SECTION 1. SUSTAINABLE WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
MANAGEMENT 
IN 
THE 
SACRAMENTO-SAN 
JOAQUIN DELTA STUDIES AND REPORTS. 
(a) INITIAL STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
funding is made available for this Act, the Secretary, 
acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, shall 
offer to and, if the NAS agrees, shall enter into an 
agreement under which the NAS shall conduct a 
study to help ensure the scientific basis of plans for 
management of the Delta so as to help maintain and 
restore the estuary while enhancing the quality and 
reliability of California’s water supply. The study 
conducted under this paragraph shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A review of the scientific information 
assessing the extent of ecosystem decline in the 
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and Delta, 
including the status and trends of pelagic orga-
nisms and anadromous fish species. 
(B) A list of the factors that may have 
contributed to the decline of federally and State 
listed species in the Delta. To the extent prac-
ticable, a ranking of the contribution of those 
factors, in order of their likely impact on the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:19 Jun 20, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2977.IH
H2977
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
survival and recovery of Delta species, for pur-
poses of informing future conservation actions. 
(C) A description of gaps in available sci-
entific information and uncertainties that con-
strain the ability to identify the factors to be 
listed under subparagraph (B). 
(D) A review and evaluation of the sci-
entific information referenced in the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Biological Opinion (USFWS, Dec. 
15, 2008), the interpretation of that informa-
tion by the Fish and Wildlife Service in the ef-
fects analysis, and the extent to which the ef-
fects analysis supports the Fish and Wildlife 
Service’s jeopardy and adverse modification de-
termination and reasonable and prudent alter-
natives. 
(E) A review and evaluation of the sci-
entific information referenced in the National 
Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion 
(NMFS, available June 2009), the interpreta-
tion of that information by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service in the effects analysis, and the 
extent to which the effects analysis supports the 
National Marine Fisheries Service’s jeopardy 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:19 Jun 20, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2977.IH
H2977
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
and adverse modification determination and 
reasonable and prudent alternatives. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after 
funding is made available to the NAS for the study 
under paragraph (1), the NAS shall submit to the 
Secretary a report containing the findings of that 
study. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary, $900,000 to carry out this subsection. 
(b) ADDITIONAL REPORTS.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Bureau of Reclamation, may commission ad-
ditional studies by the NAS to provide more strategic ad-
vice on water and environmental management challenges 
facing the Delta. Such studies, if commissioned, shall ad-
dress issues such as the following: 
(1) Review the science underlying the extent of 
ecosystem decline in the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin Rivers and Delta, and evaluate its implications 
for the management of the Delta for water supply 
and other purposes. 
(2) Identify options for future water supplies 
for the region and state that reflect proper consider-
ation for climate change and compatibility with ob-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:19 Jun 20, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2977.IH
H2977
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
jectives 
of 
maintaining 
a 
healthy 
Delta 
hydroecosystems. 
(3) Advise how to most effectively incorporate 
science and adaptive management concepts into ho-
listic programs for management and restoration of 
the Delta with the objective of providing a credible 
basis for providing a sustainable water supply and 
ecosystem for the future. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) DELTA.—The term ‘‘Delta’’ means the Sac-
ramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. 
(2) NAS.—The term ‘‘NAS’’ means the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
23:19 Jun 20, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2977.IH
H2977
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS