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Agencies issue biological assessments on pumping; 900-page document ‘just a starting point’ in Bay-Delta fish protection project

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 25, 2008 at 7:57 am

From the Capitol Press:

California’s Department of Water Resources and the federal Bureau of Reclamation have issued biological assessments on their Bay-Delta water-pumping operations in answer to a court decision last year that limited water exports because of impacts on fish species. The assessments, made public May 16, are part of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project joint operations criteria and plan, according to DWR.

Last year, Judge Oliver Wanger issued a decision in federal court limiting pumping operations because they were harming species like the dwindling delta smelt. Wanger’s decision found that biological opinions issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service didn’t adequately protect fish species in the delta, which necessitated new biological opinions for both the State Water Project and Central Valley Project.

As part of an Endangered Species Act re-consultation, Wanger ordered the agencies to develop by Sept. 15 new and more protective biological opinions, according to DWR. Until a new biological opinion is developed, the water projects are living under Wanger’s decision, which has resulted in water export reductions, said Jerry Johns, DWR’s deputy director.

Sue Sims, a DWR spokesperson, said the document is the first step in a formal process. “This biological assessment from our standpoint is clearly just the starting point,” with more work to be done, said Sims.

Read the full text from the Capitol Press by clicking here. You can read the biological assessment at the Bureau of Reclamation website by clicking here.

May 25, 2008 · Filed Under Delta Issues, Delta smelt, Judge Wanger delta smelt ruling, Salmon