2-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration

Client: Multiple Agencies

Location: California

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX is preparing a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) Environmental Assessment (EA) and Biological Assessment for the 2-Gates Project. Cardno ENTRIX is also supporting or preparing project permits. In addition, the Cardno ENTRIX team prepared a Science Summary document, which is being reviewed by the CALFED Science Program Independent Review Panel.

The USBR is the federal lead agency for this project, prepared under contract to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the State Water Contractors. The 2-Gates Project proposes to reduce entrainment of delta smelt by the SWP and CVP export facilities, either achieving or exceeding the protection goals established by the Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP) Biological Opinion for delta smelt while allowing water exports to exceed the minimum levels allowed by the Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives described in the USFWS and NMFS OCAP Biological Opinions and complying with other water management requirements. The 2-Gates Project is intended to provide temporary, cost-effective, immediate protection to delta smelt from entrainment in the SWP and CVP export facilities by controlling flows in key channels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This would be accomplished by the installation of temporary ?butterfly gates? in Old River and Connection Slough and operation of those gates when turbidity and salinity conditions are expected to support upstream movement of delta smelt. The analysis of impacts on aquatic and hydrologic resources of the Delta is based on extensive hydrodynamic modeling of turbidity and flow conditions and modeling of delta smelt behavior both with and without 2-Gate operations, performed by RMA.

The Cardno ENTRIX team has developed a detailed monitoring and adaptive management plan intended to guide operations of this five-demonstration project. The documents are being prepared under an expedited schedule, requiring close coordination with multiple agencies, including U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).