (842 6th St, Los Banos, CA 93635)
July 31, 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Kimpton Sawyer Hotel/Magnolia Ballroom (500 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814)
August 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m. – Lakeside Pavilion (2565 California Park Dr., Chico, CA 95928)
Current CVP and SWP operations are guided by 2008 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 2009 NOAA Fisheries biological opinions. Since completion of those opinions, the Department of the Interior, the state of California, federal and state contractors, non-governmental organizations and others invested significant resources to advance the science of the Central Valley and Delta to more effectively manage this system.
The draft environmental impact statement is available here. Submit written comments to sha-mpr-bdo@usbr.gov by close of business August 26.
For more information about the public meetings or the documents, please call 916-414-2426 (TTY 800-877-8339).