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Bay-Delta blog: Here come the Delta smelt restrictions

Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2010 at 8:46 am

The Bay-Delta blog notes that while Judge Wanger may have issued a temporary restraining order for implementing the salmon bi-op, he did not do so for the Delta smelt bi-op:

” … a parallel process has been playing out with the delta smelt. The 2008 BiOp for the pelagic delta smelt was prepared by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Both BiOps issued jeopardy determinations and include reasonable and prudent alternatives (RPAs). The RPAs describe the action items that should be carried out to preserve species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Fish & Wildlife has announced the need to implement one of these RPA measures, and just issued a 48-hour Notice of Implementation (PDF) to that effect. In particular, FWS plans to implement Component 1, Action 2 of the RPA after 5:00 p.m. on February 10, 2010.

The trigger for this action is that FWS has observed an uptick in the salvage of delta smelt. The negative Old & Middle River (OMR) flows may be decreased to protect the fish. Reduction measures of this sort are generally disliked by Westlands Water District because they restrict pumping and result in decreased exports from the Delta. … “

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February 9, 2010 · Filed Under Wildlife & Endangered Species

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