Sec. 203. Improved science to better protect threatened and endangered fish
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Not later than January 1, 2016, contingent on funding, the Secretary of the Interior shall— initiate studies designed to understand the location and distribution of Delta smelt throughout the range of the Delta smelt and to determine potential methods to minimize the effects of Central Valley Project and State Water Project operations on the Delta smelt; and utilize, to the maximum extent practicable, new technologies to allow for better tracking of Delta smelt, such as acoustic tagging, optical recognition during trawls, and fish detection using residual DNA.
In determining the scope of the studies under this subsection, the Secretary may consult with— Federal and State water users; and appropriate nongovernmental organizations. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $7,500,000 for the period of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. Contingent on funding, during the period beginning on December 1, 2015, and ending March 31, 2016, and during each following December-through-March period for which this Act is in effect, if suspended sediment loads enter the Delta from the Sacramento River and the suspended sediment loads appear likely to raise turbidity levels in Old River north of the export pumps from values below 12 Nephelometric Turbidity Units
(NTUs)to values above 12 NTUs, the Secretary shall— conduct daily monitoring using appropriate survey methods at locations including the vicinity of Station 902 to determine the extent that adult Delta smelt are moving with turbidity toward the export pumps; and use results from the monitoring surveys at locations including the vicinity of Station 902 to determine how increased trawling can inform daily real-time Central Valley Project and State Water Project operations to achieve fish protection and water supply benefits.