After deep disappointment with state and federal water allocations this spring, water contractors are heavily focused on fall operations.
Reservoirs typically release much of their storage in September and October to reduce salinity for endangered Delta smelt and to make room for winter storms. Yet contractors are pressing the agencies to step away from the traditional calendar-based approach of the pre-Trump era and adaptively manage the releases based on fish monitoring.
It reflects the strategy behind a short-lived 2019 biological opinion, later rescinded under the Biden administration.
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In a letter to the agency directors, the water districts argue the more flexible approach has the backing of peer-reviewed science, preserves supplies for a dry year and requires few additional resources. They reason it would “prevent wasteful and unnecessary water supply impacts associated with a measure shown to be ineffective to benefit Delta smelt.” Signed o to the letter are Westlands Water District, Water Contractors, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and the Friant Water Authority.
