Biological opinion on the coordinated operations of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) | December 15th, 2008
On May 16, 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources asked the Service to initiate consultation on the Long-Term Operational Criteria and Plan (OCAP) for coordination of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, specifically concerning the delta smelt and its critical habitat. (See OCAP Legal Archives.)
On December 15, 2008, the Fish & Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion (BO) on the Long-Term Operational Criteria and Plan (OCAP) for coordination of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.
The Service determined that the continued operation of these two water projects, as described in the plan, was likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the delta smelt and adversely modify its critical habitat. The inclusion by the Service of reasonable and prudent alternatives, and their acceptance by the water agencies, avoided jeopardy and adverse modification.
Keywords
biological opinion (BiOp), Central Valley Project (CVP), endangered species, native fish, Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, salinity, State Water Project (SWP), water project operations, water quality