NMFS BiOp RPA Action IV.1.3 Phase I — Initial Findings December 9, 2013 State of California The Natural Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES Bay-Delta Office Engineering Solutions to Further Reduce Diversion of Emigrating Juvenile Salmonids to the Interior and Southern Delta and Reduce Exposure to CVP and SWP Export Facilities Phase I — Initial Findings Prepared in Response to the National Marine Fisheries Service 2009 Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion on the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, Reasonable and Prudent Alternative Action IV.1.3 December 2013 Edmund G. Brown Jr. John Laird Mark W. Cowin Governor Secretary for Natural Resources Director State of California The Natural Resources Agency Department of Water Resources NMFS BiOp RPA Action IV.1.3 Phase I — Initial Findings December 9, 2013 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK State of California Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor Natural Resources Agency John Laird, Secretary for Resources Department of Water Resources Mark W. Cowin, Director Laura King Moon Chief Deputy Director Kasey Schimke Nancy Vogel Cathy Crothers Asst. Director Legislative Affairs Asst. Director for Public Affairs Chief Counsel Gary Bardini Kathie Kishaba Deputy Director Deputy Director John Pacheco Paul Helliker Carl Torgersen Deputy Director Deputy Director Deputy Director Bay-Delta Office Katherine F. Kelly ....................................................................................................................Chief South Delta Branch Mark A. Holderman ................................................................... Branch Chief, South Delta Branch This report was prepared under the supervision of Robert Pedlar ............................................................................... Chief, South Delta Management By Bill McLaughlin ........................................................................ Senior Engineer, Water Resources Assisted by Khalid Ameri ........................................................................................ Engineer, Water Resources Ben Geske .......................................................................................... Engineer, Water Resources Josh Brown ............................................................................................... Environmental Scientist Darla Cofer .......................................................................................................... Office Technician i NMFS BiOp RPA Action IV.1.3 Phase I — Initial Findings December 9, 2013 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK ii NMFS BiOp RPA Action IV.1.3 Phase I — Initial Findings December 9, 2013 Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Site Descriptions ........................................................................................................................... 2 Sacramento River ...................................................................................................................... 4 Georgiana Slough ............................................................................................................................... 4 Threemile Slough ................................................................................................................................ 6 San Joaquin River ..................................................................................................................... 8 Head of Old River ............................................................................................................................... 8 Turner Cut ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Columbia Cut .................................................................................................................................... 12 Fish Species ............................................................................................................................... 14 Fish Species of Concern ......................................................................................................... 14 Salmonids ................................................................................................................................ 15 Salmonid Emigration through the Delta ............................................................................................ 17 Previous Engineering Solutions and Outcomes .......................................................................... 20 Georgiana Slough Behavioral Barriers .................................................................................... 20 Non-Physical Barriers Acoustic Technologies .................................................................................. 20 2011 Georgiana Slough Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence Pilot Study ......................................................... 24 Temporary Rock Barrier ................................................................................................................... 24 Head of Old River Behavioral Barriers .................................................................................... 25 Rock Barriers .................................................................................................................................... 25 Non-Physical Barriers Acoustic Technologies .................................................................................. 27 South Delta Improvement Program ......................................................................................... 29 Turner Cut ............................................................................................................................... 29 Columbia Cut ........................................................................................................................... 29 Threemile Slough .................................................................................................................... 29 Engineering Options to Consider ................................................................................................ 30 Non-Physical Barrier ............................................................................................................... 30 Electric Barrier/Guidance System ............................................................................................ 32 Fish Screen ............................................................................................................................. 33 Gate Structure — Bottom Hinged Overflow and Sluice Gate .................................................. 34 Radial Arm Gate ...................................................................................................................... 36 Floating Barrier — Fish Guidance System .............................................................................. 38 iii NMFS BiOp RPA Action IV.1.3 Phase I — Initial Findings December 9, 2013 Fish Guidance Wall ................................................................................................................. 40 Rock Barrier ............................................................................................................................ 41 Hybrid or Combination Possibilities ......................................................................................... 42 Habitat Restoration .................................................................................................................. 42 Transportation Barges ............................................................................................................. 43 No Action ................................................................................................................................. 44 Framework for Evaluation ........................................................................................................... 44 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 45 General Description .......................................................................................................................... 45 General Variable Descriptions and Definitions ........................................................................ 46 Technical Review Process .......................................................................................................... 46 Option Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 47 Additional Research and Monitoring Needs ................................................................................ 47 Adaptive Management Needs ..................................................................................................... 47 Timeline with Key Milestones ...................................................................................................... 47 Phase I .................................................................................................................................... 47 Phase