DRAFT Environmental Assessment Initial Actions for the Reinitiation of Consultation on the Coordinated Long-term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project INCOMPLETE – FOR DISUSSION PURPOSES U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region JUNE 2018 Mission Statements The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region JUNE 2018 Near-Term Actions Environmental Assessment DRAFT, SUBJECT TO REVISION Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Need for the Proposal.......................................................................................... 3 2 Alternatives Including the Proposed Action .................................................................. 3 2.1 No Action Alternative ......................................................................................... 4 2.2 Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Old and Middle River Reverse Flows .........................................................4 2.2.2 San Joaquin Inflow to Export Ratio ..........................................................24 2.2.3 Low Salinity Zone Management ...............................................................27 2.2.4 Transfer Window Expansion ....................................................................32 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........................................... 34 3.1 Resources Not Analyzed in Detail .......................................................................... 34 3.1 Water Resources ............................................................................................... 35 3.2 Biological Resources ........................................................................................ 36 3.2.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................36 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................37 3.3 Recreation Resources ........................................................................................ 37 3.3.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................37 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ....................................................................38 4 Consultation & Coordination ....................................................................................... 38 4.1 Public Involvement and Parties Consulted ....................................................... 38 4.1.1 Workshops .................................................................................................38 4.1.2 Technical Team Meetings ..........................................................................38 4.1.3 Agency Core Team Meetings ...........................................................................39 4.1.4 Additional Meetings..........................................................................................39 4.2 Federal Laws, Regulations, and Policies .......................................................... 39 National Historic Preservation Act (54 USC § 300101 et seq.) ................................39 Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 USC § 1531 et seq.)......................40 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 USC Section 651 et seq.) ...........................40 5 References 40 Section 2.2.1 ................................................................................................................. 40 Section 2.2.2............................................................... 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List of Figures and Tables List of Appendices 1 June 2018 Near-Term Actions Environmental Assessment DRAFT, SUBJECT TO REVISION List of Acronyms and Abbreviations AT Acoustic Tag BAFF Bioacoustic Fish Fence BO Biological opinion CVP Central Valley Project CWT Coded Wire Tag DOSS Delta Operations for Salmonids and Sturgeon DWR Department of Water Resources EA Environmental Assessment eDNA Aqueous Environmental DNA EDSM Enhanced Delta Smelt Monitoring EIS Environmental Impact Statement ESA Endangered Species Act FFGS Floating Fish Guidance Structure FMWT Fall Mid-water Trawl IFF Infrasound Fish Fence JSATS Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System LTO Coordinated Long-term Operation of the CVP and SWP OMR Old and Middle River NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service PTM Particle Tracking Models Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation RGP Rapid Genetic Protocol ROD Record of Decision RPA Reasonable and Prudent Alternative Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SKT Spring Kodiak Trawl SWG Smelt Working Group SST Salmonid Scoping Team SWP State Water Project USC U.S. Code USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) WIIN Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act WOMT Water Operations Management Team VNS Vernalis 2 June 2018 Near-Term Actions Environmental Assessment DRAFT, SUBJECT TO REVISION 1 Introduction In accordance with 40 CFR 1508.9, an environmental assessment (EA) serves to briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or a Finding of No Significant Impact. An EA shall include brief discussions of the need for proposal (Section 1), alternatives (Section 2), environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and alternatives (Section 3) and a listing of agencies and persons consulted (Section 4). 1.1 Background In 2008 Reclamation consulted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the Coordinated Long-term Operation of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) (LTO). The Service and NMFS provided Reclamation with Biological Opinions (2008 and 2009 BOs) and Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) actions. In 2015 Reclamation completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the LTO (LTO EIS) with implementing the BOs, as amended, as part of the No Action Alternative. In 2016, Reclamation signed the Record of Decision (ROD) on the LTO EIS. This EA is tiered (40 CFR 1502.20 and 1508.28) from LTO EIS and 2016 ROD and hereby incorporates it by reference. Analyses included in this EA are based on the information and analyses included in the LTO EIS. The LTO EIS and ROD are available online at: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=21883 1.2 Need for the Proposal The need for the proposal is to maximize water deliveries to Central Valley Project and State Water Project water users, consistent with applicable laws, contractual obligations, agreements, and to improve Reclamation’s ability to implement the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, in coordination with the SWP, without additional adverse effects to listed species beyond those analyzed in the 2008 & 2009 BOs. 2 Alternatives Including the Proposed Action This section considers two possible alternatives: the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action. The No Action Alternative reflects future conditions without the Proposed Action and serves as a basis of comparison for determining potential impacts to the human environment that would result from implementation of the Proposed Action. Identification of the reasonable range of alternatives for this EA was based upon consideration of the purpose and need. Additional alternatives were considered but eliminated due to them being substantially similar in design and impacts as the Proposed Action (40 CFR § 1502.14(a)). Additional alternatives were also considered but eliminated due to feasibility or timing. These alternatives were discussed in an “initial Proposed Action”. A list of the ideas, a brief description, and the reason why they were not included in this EA are described below: 3 June 2018 Near-Term Actions Environmental Assessment DRAFT, SUBJECT TO REVISION · Fall X2 averaging period: Under the initial Proposed Action, requirements for Fall X2 in September and October would be averaged over two months, as opposed to individually. Reclamation’s evaluation of modeling results and discussions with operators found no meaningful benefits to fish or water supply. · Non-physical barriers: Under an initial Proposed Action, Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) would install multiple non-physical barrier technologies at Georgiana Slough, including; bioacoustic fish fence (BAFF), floating fish guidance structure (FFGS), and infrasound fish fence (IFF). Reclamation would