Reclamation and Wildlife Conservation
by Frank Michny & Chuck Solomon
US Bureau of Reclamation

In normal water years, the CVP stores and distributes about 20 percent of California’s developed water, roughly 7 million acre-feet. This water is distributed to some 260 individual contracts over the entire length of the Central Valley from Shasta Lake in the north to south of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley.

The massive water development of the CVP, initiated during the Great Depression, did not occur without profound changes in the environment. However, in the 1960s public values began to change, and the plight of numerous species and ecosystems in the Central Valley became more evident. Controversy arose about the relative value of the water development and fish and wildlife which had been affected by that development. In the ensuing years, the federal government passed landmark environmental legislation such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. In addition to this nationwide environmental legislation, a law specific to the CVP was passed in 1992. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) sought to achieve a balance between the economic aspects of water development projects and the protection and recovery of species and habitats that had been impacted. As a result of this legislation and changing public values, the role of Reclamation changed from that of a major construction agency to one attempting to manage its existing projects in a broader and more balanced context.

Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region has embraced this revised role in many ways. From the perspective of biodiversity, and partly as a result of the CVPIA, the management of the CVP moved to encompass greater consideration for environmental concerns. Part of these changes modified project operations and part were new programs mandated by the CVPIA. These changes addressed the needs of anadromous fish, water supplies for refuges, and other programs to address species and habitats affected by the CVP. Two of the programs are the Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) and the Central Valley Project Conservation Program (CVPCP).

The HRP was initiated in 1996 and is jointly managed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The HRP is one of the programs authorized by the CVPIA. The thrust of the HRP has been to protect and restore federally- listed species, native species, and native habitats affected directly or indirectly by the CVP. In addition, the HRP aimed to stabilize and improve populations of affected listed and native species that are not specifically addressed in the Fish and Wildlife Restoration Activities section of the CVPIA. The initial focus has been given to federally-listed, proposed, or candidate species; other non-listed species of special concern, including resident fish and migratory birds; and other native wildlife species associated with the habitat types most affected by CVP actions.

Early in the development of the Habitat Restoration Program, a technical team was established to assist the program managers from Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Service in directing the HRP. Initial activities of the team consisted of ranking species of concern; assessing factors limiting native fish, wildlife, and associated habitats; and identifying geographic areas where those habitats, species, and factors converge to the greatest extent. Species and habitat prioritizations will be reevaluated throughout the program's implementation.

Examples of HRP projects include:

• Contribution to the habitat acquisition of the Valensin and Howard ranches as part of The Nature Conservancy’s Cosumnes River Preserve.

• Acquisition of land for the Pine Hill Ecological Reserve.

• Biological surveys for riparian brush rabbits and riparian woodrats.

• Ground-water studies related to native plants near Livermore.

• Acquisition of additional land for Allensworth and Stone Corral Ecological Reserves.

• Historic habitat trend analysis for the Central Valley.

The CVPCP is a proactive effort undertaken by Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Service to address the needs of federally-listed species. The CVPCP implements an aggressive adaptive management program to protect, restore, and enhance federally-listed species, special status species, and their habitat in areas directly or indirectly affected by the CVP. Specific objectives of the program are to: (1) address the biological needs of listed species in an ecosystem manner; (2) assist in the conservation of biological diversity; (3) improve existing conditions for listed species; and (4) assist in the down-listing or de-listing of species.

The program is managed by a Bureau of Reclamation program manager and a technical team of representatives from regional and area offices, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Initial activities of the team consisted of assessing factors limiting listed and sensitive species and identifying geographic areas where those habitats, species, and factors converge to the greatest extent. Partnerships have been, and continue to be, developed with other federal, state, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Examples of CVPCP projects include:

• Comprehensive biological survey for giant garter snakes followed by funding to construct and manage open water habitat to support the species at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.

• An extensive inventory of California red-legged frogs in the Sierra foothills followed by acquisition and restoration of 54 acres of wetlands and forested habitat to support the species.

• Acquisition of vernal pool habitat in Merced, Sacramento, and Tulare counties.

• Development of a long-term management plan for protection in perpetuity.

The Bureau of Reclamation believes these programs help preserve—and hopefully enhance—biodiversity within the Central Valley. The valley floor is, unarguably, one of the most impacted areas of California from the perspective of native species and habitats. In conjunction with projects sponsored by other federal, state, local, and nonprofit organizations, these programs significantly contribute to enhancing the biodiversity in this area of California. The Bureau of Reclamation encourages any inquiries on these programs and actively solicits ideas and projects for funding consideration.

Frank Michny is the Mid-Pacific Region’s Regional Environmental Officer and Chuck Solomon is the Program Manager for CVPCP and Co-Program Manager for HRP. Both may be reached at Bureau of Reclamation, MP-150, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825. Please see the CVPCP web site at www.mp.usbr.gov/mp150/cvpcp.