Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion on the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project

The purpose of this document is to present NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) biological and conference opinion (Opinion), about whether the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) proposed long-term operations of the Central Valley Project (CVP), operated in coordination with the State Water Project (SWP; hereafter referred to as CVP/SWP operations, the proposed action, or the project), is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the following species:

• Endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, hereafter referred to as winter-run)
• Threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha, hereafter referred to as spring-run)
• Threatened Central Valley (CV) steelhead (O. mykiss)
• Threatened Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead (O. mykiss)
• Threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris, hereafter referred to as Southern DPS of green sturgeon)
• Endangered Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca, hereafter referred to as Southern Residents)

This document also presents NMFS’ Opinion about whether the proposed long-term operations are likely to destroy or adversely modify the designated critical habitat of the above salmon and steelhead species, or proposed critical habitat for Southern DPS of green sturgeon. This Opinion is based on the best scientific and commercial information available.

Supplemental Documents

List of Appendices

• Appendix 1 Project Description
• Appendix 2 Supporting Documents for the RPA
• Appendix 3 Fall-Run and Late Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Analysis
• Appendix 4 Responses to CALFED Peer Review Recommendations
• Appendix 5 Technical Memorandum for the San Joaquin Actions

Essential Fish Habitat

• EFH Conservation Recommendations

Peer Review Reports

Center for Independent Experts (CIE) Peer Review Reports

• Review prepared by Dr. E. Eric Knudsen
• Review prepared by Dr. Richard A. Martson
• Review prepared by Dr. Ian A. Fleming

CALFED Science Program Peer Review Reports

• Independent Review of a Draft Version of the 2009 NOAA Fisheries OCAP Biological Opinion

National Academy of Sciences Review

Briefing Materials:

• Section 7 Consultation Process
• Coordination between the Services during OCAP consultation
• Legal Framework for OCAP RPAs
• Status of the Species

Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA)

• Executive Summary to NMFS' CVP/SWP Operations Biological Opinion RPA
• NMFS Effects Summary and RPA Actions
• Preliminary Proposals for adjustments of Various OCAP RPA Actions (11/08/10)
• Amendments to OCAP RPA (April 7, 2011)
• RPA Action IV.4.2: CDWR Clifton Court Forebay Predator Control
  • RPA IV.4.2 NMFS Extension Concurrence July 2, 2012
  • RPA IV.4.2 DWR Extension Request May 1, 2011