NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region published its Biological Opinion for the Reinitiation of Consultation on the Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. NOAA Fisheries carefully evaluated the impact of CVP/SWP water operations on ESA-listed species, including Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, California Central Valley steelhead, Southern distinct population segment of North American green sturgeon, and Southern Resident killer whales. The proposal includes habitat management measures in the Delta and entrainment management related to water exports in the South Delta.
NOAA Fisheries documented impacts from the proposed operations and worked with Reclamation to modify their proposed action to minimize and offset those impacts. NOAA Fisheries undertook two independent scientific peer reviews and utilized the best science available in the development of its biological opinion. Ultimately, NOAA Fisheries has concluded that Reclamation’s proposed operations will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats.
